LOS ANGELES — To capture the sound of the 1950s, the creators of a new "Grease" prequel turned to one of the key figures of 2000s pop.
Known for writing hit singles for the likes of Justin Bieber ("Sorry"), Selena Gomez ("Hands to Myself"), DNCE ("Cake by the Ocean") and Imagine Dragons ("Believer"), Justin Tranter is the executive music producer of "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies," a 10-episode series premiering this week on Paramount+. The show, which takes place in 1954, depicts the formation of the Rydell High girl gang ruled by Stockard Channing's Rizzo in the blockbuster 1978 movie starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Tranter, who identifies as gender-nonconforming and uses they/them pronouns, co-wrote 30 original tunes that trick out the era's signature styles with modern production touches and clever lyrical asides.
"This was by far the hardest thing I've ever done," said the 42-year-old, who first found an audience as frontperson of the glam-punk band Semi Precious Weapons. Yet Tranter couldn't resist what they view as the series' nuanced treatment of gender, race and sexuality. The Grammy-nominated songwriter, whose recent pop credits include songs by Miley Cyrus and Chappell Roan, spoke about "Grease," TikTok and the state of the music industry at their home in Hancock Park.
