Skip to main content
The Keyword

Docs

Basement Queens: an original song, #madewithGoogleDocs

Article's hero media
sad13xlizzo_studio-1.jpg
Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. David Bowie and Freddie Mercury. Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men. Hall & Oates.

Some of the most popular songs ever recorded were the result of collaborations. Recently we asked ourselves: Could technology help bring together two musicians who might not otherwise meet? And if so: What would they create? With this in mind, we challenged two unique artists — burgeoning hip hop queen Lizzo and indie frontwoman Sad13 (Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz) — to write a song together in Google Docs.

Sad13 and Lizzo first connected in Hangouts — in Massachusetts and Minnesota, respectively — to hash things out. Within seconds they were inside a doc — riffing in real-time on ideas, then lyrics, then overall structure. And in just a couple of weeks they had a track they were really excited about.

guitar

The pair of women then flew to Brooklyn to meet for the first time IRL, and to record their new single, "Basement Queens" — a celebration of creating their own sound, on their own terms. And that's how music was #madewithGoogleDocs.

Basement Queens: an original song, #madewithGoogleDocs
10:25
Watch the video for a behind-the-scenes look at the entire process, then download or stream the song for free from Google Play. We think you'll agree: Sad13 and Lizzo definitely earn their "reputation / for making magic from the basement."

Credits
Song produced by Computer Magic
Drums by Jordyn Blakely
Photos by James Chororos
Film by Mixtape Club
Recorded at Room 17

 #madewithGoogleDocs

Let’s stay in touch. Get the latest news from Google in your inbox.

Subscribe