ArtistDirect News
Charlie Puth Unwrapped: Grammy U Workshop Reveals the Making of Whatevers Clever!
On Wednesday, September 11, 2026, the Grammy U Unwrapped series brought singer‑songwriter Charlie Puth to The Novo in Los Angeles for a workshop and Q&A that peeled back the layers of his latest studio effort, Whatever’s Clever!.
The event—part educational session, part intimate listening experience—centered on the March 27 release that debuted on Atlantic Records. Grammy U, a membership program for emerging music professionals, uses its Unwrapped series to expose attendees to the inner workings of an artist’s creative process, from initial idea to final mix.
Even before Puth stepped onto the stage, the venue buzzed with activity. Fans and students from the University of Southern California, as well as a recent Howard University graduate who had finished a music‑business program, drifted through photo booths and backdrops, then settled into listening stations where headphones streamed Puth’s catalog. The atmosphere was already charged with anticipation.
Caroline Fedigan, a USC junior majoring in music industry, told the room that she was “really interested to learn more about … how he uses [his perfect pitch] to develop what he wants to write, how it alters his vision in the writing process.” Jasmine Harrell, who helped set up the event, added that the proximity of the stage to the audience created an atmosphere of focus and intimacy.
The evening opened with a host who greeted the crowd and played a video that introduced Puth, describing the album as a showcase of “his most open self.” The host then announced that legendary producer Jimmy Jam—known for work with Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, and Mary J. Blige—would be joining the discussion. Franklin University junior Shaun Huncer said the surprise appearance was “really inspirational” and highlighted Jam’s influence on Puth’s decision to blend jazz elements with hard‑hitting drums.
Puth guided the audience through several tracks from Whatever’s Clever!, revealing how each song evolved as components were added or removed. In “Changes,” he described building a “skeleton” with a looping track and big drums that contrasted with delicate instrumentation, noting how he lets the beat guide lyric development so that words grow naturally around the music.
When he reached “Cry,” Puth explained that he felt something was missing and collaborated with saxophonist Kenny G to add a saxophone line. Huncer remarked, “I didn’t know there were so many things you have to do to produce one song, how many layers, how many instruments you have to actually use.”
Jimmy Jam emphasized that even small production decisions can have a large emotional impact. He said, “You hear the result of it, and you feel the way that this feels when you hear it. Everybody in here is feeling this record.”
The Q&A portion focused on Jam’s perspective. He stressed the importance of “knowing your neighbor,” noting that the distance between the crowd’s seats and the stage is only a few steps. Harrell said she found Jam’s remarks “super inspirational about the notion that the stage and the audience or the crowd is only a few steps away, so it’s super attainable to achieve your goals if you just put your mind to it and center yourself.”
Puth also explained the origin of the album’s title. He said, “The reason why the album is called ‘Whatever’s Clever’ is because it is a mantra that [my co‑producer] and I would say over and over to remind ourselves that it’s okay that the snare isn’t perfect, or that it’s kind of spilling over into the next measure.” He added that the shift away from perfectionism made him more comfortable with imperfection in his work.
Puth’s career began with viral YouTube covers and led to his debut single “Marvin Gaye” in 2015. His first studio album, Nine Track Mind (2016), entered the Billboard 200 top ten. Subsequent releases include Voicenotes (2018), Charlie (2022), and the current Whatever’s Clever! (2026). In addition to performing, Puth has produced and co‑written songs for artists such as Justin Bieber and the Kid Laroi.
The Unwrapped event closed with attendees leaving The Novo with a deeper understanding of Puth’s songwriting and production techniques. The workshop fulfilled Grammy U’s mission to provide emerging professionals with insight into the creative process of a contemporary pop artist and highlighted the collaborative nature of modern music production, as exemplified by Puth’s work with Jimmy Jam and Kenny G.
The event—part educational session, part intimate listening experience—centered on the March 27 release that debuted on Atlantic Records. Grammy U, a membership program for emerging music professionals, uses its Unwrapped series to expose attendees to the inner workings of an artist’s creative process, from initial idea to final mix.
Even before Puth stepped onto the stage, the venue buzzed with activity. Fans and students from the University of Southern California, as well as a recent Howard University graduate who had finished a music‑business program, drifted through photo booths and backdrops, then settled into listening stations where headphones streamed Puth’s catalog. The atmosphere was already charged with anticipation.
Caroline Fedigan, a USC junior majoring in music industry, told the room that she was “really interested to learn more about … how he uses [his perfect pitch] to develop what he wants to write, how it alters his vision in the writing process.” Jasmine Harrell, who helped set up the event, added that the proximity of the stage to the audience created an atmosphere of focus and intimacy.
The evening opened with a host who greeted the crowd and played a video that introduced Puth, describing the album as a showcase of “his most open self.” The host then announced that legendary producer Jimmy Jam—known for work with Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, and Mary J. Blige—would be joining the discussion. Franklin University junior Shaun Huncer said the surprise appearance was “really inspirational” and highlighted Jam’s influence on Puth’s decision to blend jazz elements with hard‑hitting drums.
Puth guided the audience through several tracks from Whatever’s Clever!, revealing how each song evolved as components were added or removed. In “Changes,” he described building a “skeleton” with a looping track and big drums that contrasted with delicate instrumentation, noting how he lets the beat guide lyric development so that words grow naturally around the music.
When he reached “Cry,” Puth explained that he felt something was missing and collaborated with saxophonist Kenny G to add a saxophone line. Huncer remarked, “I didn’t know there were so many things you have to do to produce one song, how many layers, how many instruments you have to actually use.”
Jimmy Jam emphasized that even small production decisions can have a large emotional impact. He said, “You hear the result of it, and you feel the way that this feels when you hear it. Everybody in here is feeling this record.”
The Q&A portion focused on Jam’s perspective. He stressed the importance of “knowing your neighbor,” noting that the distance between the crowd’s seats and the stage is only a few steps. Harrell said she found Jam’s remarks “super inspirational about the notion that the stage and the audience or the crowd is only a few steps away, so it’s super attainable to achieve your goals if you just put your mind to it and center yourself.”
Puth also explained the origin of the album’s title. He said, “The reason why the album is called ‘Whatever’s Clever’ is because it is a mantra that [my co‑producer] and I would say over and over to remind ourselves that it’s okay that the snare isn’t perfect, or that it’s kind of spilling over into the next measure.” He added that the shift away from perfectionism made him more comfortable with imperfection in his work.
Puth’s career began with viral YouTube covers and led to his debut single “Marvin Gaye” in 2015. His first studio album, Nine Track Mind (2016), entered the Billboard 200 top ten. Subsequent releases include Voicenotes (2018), Charlie (2022), and the current Whatever’s Clever! (2026). In addition to performing, Puth has produced and co‑written songs for artists such as Justin Bieber and the Kid Laroi.
The Unwrapped event closed with attendees leaving The Novo with a deeper understanding of Puth’s songwriting and production techniques. The workshop fulfilled Grammy U’s mission to provide emerging professionals with insight into the creative process of a contemporary pop artist and highlighted the collaborative nature of modern music production, as exemplified by Puth’s work with Jimmy Jam and Kenny G.