Willow Smith and Chris Greatti dive into the intricacies of their collaboration on the song “Big Feelings” in an episode of Variety’s Behind the Song, shedding light on their creative process and the emotional depth embedded in the track.
“This idea of having big feelings, I knew that I wanted that lyric to be the guiding light of the whole song,” Smith explains. The concept lingered in her mind for weeks, waiting for the perfect moment to take shape. That moment arrived when she teamed up with Chris Greatti and pianist Zach Tenorio. “I knew that day, I was like, ‘This is the day that “Big Feelings” wants to be born.’”
The song begins with unsettling, dissonant chords meant to mirror the mind’s chaos during moments of emotional instability. “I wanted the music to personify that mental state,” Smith shares, adding that those initial chords were essential to the song’s storytelling. Greatti recalls the challenge of working with unusual time signatures: “Most music is in four-four, but this has seven beats per bar. It’s very naturally unsettling.”
The group’s use of a vintage 1910 piano added another layer of texture. “It doesn’t sound as clean as a regular piano,” Smith notes. “The wood sound adds to the snarly nature of the song—it’s like we’re going inside the mind, where everything is textured.”
When it came to the song’s dynamics, the duo prioritized unpredictability. “The fun challenge was figuring out, what shouldn’t I play? Sometimes pulling things out keeps the dynamics interesting,” Greatti says.
The track also features standout elements like the synthesizer solo, which Smith describes as “super spacey for such an earthy song.” Smith cites the influence of Tori Amos’s “Cornflake Girl” when referencing the track’s abrupt shifts. “The intensity with which [Tori Amos] plays the piano and the confidence in those abrupt changes really inspired this song.”
Ultimately, “Big Feelings” delivers a deeply human message. “It’s a beautiful representation of the attention to detail it takes to make something sound human,” Smith reflects. “The music doesn’t just tell you what it wants you to feel—it brings you on an emotional journey.”
Smith goes on to share, “Really, really good music, if you just listen to the music without the lyrics, it tells the story.” The Recording Academy clearly agrees, as the song earned a Grammy nomination for Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals—making Smith the third member of her family to receive a Grammy nomination.
Watch this episode of Variety’s Behind the Song here.