Sarah Aarons

Sarah Aarons
Born	Sarah Paige Aarons (1994-10-04) 4 October 1994 (age 31) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres	Pop dance rock
Occupation	Songwriter
Labels	Sony ATV Publishing

Sarah Paige Aarons (born 4 October 1994, previously known as Paige IV and sometimes simply as Sarah) is an Australian songwriter. Originally from Bentleigh, Melbourne, she attended McKinnon Secondary College in McKinnon. ^[1] Now based in Los Angeles, ^[2] Aarons is signed to Sony ATV Publishing. She co-wrote "Stay" by Zedd and Alessia Cara ^[3] and "The Middle" by Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey, which both went to #1 on Mainstream Top 40 and were each certified double platinum in the US. In 2019, Aarons was nominated for Song of the Year at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards for her work on "The Middle".

In Australia, Aarons had acclaimed success with the breakout song "Keeping Score" by LDRU, ^[4] "Frozen" by Pon Cho and Cosmo's Midnight's "History," which in turn has become the most played song on Triple J in 2017. She has also received three ARIA Awards for her work with LDRU and has gone double platinum in Australia.

In 2017, Aarons was appointed one of APRA AMCOS Ambassadors ^[5] and was included in LA Weekly's 20 hottest current songwriters. ^[6] At the APRA Music Awards of 2018 she won Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year, ^{[7] [8]} she was also nominated for Country Work of the Year for the track, "House", alongside co-writers Brooke McClymont, Mollie McClymont, Samantha McClymont and Michael Fatkin. ^[9]

At the 2019 APRA Awards, Aarons won Songwriter of the Year as well as Most Played Australian Work, Rock Work of the Year and Dance Work of the Year. ^[10]

In 2018, Aarons had her right leg amputated due to severe rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition that causes pain and swelling of the joints. The songwriter won Song of the Year at the APRA Music Awards of 2023 for co-writing "Say Nothing" (2022) with fellow Australian (and the song's performer) Flume.

Selected discography

  indicates a background vocal contribution.

  indicates an un-credited lead vocal contribution.

  indicates a credited vocal/featured artist contribution.

Year	Artist	Album	Song	Co-written with
2015	Smizzy	The Cover	"Problems Aside" (featuring Paige IV)	Martin Brown, Luke Rundle, Timothy Carr, Paul Conrad
	LDRU	Sizzlar	"Keeping Score" (featuring Paige IV)	Drew Carmody
2016	Jai Waetford	Heart Miles	"Living Not Dreaming"	Jai Waetford, Michael Fatkin
			"Worlds"	Jai Waetford, Michael Fatkin
	PON CHO	Non-album single	"Lonely Walls" (featuring Paige IV)	Kevin Kerr
	Emmalyn		"Hungover"	Emmalyn Estrada, Brett McLaughlin, Jordan Palmer
	PON CHO		"Frozen" (featuring Paige IV)	Kevin Kerr
	Breathe Carolina & IZII		"Echo (Let Go)"	Anthony Egizii, David Musumeci
2017	Cosmo's Midnight	What Comes Next	"History"	Cosmo Liney, Patrick Liney
	Lost Kings	Non-album single	"Quit You" (featuring Tinashe)	Robert Abisi, Norris Shanholz, Sean Myer
	Zedd	TBA	"Stay" (with Alessia Cara)	Anton Zaslavski, Anders Froen, Jonnali Parmenius, Linus Wiklund, Alessia Caracciolo
	Mabel	Bedroom EP	"Bedroom"	Mabel McVey, Thomas Hull
	LDRU	Sizzlar	"The Calling"	Drew Carmody
	Jessie Ware	Glasshouse	"Alone"	Jessica Ware, Thomas Hull
	Galantis	The Aviary	"Tell Me You Love Me" (with Throttle)	Christian Karlsson, Linus Eklow, Jimmy "Svidden" Koitzsch, Henrik Jonback, Robert Bergin, Eddie Jenkins
	Demi Lovato	Tell Me You Love Me	"Lonely" (featuring Lil Wayne)	Dijon Mcfarlane, Niholas Audino, Lewis Hughes, Te Whiti Warbrick, Dwayne Carter Jr.
			"Smoke & Mirrors"	Demetria Lovato, Benjamin Abraham
	Guy Sebastian	Conscious	"Drink Driving"	Guy Sebastian, Bastian Langebaek
	Madison Beer	As She Pleases EP	"Say It to My Face"	Dayyon Drinkard, Frederik Ball
	Camila Cabello	Bright: The Album	"Crown" (with Grey)	Camila Cabello, Kyle Trewartha, Michael Trewartha
2018	Zedd	TBA	"The Middle" (with Maren Morris and Grey)	Anton Zaslavski, Kyle Trewartha, Michael Trewartha, Stefan Johnson, Jordan Johnson, Marcus Lomax
	Whethan	Fifty Shades Freed OST	"High" (with Dua Lipa)	Ethan Snoreck, Dua Lipa, Jonathan Hill
	Bobi Andonov	Non-album single	"Smoke"	Bobby Andonov, Samuel Watters, Louis Biancaniello, Dylan William
	SeeB	Nice to Meet You EP	"Drink About" (featuring Dagny)	Simen Eriksrud, Espen Borg, Joakim Haukaas, Alex Hope, Thomas Hull
	Alina Baraz	The Color of You	"Tainted"	Alina Baraz, Ajay Bhattacharya
	The Rubens	Lo La Ru	"Never Ever" (featuring Sarah)	Samuel Margin, Elliott Margin
	Peking Duk	Reprisal EP	"Fire"	Adan Hyde, Reuben Styles, Samuel Littlemore
	Lykke Li	So Sad So Sexy	"Sex Money Feelings Die"	Li Zachrisson, Ilsey Juber, James Ryan Ho, Dacoury Natche, Thomas Hull
	Ruel	Ready EP	"Younger"	Ruel van Dijk, Mark Landon, Larry Griffin Jr., JaVohn Griffin
	Cosmo's Midnight	What Comes Next	"Talk to Me" (featuring Tove Styrke)	Cosmo Liney, Patrick Liney
	Ruel	Ready EP	"Intro"	Ruel van Dijk, Mark Landon, Larry Griffin Jr.
	Odette	To a Stranger	"Lights On"	Georgia Sallybanks, Alex Hope
	Zedd	TBA	"Happy Now" (with Elley Duhé)	Anton Zaslavski, Jonnali Parmenius, Linus Wiklund
	David Guetta	7	"Don't Leave Me Alone" (featuring Anne-Marie)	Pierre Guetta, Jonnali Parmenius, Linus Wiklund
	Gryffin	Gravity	"Tie Me Down" (with Elley Duhé)	Daniel Griffith, Badrilla Bourelly, Aaron Forbes, Jussi Karvinen, Nathaniel Cyphert
	Example	Bangers & Ballads	"Headlights"	Elliot Gleave, Andy Sheldrake
	Noah Cyrus	Good Cry EP	"Mad at You" (with Gallant)	Noah Cyrus, Thomas Hull
	Nao	Saturn	"Drive and Disconnect"	Neo Jessica Joshua, Daniel Traynor, Ajay Bhattacharya, Jeff Gitelman
	Khalid	Suncity EP	"Vertigo"	Khalid Robinson, Ryan Vojtesak, Jamil Chammas, Jonathan Hill, Rogét Chahayed
	MØ	Forever Neverland	"I Want You"	Karen Marie Ørsted, Ajay Bhattacharya
	Louis the Child	Kids at Play EP	"Breaking News" (featuring Raye)	Frederic Kennett, Robert Hauldren, Rachel Keen
	Kelsey Lu	Blood	"Due West"	Kelsey Lu, Jeff Kleinman, Michael Uzowuru, Rodaidh McDonald, William Boston
2019	Maren Morris	Girl	"Girl"	Maren Morris, Greg Kurstin
			"Common" (featuring Brandi Carlile)	Maren Morris, Greg Kurstin
	Meg Mac	Hope	"Something Tells Me"	Megan McInerney
			"Head Away"	Megan McInerney
	John Legend	Non-album single	"Preach"	John Stephens, Greg Kurstin
	Khalid	Free Spirit	"Paradise"	Khalid Robinson, Jonathan Hill, Dacoury Natche
			"Outta My Head" (with John Mayer)	Khalid Robinson, John Mayer, Jamil Chammas, Jonathan Hill
			"Free Spirit"	Khalid Robinson, Ryan Vojtesak, Jamil Chammas, Justin Scott Lucas
			"Bluffin'"	Khalid Robinson, Ryan Vojtesak, Jamil Chammas
	Miquela	Non-album single	"Right Back"	Miquela Sousak, Ethan Snoreck, Jordan Palmer
	Ruel	Free Time	"Real Thing (Ruel song)"	Ruel van Dijk, Mark Landon
			"Painkiller"	Ruel van Dijk, Mark Landon
	Jonas Brothers	Happiness Begins	"Happy When I'm Sad"	Nicholas Jonas, Joel Little
	Mabel	High Expectations	"FML"	Mabel McVey, Kelly Kiara, Marlon McVey-Roudette, Warren Felder
	Hilltop Hoods	The Great Expanse	"Exit Sign" (featuring Illy & Ecca Vandal)	Matthew Lambert, Daniel Smith, Alasdair Murray, Andrew Burford, Barry Francis
	Foster the People	Pick U Up EP	"Imagination"	Mark Foster, Oliver Goldstein, Josh Abraham, Austin Tirado
			"Pick U Up"	Mark Foster, Joel Little
	Kaskade	Non-album single	"With You" (with Meghan Trainor)	Ryan Raddon, Finn Bjarnson, Richard Beynon, Thomas Shaw, Samuel Gerongco, Robert Gerongco
	Ingrid Michaelson	Stranger Songs	"Pretty"	Ingrid Michaelson, Alexandra Robotham
	Gallant	Sweet Insomnia	"Crimes"	Christopher Gallant, Ajay Bhattacharya, Benjamin Abraham
			"Celine"	Christopher Gallant, Ben Ash
	Cashmere Cat	Princess Catgirl	"Without You"	Magnus August Hoiberg, Benjamin Levin, Kevin Esmenda, Julia Michaels, Justin Tranter, Mattias Larsson, Robin Fredriksson, Oscar Holter
	Bea Miller	Non-album single	"Never Gonna Like You" (featuring Snakehips)	Oliver Dickinson, James David, Joe Janiak
2020	Halsey	Manic	"I Hate Everybody"	Ashley Frangipane, Noonie Bao, Peder Losnegård, Benjamin Levin, Magnus August Høiberg, Nathan Perez, Finneas O'Connell
	Hermitude	Non-album single	"Too High"	Angus Stuart, Luke Dubber
	SZA and Justin Timberlake	TROLLS: World Tour (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)	"The Other Side"	Ludwig Göransson, Max Martin, Justin Timberlake, SZA
	Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick, Kelly Clarkson, Mary J Blige, Anderson .Paak, and Kenan Thompson		"Just Sing"	Ludwig Göransson, Max Martin, Justin Timberlake
	Gracie Abrams	Minor	"21"	Gracie Abrams, Joel Little
			"I Miss You I'm Sorry"	Gracie Abrams
	Childish Gambino	3.15.20	"Time" (featuring Ariana Grande)	Donald Glover, Dacoury Natche, Ludwig Göransson, Ariana Grande, Chukwudi Hodge
	Guy Sebastian	T.R.U.T.H.	"I'm Your Man"	Anthony Egizii, David Musumeci, David Ryan Harris
	Whethan and Grouplove	Fantasy	"Upside Down"	Ethan Snoreck, Hannah Hooper, Chris Zucconi, Tim Randolph
	Tracee Ellis Ross	The High Note (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)	"Love Myself"	Greg Kurstin
	Kelvin Harrison Jr.		"Track 8"	Lennon Stella, Ajay Bhattacharyya
	Tracee Ellis Ross and Kelvin Harrison Jr.		"Like I Do"	—N/a
	The Chicks	Gaslighter	"For Her"	Emily Strayer, Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Ariel Rechtshaid
	Wafia	Good Things	"Hurricane"	Wafia Al-Rikabi, Jamil Chammas
	Joji	Nectar	"Daylight" (with Diplo)	George Miller, Greg Kurstin, Thomas Pentz, Maximilian Jaeger
	Ruel	Bright Lights, Red Eyes	"As Long As You Care"	Ruel Vincent van Dijk, Mark Landon
			"Courage"	Ruel Vincent van Dijk, Mark Landon
			"Distance"	Ruel Vincent van Dijk, Mark Landon
			"Say It Over" (featuring Cautious Clay)	Ruel Vincent van Dijk, Mark Landon, Joshua Karpeh, Hans Galvez
			"Up To Something"	Ruel Vincent van Dijk, Mark Landon, Simon Hessmann
	Eliza & The Delusionals	TBA	"Sentimental"	Eliza Klatt, Ashley Martin, Kurt Skuse, Ruby Lee, John Hill
2021	The Rubens	0202	"State of My Mind"	Elliott Margin, Izaac Margin, Samuel Margin
	Zara Larsson	Poster Girl	"Need Someone"	Noonie Bao, Mattias Larsson, Robin Fredriksson
	Ingrid Michaelson and Zayn	TBA	"Begin Again"	Ingrid Michaelson, Zayn Malik
	Holly Humberstone	The Walls Are Way Too Thin	"Haunted House"	Holly Humberstone, Rob Milton
	Miguel	Art Dealer Chic 4	"Thinking Out Loud"	Miguel Pimentel, JaVohn Griffin, Justus West
	Peking Duk		"Chemicals" [11]	Reuben Styles, Adam Hyde
	Tate McRae and Khalid	TBA	"Working"	Tate McRae, Khalid Robinson, Joel Little
	Noah Kahan	I Was / I Am	"Fear of Water"	Noah Kahan, Joel Little
	Dillon Francis	Happy Machine	"In Case I Fall Asleep" (featuring Gracey)	Dillon Francis, Grace Barker, Jeremy Malvin, Philip von Boch Scully
	Demi Lovato	Non-album single	"Unforgettable (Tommy's Song)"	Demi Lovato, Andrew "Pop" Wansel, Warren "Oak" Felder
	Kito	Blossom	"Skin & Bones" (featuring Winona Oak)	Maaike Kito Lebbing
	Gracie Abrams	This Is What it Feels Like	"Better"	Gracie Abrams, Joel Little
			"For Real This Time"	Gracie Abrams, Joel Little
			"Wishful Thinking"	Gracie Abrams, Joel Little
	Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick, Anderson .Paak, Anthony Ramos, and Ester Dean	Trolls: Holiday in Harmony	"Together Now"	Justin Timberlake, Joseph Shirley
2022	Stephanie Poetri	TBA	"Picture Myself"	—N/a
	Flume	Palaces	"Say Nothing" (featuring May-a)	Harley Streten
	Maren Morris	Humble Quest	"Detour"
	Wallows	Tell Me That It's Over	"At The End of the Day"
	The Head and the Heart	Every Shade of Blue	"Pardigm"
	Sigrid	How To Let Go	"Grow"
	Eliza & the Delusionals	Now and Then	"Give You Everything"
	Lykke Li	Eyeye	"Happy Hurts"
			"5D"
	Halsey	TBA	"So Good"
	5 Seconds of Summer	5SOS5	"Bleach"
			"Moodswings"
	Reneé Rapp	Everything to Everyone	"Everything to Everyone"	Reneé Rapp, Cirkut
2023	Budjerah	TBA	"Therapy"
	Miley Cyrus	Endless Summer Vacation	"Jaded"	Miley Cyrus, Greg Kurstin
	Flume	Arrived Anxious, Left Bored	"Sky Sky"
	Portugal. The Man	Chris Black Changed My Life	"Thunderdome [W.T.A.]" (featuring Black Thought and Natalia Lafourcade)
	Mura Masa	N/A	"Drugs"
	Teezo Touchdown	How Do You Sleep At Night	"You Thought (featuring Janelle Monáe)"
	Tate McRae	Think Later	"Plastic Palm Trees"	Tate McRae, Michael Pollack, Nick Long
2024	Nelly Furtado	7	"Honesty"	Nelly Furtado, SG Lewis, Orlando Highbottom
	Rachel Chinouriri	What a Devastating Turn of Events	"Dumb Bitch Juice"	Rachel Chinouriri, Cameron Warren, Dave Okumu
	Ravyn Lenae	Bird's Eye	"Genius", "Bad Idea", "One Wish", "Dream Girl", "Candy", "Love Is Blind", "Love Me Not", "From Scratch", "1 of 1", "Pilot", "Days"	Ravyn Lenae, Luke Titus, Steve Lacy
	NewJeans	TBA	"How Sweet"	NewJeans
	Childish Gambino	Bando Stone & the New World	"In the Night" (featuring Jorja Smith and Amaarae)	Donald Glover, Jorja Smith, Amaarae
	Foster the People	Paradise State of Mind	"Let Go"	Mark Foster
	Rosé	Rosie	"Stay a Little Longer"	Rosé, Andrew Wells
	070 Shake	Petrichor	"Pieces of You"
			"Vagabond"
			"Never Let Us Fade (featuring Cam)"
2025	Hailee Steinfeld	Sinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)	"Dangerous"	Ludwig Göransson
	Eem Triplin	Melody of A Memory	"23"
	Giveon	Beloved	"Twenties (song)"
			"Numb"
	Cautious Clay	The Hours: Morning	"Tokyo Life (5am)"
	Brenn!	Upstate	"Days on End"
	Spacey Jane	If That Makes Sense	"Intro"
			"Whateverrrr"
			"How To Kill Houseplants"
			"Estimated Delivery"
			"ILY The Most"
	Noah Rinker	Burning Daylight	"99"
	Jake Minch	George	"UNICEF"
	Joe Jonas	Music for People Who Believe in Love	"Water Under the Bridge"
	Syd	TBA	"Die For This"
	Lindsay Lohan	Freakier Friday (soundtrack)	"Baby"
	Amaarae	Black Star	"Buy2Buy"
			"She Is My Drug"
	Tame Impala	Deadbeat	"Dracula"	Tame Impala
			"Oblivion"	Tame Impala
			"Afterthought"	Tame Impala

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
2016	APRA Music Awards of 2016	Best Music for an Advertisement	Rio 2016 Olympics	Nominated
2017	APRA Music Awards of 2017	Dance Work of the Year	"Keeping Score"	Nominated
2018	61st Annual Grammy Awards	Song of the Year	"The Middle"	Nominated
	APRA Music Awards of 2018	Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year	Herself	Won
		Country Work of the Year	"House"	Nominated
2019	Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition	Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition	"The Middle"	2nd
	APRA Music Awards of 2019	Dance Work of the Year	"The Middle"	Won
			"Tell Me You Love Me"	Nominated
		Most Played Australian Work	"The Middle"	Won
		Rock Work of the Year	"Never Ever"	Won
		Songwriter of the Year	Herself	Won
	2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards	Songwriter of the Year		Nominated
	53rd Annual Country Music Association Awards	Song of the Year	"Girl"	Nominated
	J Awards of 2019	You Done Good Award	Herself	Nominated
2020	APRA Music Awards of 2020	Most Performed Country Work	"Girl"	Nominated
		Most Performed Urban Work	"Exit Sign"	Nominated
		Overseas Recognition: Los Angeles	Herself	Nominated
		Songwriter of the Year: Los Angeles		Won
2022	Ivor Novello Awards	Best Song Musically and Lyrically	"Haunted House"	Nominated [12]
2023	APRA Music Awards of 2023 [13]	Song of the Year	"Say Nothing"	Won
		Most Performed Dance/Electronic Work		Nominated
2024	APRA Music Awards of 2024 [14] [15]	Song of the Year	"Therapy" (Sarah Aarons, Ajay Bhattacharyya)	Nominated
		Most Performed Australian Work		Nominated
		Most Performed Pop Work		Nominated
2025	APRA Music Awards of 2025 [16]	Most Performed Alternative Work	"Good Mood" by The Rubens (The Rubens and Sarah Aarons)	Nominated

References

1. Moran, Robert (9 February 2019). "The unknown Aussie muso who's up for the Grammys' top prize". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
2. "For Sarah Aarons, illness was a 'turning point' on the way to a chart-topping song". ABC News. 14 July 2017.
3. "Meet the 23-year-old Melbourne writer behind the biggest pop song in the US". 19 June 2017.
4. "The Secrets Behind How Australia's Biggest Pop Tracks Get Made".
5. "10 quick questions with Ambassador Sarah Aarons". Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
6. "The 20 Hottest Songwriters in Pop Music Right Now".
7. "Full List of Winners". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Archived from the original on 5 April 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
8. "Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2018. Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
9. "Country Work of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2018. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
10. "Sarah Aarons, Amy Shark, Dean Lewis Win Big at 2019 APRA Awards". Billboard .
11. Brereton, Greta (11 June 2021). "Check out Peking Duk's anthemic new single "Chemicals"". NME. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
12. Flynn, Tilly (7 April 2022). "Nominations announced for The Ivors 2022". The Ivors Academy. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
13. "APRA AMCOS: 2023 APRA Music Awards". APRA AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society). Retrieved 28 April 2023.
14. "G Flip, Genesis Owusu, RVG & More Shortlisted For 2024 APRA Song Of The Year". The Music . 22 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
15. "2024 APRA Music Awards nominees announced: Paul Kelly, Troye Sivan, Tex Perkins, and more". Mumbrella. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
16. "2025 APRA Music Awards Nominees Include Kevin Parker, King Stingray, Missy Higgins, Tones And I, and Troye Sivan". noise11. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.