Rihanna's New Song 'Stay' "Speaks To Her Intimate Side", Says Mikky Ekko

8 January 2013, 10:56 | Updated: 8 January 2013, 11:00

The man behind the Bajan star's latest chart smash reveals how much the song means to both artists.

Rihanna's latest single 'Stay' reveals an "intimate side" of the singer that is "so far removed from what people think of her", according to the song's writer and collaborator Mikky Ekko.

The US singer-songwriter told Gigwise that the song means so much to both artists and is pleased the 'We Found Love' singer can showcase a different side of herself.

"The track had become so special to me as well, and knowing what the track means to me and what I think it means to her too, it really worked," he confessed. "It speaks to such an intimate side of her that is so rare and so far removed from what people think of her."

He said he met the Bajan star in Los Angeles and was surprised at how on board with the track she was.

"I met up with some of her people in LA. She came out, we met, we hugged and talked for a minute about the song, she said 'oh, just so you know I've cut the vocal,' and I was like 'WHOA!' and of course I said 'that's no problem' - even though I was a little freaking out," he added.

The Louisiana artist also spoke about the experience of being in the studio working on Rihanna's album and the intensity of the experience.

"Their pace is insane," he said. "They had the studios we were working in booked out for three months, on a cycle.

"There were people constantly coming in and out, in and out, and it was so crazy to be in that room and that headspace. It was like nothing I had ever experienced before."

The song is currently performing well on the Vodafone Big Top 40 – peaking at number three upon her 'Unapologetic' album release back in November.