I tend to write and then after the fact, look at a song and say, hey, that sounds like it might be commercially viable for such and such an artist. I rarely, if ever, set down to intentionally write for a specific artist.

If I had a writer's deal with a publisher, it would probably work the other way around.

Less is more. Say it in a concise manner with as few words as is possible to paint the story in music. At least that's what I hear at the songwriter events I attend from time to time.

That's not always how I write. But, I can be encouraged to work in that manner. That was the case in the example cited in the OP. Some of my favorite recent country hits are clearly examples of that style of writing too. Concise, to the point, killer lyrics and music.... short songs.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.