Rapid-fire Questions
1. I told a girl that I can dunk a basketball, but I can’t. How do I get myself out of this
situation?
Ask her to move in with you.
2. Do you know any good cellphone repair shops?
No,I really don't.
3. What have you been listening to lately?
Podcasts. Particularly ‘death, sex, and money’
4. What are you most excited about?
Writing songs? Coffee in the morning?
5. In what ways has Ray Romano impacted your life?
Everybody Loves Raymond was my life when I was 8 and a half.
6. Is right now a good time to invest in art?
Hmmmm impossible question.
7. What is your biggest fear?
Being bad at what I want to be good at.
8. Can you do a cover of the “Cheers” theme song?
Im busy all week.
9. Any South London artists that we should listen to?
Alex Burey, Sorry, Jerkcurb
10. What is the worst advice that you can give me?
Always talk before you think.
To start things off, can you introduce yourself?
I'm Matt, I live in London. My parents are Canadian. I write and sometimes sing what I
write. Should I go on?
Do you remember what first sparked your interest in music?
I don’t really, but I used to love musicals as a young kid, before I hated them with a passion
when I went to secondary school. Also, I remember watching ‘rocky and bullwinkle’ as a
really young kid and hearing that supertramp song in it and losing my shit.
Was there a moment where you realized that music was something you wanted to pursue?
My dad would always play me leonard cohen which I think were some of the first times I
thought, god I wanna make something as funny as this.
There is a lot of talent coming out of South London recently. What was it like coming up in
like coming up in that music scene?
It was great really. When I first came to London, I was so aware of how incredible some
musicians in that area were, which I think pushed me in a way that wouldn’t have happened
elsewhere. I'm really thankful I can exist somewhere where there are lots of people better than
me around.
Is the music scene pretty supportive or is everyone just kind of doing their own thing?
Yes to both I'd say. I think you can definitely create a community and support eachother in
London, but also, like everything, groups go through phases and so I think its also important
that everyone does their own thing too (or knows how to at least). I think sometimes you
need that support and sometimes you need to break away and see where you’d go without it.
Because everything changes always.
While doing some research on you, I found out that you also write poetry. Where can we find
that?
Theres not a lot of it online! It was included with an early EP I did, and I think it’s also
scattered around my Instagram if you can bring yourself to search through it there.
What are the main differences and similarities between songwriting and poetry?
Songwriting is of course so intertwined with melody whereas my experience of poetry is that
you can have a lot more fun with form. That’s not to say one is more freeing than the other. I
also think a melody can make a lyric incredible, but with poetry its just a page and you.
Do you ever write multiple songs based on one idea or experience?
Yeah I'd say I do. I think often a 4 minute song doesn’t capture everything you want to
concerning that experience.
Do you feel more emotionally attached to any particular songs?
I feel pretty emotionally attached to them all to be honest. aha
What happens to the songs that don’t make the cut?
They forever live on a hard drive, half-finished. Sometimes a lyric from one of them might
make it out the graveyard though.
Has it been difficult to find inspiration with how crazy this year has been?
I think it’s just been very different. Difficult for sure, too. But there are so many emotions
still being experienced through all this, and I kind of feel, however cliche it is, that I need
writing. So I’ve leant on that as much as ever, really.
You recently released your EP Madhouse. How does it feel to have put that out?
It felt stranger than usual, without live shows and with the world we’re in. But I get a lot out
of making stuff and putting it out, so it felt good in that sense
Can you talk to us a bit about Madhouse?
It’s a collection of 6 songs, mostly from the same time, about love and loss and life.
Is there anything that you want your listeners to take away from the EP?
Mostly that strangeness is fine. And that the journey through love and loss can be incredibly
twisted and that’s fine too.
How do you know when a song or album is “finished” and ready to be shared with the world?
I never feel like its finished – I think you just have to say it and send it and not be able to take
back your word.
Was your approach going into making this EP different from your previous work?
Not hugely, I worked on some of it with people I’ve worked with before, and I also made a
lot of it in my bedroom which I've done a lot before too.
Do you often revisit your previous work?
Not really, I try to move on each time which I think needs a certain detachment from past
work
What has been your favorite accomplishment as far as music goes?
I think gigs are always a special moment. So probably the London shows I've played.
What are you currently working on?
I’m currently writing for another album, and hoping to record it soon.
What is something that most people wouldn’t know about Matt Maltese?
I sleep with my eyes open. Kidding
To wrap things up, do you have any questions for me?
Are you having a good day?
Yeah, I'm sitting in a coffee shop editing interviews today. So its pretty much a perfect day for me. Thanks for asking.
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