Interview: Matt Maltese

Matt Maltese has a peculiar confidence. His songs are both melancholic and deeply personal and yet he’s had to get used to sharing them on a London scene where most other bands have safety in numbers. We caught up with him ahead of the upcoming show at The Louisana to discuss the barriers he’s had to overcome as a solo artist.

Comic Life dropped last month, how have you found the response to the track?

It’s been really good actually. It’s never super easy to know what people think because you only get the comments on social media and stuff. Personally I felt pretty happy with it though. There’s not a lot that I can go on but the people who have said things about it have been very kind so I’m happy.

It’s very melancholic and personal, do you think that’s why it chimes with people?

I think all you can do is try and speak about what is personal. I think people often relate to things that are personal to others rather than things that have been written to appeal to others. It’s often difficult to feel like you’re listening to something real if that’s the case. So it’s been nice that people have connected to things that feel pretty self-involved and personal on my end. For people to say that it speaks to them is strange but very nice. I suspect it’s the way it is when I listen to musicians that I really like.

Did it take you a while to get the confidence to share your feelings?

I think I’ve counteracted that with the self-deprecation in the lyrics. There’s something quite inherently pathetic about having a career based on telling everybody your feelings. I think once you cross that barrier it’s pretty enjoyable because you feel like you can say anything. That’s what I want to feel like in my life anyway. Having a certain lack of privacy becomes something that you sign up to. You sign up to having less privacy about your emotions and feelings. That’s been a barrier to cross but once you cross it it’s enjoyable.

You’re not exactly new to making music, is it weird to be picking up momentum?

The momentum thing is always heard from other people. I don’t get a massive sense of it other than when I play shows and there’s more people there. That’s obviously super nice. It’s great to know that people are listening out there and that I’m not sending it out into the ether with nothing coming back. So I’d say yes. It feels like more people are listening and that’s all I can ask for.

You play around the London scene with a lot of bands, Is it daunting being a solo artist there?

I think it was daunting at first but I feel very much more comfortable now. I feel better now because I’ve become friends with a lot of those bands. Again it was that inner-barrier of where you’re suddenly sharing your feelings to everyone. Especially in that group. It was a strange group of people to be sharing your feelings with over a piano. It was really helpful for me in that it was the ultimate test of the guts in doing that. Especially because it was doing it to people who write very different types of music. They’re only different genres but sometimes I feel I can be a bit soppy to people who write grunge rock. It’s a really great thing to feel comfortable with and it makes you feel more comfortable playing live in general. Besides all of that I’ve been opened up to a world of music that I really like and I draw a lot from it. I’ve found some great friends from it. So it’s been a great part of being in London because I felt part of a community.

You’ve just got back from a few European shows,  how was that experience?

It was brilliant. I didn’t fully know what to expect but I think the European shows in general have been very welcoming and nice. The Berlin show was particularly great because that was the only one that was my own show. It was a grim wintery Berlin Monday night and there was like fifty people there. It’s always strange when people not in your immediate vicinity actually listen to your music and can be assed to get out of their house. It’s always really nice and very encouraging. The other shows were great too as I was surrounded by bands I love. Like I got to see Alex G play which was great

I guess it will give you a confidence going into these UK dates and the Bristol show?

Yes besides anything playing with a band has made me feel way better about life. The more we play the better we get. So it feels like a nice way to start the UK tour in that sense. I’ve played in Bristol a few times, mainly as support slots though. I played with Hamilton Leithauser at The Lantern and a few others. I really like Bristol as a place because I have some friends there as well. I’ve got a good feeling about it.

Matt Maltese plays The Louisiana on November 12.

Tickets are available through: www.thelouisiana.net