INTERVIEW: Matilda

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Hi Matilda, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?

Thank you! I’ve been good, just trying to sort everything together for my EP release as well as settling in back home in Sweden where I am over the summer.

Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Queen”?

You know when you start writing music from a young age but you’re kind of in a lot of learning years before it gets good and before you really learn how to express yourself, “Queen” is that song where I first felt like I can actually do this. I had a strong emotional experience that needed to flow out of me into melodies and lyrics. I wrote it almost 2 years ago now, but I waited some time to find the right producer and find the right time to release it.

Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song?

Absolutely, this song came after I was in a short relationship. Where everything happen so fast and I thought I was in love. It was the first time where I’ve been appreciated and praised in that way, feeling like a queen.  It was almost too unfamiliar to me that I somehow felt unworthy of it, so I wrote this song to kind of understand what I felt.

Any plans to release a video for the single?

When I write music I feel connected to I instantly get a vision of how the music video would look like, so I would love to do one. However it’s not in the plans right now but you never know what happens.

How was the recording and writing process?

The writing came really quickly, or at least the first draft of it.  I came up with most of the melodies, and then the concept “you make me feel like a queen”. Then a year later I had two other songwriters that I met in a class at Berklee College of Music to help me tweak the lyrics. I wanted the production to be very simple and let the song breath. The producer and I ended up created something a little darker and different that I usually do but that’s exactly what the song and my sound needed to get the right message out.

What role does Sweden play in your music?

Sweden is my home and it will always be my home, but I don’t think I’m specifically Influenced by it. Many people ask, what is it with the pop industry and Sweden, and it’s hard to say other then I think we are not afraid of taking the pop music music into a honest and dark place.

How Adele and Jessie Ware has influence your writing?

Adele was probably my first idol, her voice was unique compared to all other pop female singers, and mine was similar to hers. Her songs are like real conversations and stories. People can really resonates with them, she writes them with such great melodies and a simplicity that I was drawn to. Jessie ware is also a great writer, haven’t been very influenced by her per say, but like Adele writing emotionally and conveying your own thoughts and emotions in a beautiful way is exactly what I wanted to do.

Does the new single mean we can expect a new material – how’s that coming along?

I have a 4 song EP called Drifting By coming out soon, which I’m really excited about.  It’s been a long working process and I’m happy to share it with you. I’ve also recently started writing on a future album project so you can definitely expect a lot of singles from that in the Fall.

Any tentative release date or title in mind?

The EP is called Drifting By and it will be released on June 29th!

Any plans to hit the road?

I would love to play at some different places in America other than LA, so I might schedule something soon. I’m in Sweden over the summer I will be playing at various local venues, which I’m really excited about.

What else is happening next in Matilda’s world?

I am trying to build some great connections here in Sweden as well, I’m having some dope sessions with writers and producers that are with major labels, which is new for me and very exciting. Other then that, I’m really trying to get out there and get a name for my music and myself, trying to learn the whole business side of music, which is not the easiest. I also want to finish my album project and keep working with amazing musicians.

Listen Here: https://soundcloud.com/matilda-j-2/queen