For Matt Maltese, the world really is a nice place - albeit one he's spent years proving to others. The British-Canadian singer-songwriter has been quietly building a reputation as one of pop's most distinctive and influential voices, with a unique blend of introspective lyrics and wry humour reminiscent of his hero Leonard Cohen.
Three years ago, Maltese was co-writing with friends when they came up with the stripped-back piano ballad "Magnolias", about imagining his own funeral. It would go on to become the final track on Rosalía's critically-acclaimed album Lux, and a major surprise hit in its own right. The connection between Maltese and Rosalía is still surreal for him - "it was like something fell into her lap from somewhere" he says with a smile.
Growing up in Reading to Canadian parents, Maltese moved to London as a teenager and quickly found himself part of the city's vibrant alternative scene. But his music never quite fit in - he's always been the "soppiest one" in a room full of punk bands, preferring to focus on crafting songs that are more about feeling than rebellion.
Despite struggling to find success with his debut album on Atlantic Records, Maltese has since become a sought-after songwriter for other artists. His 2021 hit "As the World Caves In" (a bleak apocalyptic ballad imagining Donald Trump and Theresa May's last night on earth) blew up on TikTok, earning him millions of streams and a whole new fanbase.
The success of "As the World Caves In" brought Maltese a newfound level of recognition, but also some unwanted expectations. He jokes that he's now seen as a "TikTok person", which has skewed people's perceptions of his music. And yet, despite all the attention, Maltese remains committed to honing his craft - "I'm obsessed with songwriters from the 70s", he says, "and I feel very lucky that people care".
Maltese's collaborations have been some of the most notable recent developments in pop, including work with jazz-pop singer Celeste and UK rap legend Kano. His real passion is songwriting itself - "I didn't come out the womb with a mic on", he says. And it's this dedication to his craft that has earned him a reputation as one of pop's most exciting and influential voices.
Three years ago, Maltese was co-writing with friends when they came up with the stripped-back piano ballad "Magnolias", about imagining his own funeral. It would go on to become the final track on Rosalía's critically-acclaimed album Lux, and a major surprise hit in its own right. The connection between Maltese and Rosalía is still surreal for him - "it was like something fell into her lap from somewhere" he says with a smile.
Growing up in Reading to Canadian parents, Maltese moved to London as a teenager and quickly found himself part of the city's vibrant alternative scene. But his music never quite fit in - he's always been the "soppiest one" in a room full of punk bands, preferring to focus on crafting songs that are more about feeling than rebellion.
Despite struggling to find success with his debut album on Atlantic Records, Maltese has since become a sought-after songwriter for other artists. His 2021 hit "As the World Caves In" (a bleak apocalyptic ballad imagining Donald Trump and Theresa May's last night on earth) blew up on TikTok, earning him millions of streams and a whole new fanbase.
The success of "As the World Caves In" brought Maltese a newfound level of recognition, but also some unwanted expectations. He jokes that he's now seen as a "TikTok person", which has skewed people's perceptions of his music. And yet, despite all the attention, Maltese remains committed to honing his craft - "I'm obsessed with songwriters from the 70s", he says, "and I feel very lucky that people care".
Maltese's collaborations have been some of the most notable recent developments in pop, including work with jazz-pop singer Celeste and UK rap legend Kano. His real passion is songwriting itself - "I didn't come out the womb with a mic on", he says. And it's this dedication to his craft that has earned him a reputation as one of pop's most exciting and influential voices.
! He's all about authenticity, which I think is so refreshing in today's music scene. His stripped-back piano ballad "Magnolias" was literally hauntingly beautiful 
. I love how he's always been true to himself and his artistry, even when it didn't fit into the mainstream punk scene he grew up in 
. And can we talk about how talented he is as a songwriter? His collabs with Celeste and Kano are straight fire 
! What I admire most about Matt Maltese is that he's still super humble and dedicated to his craft, even after all the attention "As the World Caves In" brought him 
.
, like who wouldn't want to write songs for rosalia & celeste?! 
He's been quietly building this rep for years and I'm so glad people are finally starting to notice him. I mean, I've been listening to "Magnolias" on repeat since it came out... that piano ballad gives me all the feels 
And yeah, his TikTok thing is a bit annoying, but hey, success is success, right? 
[Image of a person trying to hold back tears while laughing](https://i.imgur.com/H9R5Q3e.jpg)
someone says Matt Maltese is the "soppiest one" in a room full of punk bands and he's still making hits with just his voice and a piano
. Newsflash: it's not like he was a struggling artist or anything, he got a record deal and made a decent album that happened to resonate with people for some reason. And yeah, working with other artists is probably just what he needed to get his name out there... like it's really rocket science 
I'm really impressed by Matt Maltese's story, you know? He's always been about creating music that's genuine and true to himself, even when it didn't fit in with the scene he grew up in. And now, his dedication to songwriting has paid off big time! 
What I love most about Maltese is that despite all the attention, he remains humble and committed to honing his craft. He's got a real passion for songwriting, and it's inspiring to see someone who's so dedicated to their art. 
does the fact that his song resonated with Rosalía's fans mean that we're not seein' him for who he truly is? 
his collabs with celeste and kano are straight fire 
. Now that he's found success with "As The World Caves In" though, people are really starting to appreciate his songwriting skills 
. I'm curious to see what he comes up with next! 
I'm all about that 70s songwriter vibe, have you heard of Nick Drake or Elliott Smith? they're like the ultimate inspiration for me 