Matilda Mann candidly reveals her sentiments regarding her recently unveiled acoustic EP, You Look Like You Can’t Swim‘: “These songs feel like ones I would have dreamed of writing when I was 17.” These heartfelt songs, rich with authenticity, showcase her lyrical and melodic capabilities. One such track from this compilation is ‘In Plain Sight’. This song captures an unexpected discovery of love with such sincerity that it’s sure to have listeners swaying to its breezy, summer-infused rhythm.
Matilda considers ‘In Plain Sight’ an example of how, sometimes, the right person might be just before your eyes. As she sings, “Some would say it’s obsessive, but I think it’s damn impressive, that I found you hidden in plain sight.” This line exemplifies her belief in love’s uncanny way of surprising us, which is a recurring theme throughout her work.
Raised in London, her spellbinding, poetic songwriting is a signature of her style. The city’s vibrant culture and atmosphere have undoubtedly shaped her unique artistic flair and inspired her work. Join us in this interview as we explore more about Matilda’s journey as an artist, her inspirations, and her just-out acoustic acoustic EP, ‘You Look Like You Can’t Swim’.
photography by Kid Circus
Your latest single, ‘In Plain Sight’, is an ode to the beauty of finding love where you least expect it. Can you walk us through the story behind this track?
I wrote it with Jonah, with whom I’ve been working for a few years now, and Anthony, whom I had just met that day. We all shared stories about how we met our partners and reflected on how remarkable it is to find someone so perfectly suited to us as individuals.
You wrote ‘In Plain Sight’ on the hottest day of the year, and created a beautiful love song to dance to. What experiences truly make a summer unforgettable for you?
Two of my best friends live in other countries, so we don’t get to see each other as much. We always make sure to plan a summer holiday together, and it’s always incredible and so wonderful to see them.
Speaking of your new EP, you’ve shared that it’s your favourite project so far and that the songs were written with a lot of sincerity and honesty. What makes this EP more special to you?
At my core, I would say I’m a folk artist (if you really had to categorize me), and these songs feel like ones I would have dreamed of writing when I was 17. I’ve never had a string arrangement before, and now three of these songs on the EP have strings. I can’t explain how happy and excited it makes me. They feel like my own personal Disney soundtrack.
“Take the lows with the mindset that it could always be much worse.”
‘You Look Like You Can’t Swim’ – the title itself is both whimsical and compelling. Can you share the significance of it in relation to the songs on the EP?
It’s named after one of the tracks, which is called ‘You Look Like You Can’t Swim’. I wrote it the first time I went to write in Los Angeles. I remember feeling really overwhelmed, like an alien, not knowing what I was meant to do while I was there. I felt like everyone was looking at me, knowing that I didn’t know how to function, that I didn’t know how to be an artist. So, that feeling kind of transformed into writing a song about feeling unable to be yourself outside of your comfort zone.
Having grown up in London, its culture and atmosphere must have significantly impacted you. Could you share how your upbringing shaped both your artistic style and your personal development?
I think the main part of growing up in London that shaped me was attending Brit School for 6th form. Everyone there wanted to be in music from a young age, and it was so exciting to be around like-minded people all the time. I didn’t know “an Artist” could be a job until I saw some of my friends becoming them.
“Feeling unable to be yourself outside of your comfort zone can transform into creative expression.”
What’s your favourite part about performing live?
Seeing the people that support me in person. Getting to put a face to the streams and meeting fans who have been listening to me from the start. Also, anytime someone whips out their torch or lighter when I play a slow song – that moment is the best feeling ever.
How do you navigate the highs and lows that come with a career in music?
Like any job, there are highs and lows. I always keep in mind that I couldn’t wish for a better job, so I take the lows with the mindset that it could always be much worse. Of course, there are parts of my job I don’t love, like managing social media, which I don’t think is any artist’s favourite part of the job. But in this day and age, it’s such a massive part of releasing music and presenting what kind of artist you are, so you just have to find a way to make it unique for you.
“Social media, though challenging, is a massive part of presenting what kind of artist you are.”
Can you tell us about a time when a fan’s response to your music deeply moved you?
Honestly, anytime people come to my shows, I’m always blown away. That people want to spend their time and money to come and see me live always means the world. I get to meet them, talk to them about music, and learn where they’re from. Sometimes, people have even FLOWN to see me, which I think is insane, wonderful, and makes me feel so lucky.
Finally, as a new British artist, your talent feels timeless and 2023 is shaping up to be an important year for you. What are your goals for the rest of the year and beyond?
I’m currently working on finishing my debut album. I’m hoping it’ll be finished this year and we can start the preparation for a 2024 release. There are a lot of places I would love to tour, including Asia and America. Hopefully, I will be doing one of my own UK tours in 2024, alongside the album release.
‘You Look Like You Can’t Swim’ out now: matildamann.lnk.to/YLLYCS
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