Matt Maltese: Pop’s A-List Songwriter & Shakespearean Musings
Here’s a breakdown of the key points from the text,focusing on Matt Maltese’s career journey:
* Early Major Label Experience & Rejection: Maltese signed with atlantic Records as a 19-year-old,but he clashed with the label’s expectations,being “snobbish” and refusing to compromise his artistic vision (like his insistence on a minor key for a Christmas cover). This led to him being dropped. He admits this was a necessary “blow” as he wasn’t treating music like a job.
* Financial Pressure & Creative Rebirth: Facing the prospect of needing a “real job” within eight months after using up his £50,000 advance, Maltese retreated and focused on songwriting.This period of isolation and personal difficulty proved creatively fruitful, leading to a more authentic and heartfelt approach to his music.
* Self-reliant Success with Krystal: His second album, Krystal (released independently in 2019), marked the beginning of a “positive spiral” in his career.
* TikTok Viral Moment with “As the World Caves In”: His 2017 song gained massive popularity on TikTok in 2021, boosted by shares from artists like Charli XCX and Shawn Mendes. It became a global hit, briefly ranking as the second most streamed song worldwide by a British artist (behind Dua Lipa). He wryly notes Atlantic Records is profiting from the song’s success.
* Shifting fanbase: His fanbase has evolved from “divorced dads and students” to a younger demographic (18-23 year olds), particularly in America. He finds it amusing to be considered a “TikTok person.”
* Passion for Songwriting: Maltese emphasizes that songwriting is his core passion, and he actively pursues co-writing opportunities with other artists, both in group sessions and more intimate collaborations.
In essence, the article portrays Maltese as an artist who initially struggled with the commercial pressures of the music industry, but found success by staying true to his artistic vision and embracing unexpected platforms like TikTok. He’s now thriving as an independent artist with a growing fanbase and a dedication to the craft of songwriting.