Quick-fire Questions: 10 minutes with Matt-Felix
Without sounding too pessimistic, offering up anything resolutely new in the indie sphere is a bit of a tough ask these days. We spent the early part of this century completely wrapped up in a blaze of electric guitars, laddish rule, and soaring anthems that it arguably became too rich to taste. Now, what we’re largely left with are cobbled attempts at reviving indie sleaze once in a while, or whatever supposed artistic direction Alex Turner spits out next. But could Matt-Felix be the one to save us?
He certainly heralds all the markers of a new indie horizon, if history and precedent are anything to go by. Signed to the same label as Oasis, he evidently possesses a sonic calibre among the greats that has quickly made him one of London’s hottest tickets. But musically and visually picking up the flair of David Bowie, sonics of Harry Nilsson, and lyricism of Bob Dylan, all while still firmly impressing his own footprint, Matt-Felix may only be rising the ranks but already carries the spark of a bona fide star.
Indeed, following last year’s EP Kingdom of You and Me, as well as this year’s singles ‘Change’ and ‘Cold with Desire’ – the latter of which is released on May 16th – the singer has set a trajectory for himself that can only lead on to bigger and better heights. Along with a string of dates at festivals and gigs set across this summer, Matt-Felix is making it his mission to become indie-rock’s next high-flying prodigal son. The take off is surely set to be soon.
It’s always a smug feeling when you know you discovered an artist before they hit the zeitgeist, and for that reason, we sat down with Matt-Felix to ask him some of the most burning questions first. They may seem trivial now, but when he’s basking in the big leagues, at least we can all say we knew his dream dinner party line-up and what he picks to play on the pub jukebox before the masses take over.
Quick-fire Questions with Matt-Felix:
If you could get any artist to cover one of your songs, who would you get to sing what?
“I’d probably get Bob Dylan to cover ‘Lay Low’. Just because I think that’d be quite funny.”
If you could time travel to any musical era, where would you go?
“I would love to go probably to the ‘70s, because there was a lot going on.”
What’s your dream dinner party line-up?
“I’ll keep it really boring. I’ll go Bowie, Dylan, Nick Cave and John Lennon.”
What was the last song that you listened to?
“It was ‘Clair De Lune’ [by Claude Debussy] before bed last night.”
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing with your life?
“I’ve thought about this. I think I’d be a cook. I like food, so probably a chef.”
What was the best advice that anyone’s ever given you?
“Just to do what you love with your life, really. Do what you love; follow that. Follow your gut instinct.”
If you were to be dropped on a desert island, what would be the prized possession you would take with you?
“A knife or a fishing rod – I can’t decide.”
What’s your dream gig to play?
“Wembley Stadium.”
What’s your favourite meal?
“It’s called a Nasi Bungkus. It’s an Indonesian Balinese meal. It’s like a rice dish with a mixture of different things.”
Picture the scene – we’re in the pub, and you’re put in charge of the jukebox. What are the first three songs you’re playing?
“I’ll go for a Beatles theme – ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’, ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’, and ‘A Day in the Life’. Not a very fun pub night, but it’ll be interesting.”
What’s an interest or hobby you have that people wouldn’t necessarily expect from you?
“Cooking. I love it.”
In your opinion, what’s the worst movie of all time?
“There’s that movie with Jason Statham, and it’s about the shark. It’s called The Meg or something? I just find it hilarious and, I mean, it is awful. There’s also that one where there’s the sharks falling out the sky or something – that seems ridiculous as well.”
On the opposite end of that spectrum, what’s your guilty pleasure in terms of films, music, or TV?
“Well, my partner loves Friends. It’s not a guilty pleasure, but I’ve started to really love Friends.”
What do you think is the best song of yours that would suit the summer?
“Probably my new single, ‘Cold with Desire’.”
Are The Beatles overrated?
“No, absolutely not. I think they’re underrated, if anything.”
