by Amira Dorant
Amongst the stars to rise out of the pandemic is artist @matildaacole. At only 19, the singer/songwriter is ready to blaze a trail in the industry. A lover of cats and all things family, Matilda spoke to me about her intimate relationship with music and what keeps her inspired. With the release of her EP ‘The High Dive’ on March 23rd, we sat down to chat about all things Matilda Cole.
What does it mean to be a 19-year-old in the music industry?
Honestly, pre-Billie Eilish I don’t think young women were taken as seriously as they are now, but the incredible young female artists we have now really have set the tone for people like me to be given more creative control. I felt confident enough to be in a room and say these are my ideas and luckily, I haven’t had anyone tell me, “No, you don’t know what you're on about.” It was more of a personal thing, imposter syndrome like, “I don’t know what I'm doing.”
Nobody really knows what they're doing. It’s my music, my thing, nobody knows it better than I do.
What was the inspiration behind the ‘Again’ music video?
There’s this film called Valerie’s Weekend of Wonders, this gorgeously shot very old film about this girl who develops magical powers. I sent that to the director Amy (Becker Burnett) who’s incredible to work with. It feels like she literally reaches into my brain, and I have like a teeny weeny idea and she fully forms it into an amazing plan for a music video. My inspirations visually were very much coming-of-age films like The Virgin Suicides and I wanted a video that really represents that. I love the 60s and the vintage look, and I bought that to her, and she made this incredible, incredible music video.
If you could collaborate with any artist dead or alive who would
it be?
My number one artist is Patti Smith, I would just love to… we don’t even need to collaborate, I just want to get a coffee with her. I think I would be too embarrassed to propose any ideas to her because she’s just so incredible, but would love to be mentored by her or talk to her. Recently, I found this album Belladonna of Sadness by Alexandra Savior. It's so amazing and I was having all these ideas, so I would love to do a song with her or somehow get into a room when she’s working. She's so cool.
You said you started professionally during Covid-19 and we all know what a difficult time that was. What drives you to keep making music?
It’s kind of the only thing I’ve done. When I was young I didn’t make music so much as write. I think my entire life, every time I’ve had anything happen to me, good or bad, the only way I’ve been able to cope with it is to write, and I love singing and I’ve always sung. As I got older I started putting them together. It’s not something I could imagine not doing, it's such an outlet for me. I’ve always wanted to be a musician but the gap between wanting to be a musician and being one is such a hard gap to bridge, because you don't know where the bridge is or what it looks like or what you would have to do to get over it. Everyday I get to wake up and do more music stuff. I think,“How has this happened?” It was just so weird, it was Covid and everyone else was doing nothing and then in one week my whole life changed. My A-levels got canceled and suddenly I’m a full time musician now.
What are your hopes for the future, personally and professionally speaking?
I think the only thing I could hope for is that I can keep doing what I am doing now. I just love it. Just to have people connect with my music is enough that I consider myself making more of it… I mean it would be nice to be a global star, but that’s not what drives me. It's more that connection with people, essentially telling my own story and then people find parts of themselves in what I am saying. It's so rewarding. Anytime people message me, “I listened to your music while I was doing this or I connected with it because of this,” it's the most weird feeling and I love it. Sometimes I forget people actually listen to my music and it's not just mine. Maybe I’ll make an album. I really want to tour. My number one goal is to tour America.
Your EP is coming out soon, tell me all about that. It sounds so exciting!
The High Dive came out on the 23rd of March. I am very excited. I think this EP sets the tone for anything else to come, and it is sonically exactly how I wanted it to sound, I am performing on April 14th at the Courtyard Theater. It's my first ever live show, and I am so excited because all I’ve ever wanted to do is play live. I am also terrified, but it will be fine!
Tickets for Matildas’ debut show at the Courtyard Theater can be found here.