For Matt Maltese, life has been a masterclass in serendipity and co-writing collaborations. Three years ago, he found himself in a casual jam session with friends, which yielded the stripped-back piano ballad "Magnolias" about imagining his own funeral. What's remarkable is how this song, written from a place of vulnerability and introspection, would eventually find its way onto the Spanish pop sensation Rosalía's operatic masterpiece, Lux.
It was only six months ago when Maltese received Rosalía's demo of "Magnolias," which had been circulating online since. The surreal experience left him in awe, recalling a moment where his friends were discussing an unverified photo of a Rosalía album tracklisting – with the song blurring into view. When he heard the final version of the song on Lux, it was like being transported to another world. Maltese admits that Rosalía's rendition is "exquisite" and "a gift from someone, somewhere, that it fell into her lap."
Maltese's own journey to stardom has been marked by perseverance and dedication to his craft. Born in Reading, Canada, he moved to London as a teenager, eventually becoming part of the burgeoning south London scene centered around Brixton Windmill pub. While his peers were drawn to post-punk bands like Goat Girl, Shame, and Sorry, Maltese found himself embracing a more sensitive side – one that yearned for depth in lyrics and melodies.
In 2015, he signed with Atlantic Records based on promising SoundCloud demos. However, his debut album, Bad Contestant (2018), failed to meet the label's expectations, leaving him feeling like an ill fit within the major label system. He recalls a time when he turned down an opportunity to cover John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" for a BBC Christmas trailer – insisting on recording it in a minor key, much to his own dismay. The rejection served as a wake-up call, allowing Maltese to re-evaluate his approach and eventually work towards self-sustaining success.
This introspection has led him down a path of collaborative songwriting, with artists like Celeste, Joy Crookes, Jamie T, Tom Misch, and even the Bard himself, William Shakespeare. His 2017 track "As the World Caves In" – an apocalyptic ballad imagining Donald Trump and Theresa May's last night on earth together – experienced a TikTok surge that catapulted him into mainstream attention.
Although this newfound popularity has brought in revenue (around £20,000 per week at its peak), Maltese is quick to note that it also skewed people's perceptions of his art. The young songwriter now identifies as "a TikTok person," acknowledging that this aspect of his career may have altered the way fans initially encountered him.
At heart, however, Maltese's true passion lies in songwriting itself – an endeavor he has always approached with humility and a deep respect for his craft. When it comes to co-writing, he finds solace in the intimacy of these collaborations, often working closely with artists like Celeste and Joy Crookes to bring their ideas to life.
Despite his burgeoning success, Maltese remains humble about his cultural relevance – insisting that he's just someone "obsessed with songwriters from the 70s." With Rosalía's Lux now firmly etched into the world of pop, it will be fascinating to see how this unlikely partnership continues to shape the trajectory of Maltese's career.
It was only six months ago when Maltese received Rosalía's demo of "Magnolias," which had been circulating online since. The surreal experience left him in awe, recalling a moment where his friends were discussing an unverified photo of a Rosalía album tracklisting – with the song blurring into view. When he heard the final version of the song on Lux, it was like being transported to another world. Maltese admits that Rosalía's rendition is "exquisite" and "a gift from someone, somewhere, that it fell into her lap."
Maltese's own journey to stardom has been marked by perseverance and dedication to his craft. Born in Reading, Canada, he moved to London as a teenager, eventually becoming part of the burgeoning south London scene centered around Brixton Windmill pub. While his peers were drawn to post-punk bands like Goat Girl, Shame, and Sorry, Maltese found himself embracing a more sensitive side – one that yearned for depth in lyrics and melodies.
In 2015, he signed with Atlantic Records based on promising SoundCloud demos. However, his debut album, Bad Contestant (2018), failed to meet the label's expectations, leaving him feeling like an ill fit within the major label system. He recalls a time when he turned down an opportunity to cover John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" for a BBC Christmas trailer – insisting on recording it in a minor key, much to his own dismay. The rejection served as a wake-up call, allowing Maltese to re-evaluate his approach and eventually work towards self-sustaining success.
This introspection has led him down a path of collaborative songwriting, with artists like Celeste, Joy Crookes, Jamie T, Tom Misch, and even the Bard himself, William Shakespeare. His 2017 track "As the World Caves In" – an apocalyptic ballad imagining Donald Trump and Theresa May's last night on earth together – experienced a TikTok surge that catapulted him into mainstream attention.
Although this newfound popularity has brought in revenue (around £20,000 per week at its peak), Maltese is quick to note that it also skewed people's perceptions of his art. The young songwriter now identifies as "a TikTok person," acknowledging that this aspect of his career may have altered the way fans initially encountered him.
At heart, however, Maltese's true passion lies in songwriting itself – an endeavor he has always approached with humility and a deep respect for his craft. When it comes to co-writing, he finds solace in the intimacy of these collaborations, often working closely with artists like Celeste and Joy Crookes to bring their ideas to life.
Despite his burgeoning success, Maltese remains humble about his cultural relevance – insisting that he's just someone "obsessed with songwriters from the 70s." With Rosalía's Lux now firmly etched into the world of pop, it will be fascinating to see how this unlikely partnership continues to shape the trajectory of Maltese's career.
. His journey from playing gigs in Brixton Windmill pub to working with Rosalía is like something out of a movie. But let's be real, his self-awareness and humility are what set him apart. He knows that being a "TikTok person" isn't the same as being a serious songwriter, and he's not afraid to admit it 
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. He took risks, faced rejection, and kept pushing forward. That's what I call a real masterclass in serendipity 
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I'm loving Matt Maltese's vibe right now - his story is so inspiring, you know? He went from writing songs that were kinda meh at first, but then found himself in these incredible collaborations with artists like Rosalía 
and Celeste. It's awesome how he's embracing this more sensitive side of songwriting, even if it wasn't initially expected from him. I think it shows his growth as an artist and his willingness to experiment. And can we talk about how surreal it is for him to have Rosalía's version of "Magnolias" - like, what are the chances?! 
what's up with all these collabs tho? like matt maltese is all about finding that human connection through songwriting and now he's just getting lucky rides on bigger artists tracks 
meanwhile, his own unique sound got kinda lost in the process 
i feel bad for him coz he was rejected by a major label but at least he found his own way
. I mean, can you even imagine finding a song you wrote years ago being reimagined by an artist as iconic as her? 
! And I love how he's staying true to himself and his art, not letting mainstream success change who he is as an artist 
. It'll be so cool to see where this partnership takes him next 
it's amazing how he's found solace in co-writing, especially with artists like celeste and joy crookes 
. I mean, who would've thought that a stripped-back piano ballad from a casual jam session three years ago would end up on Rosalía's Lux? 
It just goes to show that life is full of surprises and sometimes the best things come from unexpected places.
. I'm loving the fact that he's still passionate about songwriting and collaborating with fellow artists – it's like his true calling.
. It's always exciting to see new and unexpected connections happen, and I think we're all in for a treat 
And then six months later, Rosalía drops this epic version of the song, and it's like magic. He's still down to earth, though – he just wants to make music that means something.
I mean have u heard his collab with Rosalía on Lux? It's like MAGIC 
Now he's out there making waves in the music industry & pushing boundaries with his songwriting skills. I'm low-key obsessed with his process & how he collaborates with other artists 
It's all about that vulnerability & introspection, am i right? 
I think what's really cool is how Maltese is staying true to himself as an artist, despite all the attention he's getting. He's still got that down-to-earth vibe that makes you want to listen to his music 
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