The world of music has catapulted Matt Maltese, a quiet British-Canadian songwriter, into the spotlight, thanks to his unexpected collaboration with Spanish pop sensation Rosalía on her latest album Lux. The 30-year-old's indie-pop balladry, infused with modern male sensitivity and witty humor reminiscent of Leonard Cohen, has earned him a devoted fanbase across six solo albums since 2018.
Maltese's journey to fame began three years ago when he co-wrote the haunting piano ballad "Magnolias" during an informal songwriting session with friends. Unbeknownst to him, his composition would soon capture the ears of Rosalía, who recorded a demo of the song six months later. The unexpected interest sent Maltese's creative juices into overdrive.
With Lux now sitting in the UK Top 5, Magnolias stands out as a standout track, with Rosalía dramatically reworking the lyrics to create an operatic masterpiece. Maltese's reaction? "It's extraordinary." He credits his luck in being chosen by Rosalía and expresses gratitude for her gift in transforming his song into something remarkable.
Beyond Lux, Maltese has quietly established himself as a songwriter in demand, having penned tracks for the likes of Celeste, Joy Crookes, Jamie T, Tom Misch, and even Shakespeare. His A-list fanbase now boasts celebrities like Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Frank Ocean, Laufey, and BTS's V.
Growing up in Reading to Canadian parents, Maltese transitioned to London as a teenager, where he found himself part of the thriving south London music scene centered around Brixton Windmill pub. However, his style stood out from the alternative post-punk bands around him – one that sang of more sensitive themes and less 'fuck the world' vibes.
The turning point came in 2021 when Maltese's TikTok-boosted track "As the World Caves In" reached the second-most-streamed song worldwide by a British artist, just behind Dua Lipa. Charli xcx and Shawn Mendes even gave it shoutouts. This vindication sparked renewed attention for Maltese, catapulting him to new heights with screaming fans in the 18-23 age range.
Maltese's dedication to the craft of songwriting remains unwavering. Despite his rise to fame, he finds himself self-identifying as a "TikTok person" – a label that skewed many perceptions. With each collaborative endeavor and solo project, Maltese continues to push boundaries and redefine his unique voice in pop music.
His close relationships with artists like Celeste and Joy Crookes are testaments to the power of songwriting camaraderie. His involvement with Kano on Joy's 2025 single Mathematics is another highlight, showcasing the genre-bending possibilities of Maltese's creative collaboration.
As for his own relevance in popular culture? Maltese downplays this aspect, expressing humility and focusing on writing songs that genuinely resonate with him – a passion born from years of co-writing sessions, self-doubt, and an unrelenting pursuit of artistic growth.
Maltese's journey to fame began three years ago when he co-wrote the haunting piano ballad "Magnolias" during an informal songwriting session with friends. Unbeknownst to him, his composition would soon capture the ears of Rosalía, who recorded a demo of the song six months later. The unexpected interest sent Maltese's creative juices into overdrive.
With Lux now sitting in the UK Top 5, Magnolias stands out as a standout track, with Rosalía dramatically reworking the lyrics to create an operatic masterpiece. Maltese's reaction? "It's extraordinary." He credits his luck in being chosen by Rosalía and expresses gratitude for her gift in transforming his song into something remarkable.
Beyond Lux, Maltese has quietly established himself as a songwriter in demand, having penned tracks for the likes of Celeste, Joy Crookes, Jamie T, Tom Misch, and even Shakespeare. His A-list fanbase now boasts celebrities like Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Frank Ocean, Laufey, and BTS's V.
Growing up in Reading to Canadian parents, Maltese transitioned to London as a teenager, where he found himself part of the thriving south London music scene centered around Brixton Windmill pub. However, his style stood out from the alternative post-punk bands around him – one that sang of more sensitive themes and less 'fuck the world' vibes.
The turning point came in 2021 when Maltese's TikTok-boosted track "As the World Caves In" reached the second-most-streamed song worldwide by a British artist, just behind Dua Lipa. Charli xcx and Shawn Mendes even gave it shoutouts. This vindication sparked renewed attention for Maltese, catapulting him to new heights with screaming fans in the 18-23 age range.
Maltese's dedication to the craft of songwriting remains unwavering. Despite his rise to fame, he finds himself self-identifying as a "TikTok person" – a label that skewed many perceptions. With each collaborative endeavor and solo project, Maltese continues to push boundaries and redefine his unique voice in pop music.
His close relationships with artists like Celeste and Joy Crookes are testaments to the power of songwriting camaraderie. His involvement with Kano on Joy's 2025 single Mathematics is another highlight, showcasing the genre-bending possibilities of Maltese's creative collaboration.
As for his own relevance in popular culture? Maltese downplays this aspect, expressing humility and focusing on writing songs that genuinely resonate with him – a passion born from years of co-writing sessions, self-doubt, and an unrelenting pursuit of artistic growth.
Looks like the music world is finally giving Matt Maltese the recognition he deserves... but what's really impressive is how low-key his rise to fame has been. I mean, 3 years ago he was just writing songs with friends and BAM! Rosalía records one of them and suddenly he's on everyone's radar. Talk about a lucky break. 
Also, love how he shrugs off the whole "TikTok person" thing, like it's no big deal. He's more concerned with crafting meaningful songs than chasing fame. That's the kind of humility you don't see much in this industry anymore 
. Every time I see another "collaboration" between some unknown artist and a famous name, I just want to shake my head 
. Don't get me wrong, Matt Maltese's songwriting skills are legit, but it feels like every major artist is trying to co-opt him as their new go-to writer 
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It's just so... flashy 
. And don't even get me started on how everyone's suddenly obsessed with him because he's "a TikTok person" 
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. Everyone's trying to latch onto the next big thing and it feels like we're all just losing ourselves in the process 
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and to think his song "magnolias" ended up on rosalia's album lux is just... wow. 
i love how he's all humble about it too, crediting rosaria for the magic she brought to his song. that's what i call genuine talent 
. Anyways, what I love about Matt Maltese is how genuine and down-to-earth he seems. He's still super humble about it all, which is awesome. And those collaborations with artists like Celeste and Joy Crookes? Genius move! It's like he's bringing people together instead of trying to be the center of attention 
he's got this indie-pop thing down pat but it's not your average stuff, you feel? it's like he's tapping into something real with his lyrics and melodies. that collab with Rosalía on Lux is insane 
i mean who wouldn't want to be featured by one of the best artists out there? 
. I'd argue that his unique voice is not just a product of his upbringing, but also a result of his introspective nature and dedication to the craft 
. His work with Rosalía on Lux is a masterclass in how two artists can come together to create something greater than the sum of its parts 
His dedication to songwriting is admirable, and I'm excited to see what he comes out with next 
. I'm so hyped for what he has in store next 
. maybe the real question is how do we define our own relevance in this world?
I'm loving Matt Maltese's rise to fame! His collaboration with Rosalía is giving me LIFE 
. And can we talk about how underrated he was before Lux dropped? 
. And let's be real, his TikTok-boosted track "As the World Caves In" was EVERYTHING 
. The fact that it sparked renewed attention for him and catapulted him to new heights is just amazing 
But what I love most about Matt is that he doesn't care about the hype - he just wants to write songs that mean something to him, and that's so refreshing in today's music scene. Plus, have you listened to "As The World Caves In"? That song is like a time capsule of 2021's emotions 
. And can we talk about his dedication to songwriting? The dude has been grinding for years and it shows 
. His fanbase is literally the coolest 
, with celebs like Doja Cat and Frank Ocean reppin' him. I'm loving how he's staying humble too, focusing on writing songs that mean something to him rather than chasing fame 
. Like, most artists would've given up by now, but not Maltese. He keeps pushing boundaries and collaborating with A-listers, which is super admirable 
. Anyway, I think Lux is gonna stay in the UK Top 5 for a while longer