Getting To Know: Matt Wright

Get ready for a musical rollercoaster as I am about to drop my latest single, 'Heartbreaker,' and let me tell you, the excitement is off the charts! BBC Introducing has been a fantastic ride, with 4 of my tracks gracing the airwaves of BBC Radio Sussex & Surrey in the past 12 months. The response to 'Heartbreaker' during its recent airing was so electric, I thought, "Why not go all in?" So, it is coming, and will be unleashed for your ears to feast upon early next year!

To sweeten the deal, the music video features none other than Ollie King from BBC Three's 'I Kissed A Boy,' hosted by Dannii Minogue! The video's final touches are in progress, and I can’t wait to share it with you all soon! Stay tuned for the artwork reveal and more info in the coming days by following my social media. Also, take a quick dive into my musical journey, from my debut performance supporting Son Of Dork at Shepherd's Bush Empire to evolving into a pop/dance vibe, the journey has been nothing short of incredible. With over 200,000 TikTok views for 'OMT' and 'Take Me Somewhere,' and features on BBC Introducing, the momentum is building, and 'Heartbreaker' is about to turn up the volume. Don't miss out!

1. Can you tell us more about "Heartbreaker," and what inspired the track?

'Heartbreaker' was actually written several years ago after a break-up, so it's got a personal feel to it. It was actually written from the perspective of having my heart broken enough times that I want to be the one to break someone else's heart for a change. It's kind of dark I guess, but it felt good to write and I still stand by that feeling - one that I'm sure most of us have been through! The song has a bit of an old-school dance feel about it - I actually feel like it's got a bit of Years & Years vibe, as well as elements from Enrique Iglesias' 'Euphoria' album - or is that just me?!

2. The video for "Heartbreaker" features Ollie King from BBC Three’s ‘I Kissed A Boy.’ How did this collaboration come about, and what can viewers expect from the visual aspect of the song? 

This was really cool actually! So, the premise for the story element of the video is that I am out with my partner (played by my actual partner!) and catch him looking at and chatting to another guy and get jealous about it. Anyway, I needed to find someone to play the third guy and both myself and one of my friends watched the show and knew Ollie lived in Brighton. She suggested I reach out to him on Instagram and see if he would be up for it...and he was! He is a really nice guy and was great to work with and was very hands-on with suggestions for some of the shots you'll see. There are also some fantastic scenes of me walking through the streets of Brighton, performing and some real close-up shots of me, crying blue glitter, which look awesome as well!

3. Your musical journey has seen a shift to a more pop/dance vibe. What prompted this evolution in your sound, and how has it influenced your creative process? 

I guess it's not a massive shock for me as I literally love anything from S Club to Slipknot. I really loved doing my pop rock music, especially performing with a full band, but I love all kinds of genres really. I guess in some of my songs, you can still hear the pop rock influences but I also wanted to try something new and when I found the producer of my more recent songs, it kind of all clicked into place when we were in the studio! I'm not a natural dancer but anything that makes me want to move is good with me. I would love to work with the likes of Sigala, NOTD, Jax Jones, Becky Hill, James Arthur, David Guetta, and so many more. I dream of writing with Ryan Tedder and Charlie Puth too. Those dreams may be a little way off though!

4. With over 200,000 views on TikTok for songs like 'OMT' and 'Take Me Somewhere,' how do you perceive the role of social media platforms in promoting your music and connecting with your audience?

I really believe they're instrumental in connecting with people nowadays. It's funny because the consumption of music has changed drastically over the past 10 years or so. It used to be very much the case that bands and artists would release a single and plug the hell out of it for months on end before perhaps releasing 2 more and then finally putting an album out, but in the industry now, it seems to be that you set a date for the album and push out about 4 songs in quick succession ahead of the release, even just with short soundbites or reels to capture people's attention quickly. I believe social media and people's desire for immediacy has really impacted this, but what is great is that with things like TikTok and Instagram lives, you can really engage with people to get your music out there, and it enables your audience and fans to feel more connected with you as a person.

5. Having garnered attention on BBC Introducing with tracks like 'OMT,' 'Falling,' and now 'Heartbreaker,' how has the support from BBC Radio Sussex and Surrey impacted your music career, and what significance does it hold for you as an artist? 

I am honestly so grateful for Melita Dennett's support via BBC Introducing and for playing several of my songs across BBC Radio Sussex & Surrey. I think the platform is fantastic because it gives unsigned artists the chance to get their music heard on a larger platform, even without having to spend big sums on PR campaigns. The significance of their support of me has been huge for me personally - it was actually through their support and after they aired 'Heartbreaker', that it gave me the courage to release it. I've always loved that song (even though I wrote it years ago!) and the texts that came in, in support of it, gave me the self-belief to put it out officially. So, I owe a big thanks to Melita and BBC Introducing for giving me that boost of confidence!

For more info and to keep up-to-date with the full release details, check out all my socials and previous releases, here – https://linktr.ee/mattwrightofficial