# Matt Maltese

Matthew Jonathan Gordon Maltese (born 6 October 1997) is a British-Canadian singer-songwriter and record producer. His style blends elements from indie pop, indie rock, and chamber pop. Since releasing his debut single "Even If It's a Lie" in 2015, Maltese has released four studio albums, a cover album, and a number of EPs. Maltese's third studio album Good Morning It's Now Tomorrow was released in October 2021 via Nettwerk. Maltese released his fourth studio album Driving Just to Drive in April 2023.

## Early life

Born to Canadian parents, his father of Italian descent, Maltese was raised in Reading, England. He attended the Henley College, pursuing A Levels in Music, Maths, English and Economics. According to an interview with Vice he started writing music at the age of 14. When he was a teenager Maltese began buying and selling vinyl and with the money he made, moved to Camden, London.

## Career
### 2015–2017: SoundCloud and early singles

Maltese released his first single, "Even If It's a Lie", on SoundCloud in 2015. After the release of the single, Maltese signed with Café Bleu Recordings, a subdivision of Atlantic Records. In 2016, through Café Bleu Recordings, Maltese released his follow up EP, titled In a New Bed. The following year in 2017 Maltese released a single titled "As the World Caves In" which as he shared in an interview, is about the idea of then-UK Prime Minister Theresa May and then-U.S. President Donald Trump, deciding to spend a night of romance together before triggering atomic warfare. The single saw a resurgence on TikTok starting in May 2021 following a cover by singer Sarah Cothran. In January 2023, it was certified Silver in the UK by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for selling 200,000 equivalent units.

### 2018–2019: Bad Contestant and Krystal

In June 2018, Maltese released his debut album Bad Contestant. The album was produced by Jonathan Rado of American Indie rock duo Foxygen.
His sophomore album Krystal followed in November 2019. The album was mostly recorded, produced, and mixed by Maltese in his bedroom studio. With the release of Krystal, Maltese embarked on a UK headline tour in November 2019, he played on tour at six venues.

### 2020–2021: Madhouse and Good Morning It's Now Tomorrow

In March 2020, Maltese released the single "Ballad of a Pandemic" about the COVID-19 pandemic; the single was released the same day as lockdown restrictions were imposed in the United Kingdom. This was followed by "Queen Bee" featuring vocals from Sorry's Asha Lorenz in May. In June 2020, Maltese took part in Tiny Gigs, a livestream event hosted by Tiny Changes, a mental health charity, to raise money for a COVID-19 relief fund.
Maltese released the single "Mystery" in May 2021. He then released another single in July 2021 called "Shoe" which was released following the announcement of Maltese's third studio album, Good Morning It's Now Tomorrow. The album was released in October 2021. He also released the EP Madhouse in August 2020.

### 2022–present: Quiet Recordings and Driving Just to Drive

In March 2022, Maltese released a new song called "Smile In the Face of the Devil" as a part of his new EP titled Quiet Recordings. This EP would be a collection of more ambient tracks of off his previous album Good Morning It's Now Tomorrow. Quiet Recordings was released on 8 April 2022
Maltese's next single "Mother" was released in October 2022. In December 2022, Maltese teased his third album. He then released a teaser for a new track followed by a single in January 2023 titled "Driving Just to Drive". The same day as this single was released, Maltese announced the album would be titled Driving Just to Drive for a 28 April 2023 release date.
In 2024, Maltese published a cover album titled Songs That Aren't Mine. Maltese recorded a cover of "My Funny Valentine" for the 2025 tribute album Chet Baker Re:imagined. Maltese's next album Hers will be released in May 2025.

## Initiatives

Maltese has written for a number of other artists, including Birdy and Matilda Mann.
In summer 2023, Maltese founded his own record label titled Last Recordings On Earth. The label's inaugural release was the single "Older" by Searows.

## Artistry

The first song Maltese recalls being moved by is "Dreamer" by Supertramp. In a 2015 interview, Maltese said he would "always be into" Paul Simon, Nina Simone and Leonard Cohen. Upon moving to South London, Maltese became immersed in the local music landscape, looking towards artists such as Loyle Carner and Alex Burey. He named Vashti Bunyan, Flo Morrissey and Father John Misty as newer folk influences.

## Discography
### Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details :
| Title | Details |
| Bad Contestant | Released: 8 June 2018 Label: Atlantic Records UK |
| Krystal | Released: 8 November 2019 Label: 7476 |
| Good Morning It's Now Tomorrow | Released: 8 October 2021 Label: Nettwerk Music Group |
| Driving Just to Drive | Released: 28 April 2023 Label: Nettwerk Music Group |
| Songs That Aren't Mine | Released: 8 March 2024 Label: Tonight Matthew |
| Hers | Released: 16 May 2025 Label: Tonight Matthew / The Orchard |

### Extended plays

| Title | Details |
| In a New Bed | Released: 22 April 2016 Label: Café Bleu Recordings |
| Blood, Sweat & Beers: Live at the Drugstore and Poems from the Road | Released: 2017 Label: Café Bleu Recordings |
| madhouse | Released: 7 August 2020 Label: Nettwerk Music Group |
| Quiet Recordings | Released: 8 April 2022 Label: Nettwerk Music Group |

### Singles
#### As lead artist

Maltese has released the following singles:
| Year | Title | Album/EP |
| 2015 | "Even If It's a Lie" | Non-album singles |
| 2016 | "Vacant in the 21st Century" | Non-album singles |
| 2016 | "Strange Time" | Bad Contestant |
| 2017 | "As the World Caves In" | Bad Contestant |
| 2017 | "No One Won The War" | Non-album singles |
| 2017 | "Comic Life" | Non-album singles |
| 2018 | "Greatest Comedian" | Bad Contestant |
| 2018 | "Like A Fish" | Bad Contestant |
| 2018 | "Nightclub Love" | Bad Contestant |
| 2018 | "Bad Contestant" | Bad Contestant |
| 2018 | "Misery" | Bad Contestant |
| 2020 | "Tokyo (Italian Version)" | Krystal |
| 2020 | "Ballad of a Pandemic" | Non-album single |
| 2020 | "queen bee" | madhouse |
| 2021 | "Mystery" | Good Morning It's Now Tomorrow |
| 2021 | "Shoe" | Good Morning It's Now Tomorrow |
| 2021 | "You Deserve an Oscar" | Good Morning It's Now Tomorrow |
| 2021 | "Good Morning" | Good Morning It's Now Tomorrow |
| 2021 | "Nothing Breaks Your Heart Like Christmas" | Non-album single |
| 2022 | "Smile in the Face of the Devil" | Quiet Recordings |
| 2022 | "Mother" | Driving Just To Drive |
| 2023 | "Driving Just To Drive" | Driving Just To Drive |
| 2023 | "Museum" | Driving Just To Drive |
| 2023 | "Florence" | Driving Just To Drive |
| 2023 | "The Earth is a Very Small Dot" | Non-album single |
| 2024 | "Kiss Me" | Songs That Aren't Mine |
| 2024 | "Philadelphia (feat. Searows)" | Songs That Aren't Mine |
| 2024 | "This Is The Day" | Songs That Aren't Mine |
| 2025 | "Anytime, Anyplace, Anyhow" | Hers |
| 2025 | "Always Some MF" | Hers |

#### As featured artist

| Year | Title | Album/EP |
| 2022 | "Cate's Brother (Matt's Version)" (with Maisie Peters) | Non-album single |
| 2021 | "Salt Lake City" (with Etta Marcus) | View from the Bridge |
| 2025 | "Trust" (with Vegyn | The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions |

### Select songwriting and production credits

| Year | Artist | Song(s) | Album |
| 2020 | Matilda Mann | "Happy Anniversary, Stranger" | Because I Wanted You to Know |
| 2021 | Joy Crookes | "Skin" | Skin |
| 2021 | Mathilda Homer | Mathilda Homer | If You Were On Fire |
| 2022 | Celeste | "To Love a Man" | Lately |
| 2022 | Jamie T | "Thank You" | The Theory of Whatever |
| 2022 | Sarah Cothran | "Funeral" | i hope you're happy |
| 2022 | Nemahsis | "Criminal" | — |
| 2022 | April | "54321" | Starlane |
| 2023 | Hohnen Ford | "Don't Fall Asleep" | Infinity |
| 2023 | bb sway | "Leading Lady" | How Will I Get There? |
| 2023 | Etta Marcus | "Mechanical Bull" | — |
| 2023 | Sophie May | Sophie May | Worst Thoughts in the World |
| 2023 | Etta Marcus | "Theatre" | The Death of Summer and Other Promises |
| 2023 | Etta Marcus | "Little Wing" | The Death of Summer and Other Promises |
| 2023 | Etta Marcus | "Snowflake Suzie" | The Death of Summer and Other Promises |
| 2024 | Etta Marcus | "Girls That Play" | The Death of Summer and Other Promises |
| 2024 | Etta Marcus | "Death Grips" | — |
| 2024 | Sophie May | "Marianne" | Deep Sea Creatures |
| 2024 | Sophie May | "If I'd Never Been Born" | Deep Sea Creatures |
| 2025 | Celeste | "Everyday" | — |

## Tours
### Headlining act

* Matt Maltese EU + US Autumn Tour (2022)
(with special guest Sophie May, Hohnen Ford, Searows)
* Matt Maltese US 2022 TOUR
* Matt Maltese Asia & Australia tour 2023
* Matt Maltese UK, Europe, The Americas "Touring Just to Tour" 2024

### Supporting act

* Wolf Alice UK and IRELAND TOUR (2022)