Stereoboard Speak To Matt Cardle About Life After X Factor & His Anticipated New Album (Interview)
Tuesday, 04 October 2011
Written by Katie Territt
It's a common misconception that X Factor winners are the epitome of the word manufactured. A cover version here, a cheesy song there. It's not the norm to have an X Factor contestant, let alone winner, that can actually write their own songs, play their own instruments, and not be bossed around or owned by "The Man". Last year, Matt Cardle broke the mould when he not only won X Factor, but smashed the voting polls every week but one with his natural talent. A down to earth genuine guy who just wanted to sit on stage wearing his hat, playing his guitar, and showing the viewers that this show can give real musicians a platform to be heard.
Fast forward almost a year later and Matt is preparing to release his debut album, 'Letters', an album which he has worked ridiculously hard on and is really excited to be finally promoting. "I done a lot of press for the Christmas single ('When We Collide'), but it wasn't my song. Now I've written this album, it's from me, it's from my heart, so it's a completely different experience."
Although it's been almost nine months since Matt won X Factor, the time has flown by. "I don't feel like I've been waiting a long time, I've been in the studio writing. I didn't want to come out until I'd written the album the way I wanted it to go. I wanted to make sure I chose the right tracks. Simon's let me have control over that which I thank him so much for." Matt agrees that the usual path of manufactured acts hasn't happened in this case. "I was praying from the start that it wouldn't, but they've let me do it all myself which is amazing. I've co-written the album with some amazing people so it's been so good."
When Matt won X Factor, his winner's song wasn't what we've all come to expect from the show. "I was dreading once we got down to the final four and were talking about winner's songs. I was dreading a real cliched 'That's My Goal' kind of cheesy song. When they offered me 'Many Of Horror', I just bit their arms off to sing it." No one would have imagined that the 2010 Christmas number one would be a Biffy Clyro song, and Matt is grateful for the positive feedback he received from the band. "It's a great song. I've always loved that song. The response from Biffy was really sweet at the time."
Now Matt is raring to go with his first original single, 'Run For Your Life'. The song was written by none other than current X Factor judge, Gary Barlow. "It was strange. I thought we had the album finished. I'd co-written every track apart from the Gary song. He sent the track to me and I just relate to it so heavily. It talks about not being good enough for the person you're with, wanting them to run and go and find someone who can give them what they really deserve. I've been in that position a lot so I really felt that track. If I didn't, if I hadn't felt it, I wouldn't have sung it. I wouldn't put myself up for something I don't mean. I knew as soon as I heard it that it would be the first single. Everyone questioned it, but I said why not? It's brilliant. I did change a couple of little details in the track which Gary let me do, so I was really chuffed with that." 'Run For Your Life' wasn't originally the first choice for the leading single. "We had what I thought was the first single, but it was a little too hard in comparison to the Gary song. It needed to be a bit gentle. In a way it sounds like a lot of the stuff we're doing, but more poppy than the majority of the tracks. The chorus doesn't disappoint though, it's such a great track."
Before X Factor, Matt spent most of his time trying to make his way in the music world, and was obviously keen to have a huge amount of creative input into the album. "I've been involved in everything. The lyrics, music, the feel of the album, and the way the tracks were produced. My input was there on every track. Lyrically, if we were sharing lyric writing, I'd make sure the person I was writing with was very in tune with that I was trying to say. All the songs are life experience and personal to me. They're all real situations I've been in with myself and other people. Hopefully people can relate to it a lot. I prayed that I'd get some control over the album, but I didn't think I'd have as much control as I have had. Most of the tracks have been 50/50 co-writing so it's been really great."
So what about the album and the songs that make up the 'Letters' track listing? "They're a collection of experiences and feelings. The journey from positive down to negative, and back up again. Feeling hopeful, reflective, it's got everything. Although they're separate tracks, the one thing that sticks it all together is that it's all about my experience and my life. We've got some soulful tracks, really rocky tracks, acoustic style tracks, and a lot of real string sections. It sounds great. Lyrically, it's been influenced by stuff I've been doing and people I've met and had relationships with. It's everything I've ever listened to and what I like."
Choosing a favourite song on your debut album must be a pretty hard task, but Matt is quick to name 'All For Nothing' as top of his list. "It's about when you love someone, be it husband, wife, daughter, son, brother, girlfriend, and you want them to be safe. It's kind of a prayer to someone that they're gonna' be okay, to keep them safe and look after them. I think everybody can relate to it, it's got a lot of meaning. Hopefully most of the songs on the album contain something that people can relate to."
Matt hasn't yet had that moment of holding his album in his hand for the first time, but he's hopeful that it'll happen pretty soon because then it really will be reality. Of course he doesn't need that physical CD to feel proud to finally have his original music and lyrics out there. "It's been a long, long time coming. I've really worked at it for most of my life and now I've finally got that album of my songs and my experience out there. It's incredible." Matt was lucky to work with some great people on 'Letters' including Adele collaborator Eg White. Is there anyone else he'd like the opportunity to work with? "I'd love to work with Chris Martin. James Morrison, James Blunt, Snow Patrol, just people I look up to and have a similar sound to. I'd never go the Will.I.Am hip-hop route, but I'd push the boundaries as far as I can in my genre."
His album may not even be available yet, but Matt is already looking to the future, and the opportunities 'Letters' will bring with it. "I'm hoping to tour as soon as possible. We already have some dates coming up in Scotland. I've just got a band together with a couple of good friends, people I've known for a little while and worked with before X Factor. I just can't wait to get out there and play live, it's what I'm all about. It's all about the live sound." And what about some dream venues for Matt? "I'd love to play at Wembley Stadium, Wembley Arena again. Just anywhere you can pack a lot of people in." The mention of the Royal Albert Hall got Matt excited; "Wow, that would be amazing. I'd also love to play at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Festivals are a number one as well. Reading, Glastonbury, all those. I just can't wait to get involved, I really can't wait."
It sounds like Matt is pretty excited about his future - and so he should be. "I just want to be successful and have everybody enjoy what I've been doing my entire life. That's it really." And enjoy we will. 'Run For Your Life' is a fantastic first single, and the mixture of sounds that come together on 'Letters' make for an exciting and fitting debut that is well worth the wait. It makes a real change to have an X Factor winner emerge that not only has raw talent and credibility, but unlike male winners in the past, actually has a genuine chance at longevity. Matt Cardle - not just an X Factor winner!
The single, 'Run For Your Life', is out on 10th October & the album, 'Letters', is out on 17th October.
You can check out the video for 'Run For Your Life' below.
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Matt hasn't yet had that moment of holding his album in his hand for the first time, but he's hopeful that it'll happen pretty soon because then it really will be reality. Of course he doesn't need that physical CD to feel proud to finally have his original music and lyrics out there. "It's been a long, long time coming. I've really worked at it for most of my life and now I've finally got that album of my songs and my experience out there. It's incredible." Matt was lucky to work with some great people on 'Letters' including Adele collaborator Eg White. Is there anyone else he'd like the opportunity to work with? "I'd love to work with Chris Martin. James Morrison, James Blunt, Snow Patrol, just people I look up to and have a similar sound to. I'd never go the Will.I.Am hip-hop route, but I'd push the boundaries as far as I can in my genre."
