He's the X-Factor winner who lined Biffy Clyro's pockets with his cover of When We Collide, which became the second biggest selling single of 2010...
He captivated X Factor audiences with his vocal range and since then has carved out a grand career in music.
He'll show you just how far he has come when he taps up the Wavendon venue next Tuesday (July 25).
Before visiting the venue for the first time, Matt talked music with Total MK...
The song that first awakened your musical senses?
Any song from Michael Jackson’s Bad album. I'd say Dirty Diana is my favourite. He was a genius.
The first album I bought was Music For The Jilted Generation by The Prodigy. I remember it like it was yesterday.
I bought it on CD at an airport in Denmark and couldn’t wait to get on the plane and listen to it on my discman!
Physical or digital - how do you take your music?
A bit of both to be honest. Digital works for ease for many but not everyone.
Recently I was given a vinyl copy of Rage Against The Machine’s first album. It’s taken pride of place in my studio. I think as long as effort is put into physical product in terms of content people will continue to buy it.
The first time you thought ‘Music - this is the job for me'?
I guess the first time I every performed. I would have been about 8 or 9 at school. It was a Victorian night and I was wearing tweed and a flat cap.
The less said about that the better – ha ha!
Your best on stage memory…?
There are so many. Two that spring to mind would be collaborating with Rihanna or Melanie C. Plus any of my tours. The last tour in particular – Intimate & Live - holds wonderful memories for me and the band.
And the worst gig you’ve ever done?
Ha ha! I’m laughing already! The Wilmington Arms in London. It would have been over 10 years ago but I’ll never forget. We played to the soundman and the barman as the main band cancelled as nobody was there!
What made you take up singing?
I used to sing naturally, I always remember enjoying it but never really knew if I was any good. I had a couple of singing lessons at school and my first singing teacher said she thought there might be something there. Actually, I may have had the hots for the singing teacher (ha ha!) but I have her to thank for everything.
Which one song by another artist do you wish you had written?
Speed Of Sound by Coldplay.
And one - by yourself - which holds special significance?
Lately from my second album The Fire. It took a year and a half for the song to fall into place, which is a long time.
There were so many different parts but I’m very proud of the finished song.
Are there any current influences you look to?
I’m a big fan of London Grammar. It would be awesome to work with Hannah Reid in any capacity, she’s awesome.
Of course I’m always listening to what’s going on and the charts and new music but I think it’s always best to just be yourself and see what comes naturally in the studio.
My new album will be more electronic than the previous but still with soul.
If you could step into the shoes of another musician, living or dead, who would it be and what would you do?
Jimi Hendrix, just to see what it would be like to be able to play that good. Such a legend.
And any genre of music that you simply can't stand?
Free-form Jazz.
What projects have you got coming up?
Finishing off my album will take the next few months to complete. I’ve been out of the music scene for a while in terms of releasing music so I’m looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. I’ve also got some summer festivals with The Trevor Horn Band across the UK. I did some shows with them last year.
Their catalogue is beyond incredible and it’s a pleasure to be part of such a legendary band, if only for an hour or so.
Finally, plug your show in Milton Keynes at The Stables - what can we expect?
I’m so excited to be coming to The Stables, it’s such a beautiful venue and my first time there. My show at the moment is a real mix of of songs from The X Factor, previous albums, covers and musical theatre. I’ll also be performing tracks from my new album, I’ll be releasing the first single from that later this year.
I hope there will be something for everyone in the show plus, I’ll be joined by Paul Bullen on keys and Alli McMillan on percussion.
To book tickets for The Stables date click here
Images: Joseph Sinclair
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