Interview: Benji Matthews - Don’t Fancy You

After 40,000 streams in the first week of his most recent album alone, appearing on ‘This Morning’, ‘OK Magazine’ and one of the top viewed ‘X Factor’ auditions - Benji Matthews is back with his catchiest, and sassiest offering to date! The kiss-off anthem features Benji’s signature vocals over a glossy, disco inspired beat. Influenced from Dua Lipa and Lizzo’s recent works - “Don't Fancy You” describes the experience of falling for the 'wrong' ones. "I wrote this song after speaking to someone for a few weeks, green flags were everwhere, and all my boxes were ticked, I just didn't feel anything" - Benji Matthews.

By Kamil Bobin

Discovered via Musosoup

Kamil) Hey Benji Matthews, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?

That’s such a tricky question! I’ve always loved music, but Whitney all the way! Singing her songs made me fall in love with music!

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music?

Another tricky question, haha! I’m a massive foodie, and a hummus fanatic! I love going out to eat, and cooking with friends! If it’s vegan, I’m eating it!

Your latest song is 'Don’t Fancy You'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?

Making ‘Don’t Fancy You’ was so much fun! I’ve always felt so much pressure to be ‘nice’ in my music and always overthought my lyrics - to the point where it irons out any of my personality! I realised that music doesn’t need to always be ‘nice’, and it can be full of things that I might never say myself! This is the first time in years, where I’ve truly not overthought anything, and just had fun!

Can you reveal the recipe for a musical hit?

Haha, I love this! From my experience, the best received songs are the ones where I didn’t try as hard. Just wrote and sung from my heart. Even if they are the cheesiest and most cliché, haha!

What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as an artist?

I’m trying my best to be the most authentic I can be, in my music and on my social media! To be so vulnerable isn’t easy, but I’m working on it!

What inspires you as an artist? Could it be the sea, the weather or something else?

Honestly, being in my 20’s right now is full of inspiration. It’s like seeing the world for the first time, just on my own. First love, first travel, first everything! The optimism, impulsiveness, and anxieties of my 20’s is so inspiring for me now!

What is one message you would give to your fans?

Live. Your. Life. Tomorrow is never promised. I love you!

Do you have a mentor or coach?

Not really! Just people that I look up to, musically and personally!

Do you think it's easy to become established in the music world, or is it difficult?

Good question. ‘Established’ is a word like ‘successful’. Everyone will have a different idea of what that means to them. I try not to get too ‘in my head’ about numbers etc, and just try to be the happiest I can be, while putting out the best music of my life!

What accomplishments do you see yourself achieving in the next five to 10 years?

Performing is home for me, I love that connection to the audience thing. I would love to be touring, to the biggest scale I can! Thank you so much for talking to me today, I’ve enjoyed this a lot!