Matt-Felix’s Lessons Learned

Matt-Felix: “I find that song titles can act as “seeds” for far bigger ideas.”

Having dropped latest heartfelt single ‘Don’t Cry’, the versatile London-based indie-rock artist shares a quartet of his top songwriting habits

I am writing this on a cold grey morning in my little studio flat in East London, it’s a Monday. I’ve decided to talk about my general approach to songwriting and my daily rituals that have helped me creatively along the way. Maybe you’ll find one of these ideas interesting enough to try. I started writing music with real intent at 13, I just fell in love, completely obsessed. I guess the most important thing is that it became a habit, a daily routine for me. I’d come back from school, sit in my room and play guitar. I was very unbothered about learning anyone else’s music, my only interest was in writing my own. Unaware of it at the time, I was installing this daily habit of picking up the guitar and seeing what happens. So much so that to this day, 10 years later, I can’t go a day without playing an instrument. I am constantly drawn to it as soon as I awake.

More songwriting tips and advice

1. Morning Brain Drain

Which leads me to my first tip/ritual/habit/whatever you want to call it. As soon as I wake up, I try to go straight to that place. Reading, writing, playing piano or anything that keeps you in a space of dream and wonder. Even if you’re just writing a diary entry. I do this thing most mornings that I call “Brain Drain”, which I think I’ve stolen from somewhere but can’t remember where. I basically sit at my typewriter and just write anything and everything that comes into my head. Some mornings it’s about how I feel, some mornings it’s a nonsensical short story, some mornings it’s a mini poem. I find that doing this first thing puts me in a zone, it feels like it clicks me into the right position mentally for creativity. I also find that writing first thing in the morning allows you to tap into a part of your brain you won’t get at any other time of the day. There must be some scientific reason for it, but I can definitely feel it. If I sit at the piano at 9am and then at 3pm, I’m bound to come up with two different ideas.

2. Song Title Seeds

My second habit is to keep a list of song titles on me at all times, either in my head or in my little lyric book. I find that song titles can act as ‘seeds’ for far bigger ideas; they can be a jumping off point. For instance, if I stumble across a melody I’ve just come up with on the piano, I’d have three song titles in the back of my mind which would be competing against each other for the spot. That gives me ideas to play around with lyrically off the bat, without having to start from scratch. I don’t find this always works and sometimes you do have to start from scratch, but it’s worth being aware day-to-day, looking out for song names to jot down, same with lyrics of course.

Matt-Felix: “There’s also nothing better than sitting at a guitar or piano after not playing it for a while, you feel rejuvenated.” Photo: Sophia French

3. Break The Routine

My third habit is to not get stuck in a habit. I find freedom in doing things creatively that I don’t naturally reach for. For example, starting ideas off on a piano or guitar is what I do 80% of the time, but I’ve recently found that writing melodies without an instrument can lead me to places I’d never normally go. Most of the time it’s when I’m out, I’ll wander off somewhere and just start singing straight into my phone. A song of mine called Cold With Desire started off like that, just mumbling words into my voice notes. I later added chords and production and it has ended up being a pretty special song to me. I definitely think it’s worth doing things you don’t necessarily associate with ’you’ or what ‘you do’. One out of 10 times it might work and lead you to something interesting. Be curious, listen to music in the distance, a bar down the street or a car on the other side of the road. Notice what you hear, it might be the bass, vocal or drums. I try to work out what it’s doing and record a voice note. I always find that once I get closer it’s completely different to what I recorded, which gives me an idea to play with.

4. Embrace The Pause

My final habit/ritual is for when I’m in a bit of writer’s block. I force myself to refrain from writing or playing any music for as long as I can. I remember I would always try to power through and almost force a ‘block’ to end, but I don’t think it works like that. I now view it as creative juices that need refilling, so let them. Go out and live life, be present, don’t stress. Your writing talent hasn’t just vanished out of thin air, it just needs a little time to rest. There’s also nothing better than sitting at a guitar or piano after not playing it for a while, you feel rejuvenated.

Hopefully you find some use in one of these little ideas//habits that might help you along the way.

Matt-Felix’s new single Don’t Cry is out now, and you can stream it at mattfelix.lnk.to/dontcry

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