Interview by: Bridjet Mendyuk
Originally from Atlantic City, Finn Matthews is a 17 year old with a lot to say. A “boy next door” type mixed in with Shawn Mendes, the teen started his career when he met Elijah Blake (who has written for Usher and Rihanna) randomly one day in a recording studio. After recently moving to Los Angeles, we caught up with Matthews to see how his journey started and the story behind his recent singles.
What is “I Wrote A Love Song” about (going to go out on a limb here and say love, but more specific if it’s about something more personal)?
It’s definitely about love [laughs]. More specifically: it’s about a breakup, but like most breakups, one person is trying to win the other person back. The song talks about all of great times that we had, and how we can just forget about the bad stuff and work it out.
Being 17 and an artist, do you feel like you’ve had to grow up a little faster? Not a lot of people can say they’re pursuing a career in music at that age.
I do feel like I’ve had to grow up faster, but at the same time, I still feel like a kid. There are times when I have to be super professional, but a lot of the time, I’m joking around and having fun, so it is a mix of both, which I like.
“Julia” is about being attracted to someone who doesn’t share the same feelings. The name “Julia” represents anyone does not return the interest. It could be because they don’t know you like them, they are too busy, or they think they’re too good for you, but it still hurts.
Who are some of your favorite artists?
Some artists that I like are Michael Jackson, and Justin Timberlake, but I’m also really into R&B and Gospel music. Artists like Brandy, Brian McKnight and Kim Burrell are also some of my favorites.
One of the things I love most about L.A. is how many artists are in one place. I get to meet and work with new people all the time, which is awesome, and it’s very inspiring to see the way different people work and create. I’m always in the studio, so working with new people is a great experience.
What is “Half-Hearted” about?
“Half Hearted” is about not giving your all to something. I absolutely love this concept because lots of people can relate to it. In the song, it is about someone not fully committing to a relationship, but the concept applies to almost everything in life, like why got to the gym to only work out for five minutes? Why get a sandwich if you are going to throw away half of it? If you do not commit fully to something, then why bother at all?
Where do you find inspiration?
Inspiration come from a lot of different places. I get a lot of inspiration from music. I love that music is a universal language that can speak to anyone, including myself. I also pull inspiration from nature. I love to look around at things. If I’m in a car, you’ll almost never see me on my phone, I’m always staring out the window, looking at people, nature, or anything. It’s crazy to think that everyone out there has a story, and I just like being aware.
Is there an album in the works?
Right now, I’m just focusing on releasing a few more singles!
When did you realize you wanted to become a musician?
Ever since I can remember, I have loved music, but It wasn’t until I was about nine years old, when I met Elijah Blake, my mentor, that I knew I wanted to commit everything to music. [Blake] has helped me with everything, he gave me a bunch of music to study and sing, and he kept me grounded and motivated. I would not be near where I am without him.
What are some goals or some dreams you have for the future?
One of my main goals is to stay humble. As I grow musically and as a person, I want to strive to be the best I can be at everything, but never to think I’m too good for anything. I’m always open minded, and I want to stay that way.
