London-based singer Matt-Felix is an artist who speaks in images before he speaks in statements. Now back with his latest single ‘All You Need’, he delves deeper into a dark and emotive landscape.
When asked to describe himself and his music in his own words, he doesn’t pose for us, but instead gives a rather self-aware, yet quietly confident answer: “I’m a singer songwriter living in London, I’m half French half English. The songs I write are pretty eclectic in terms of sound and style, but there always seems to be a dreamy-ness & a ‘classic’ feel to things. Somewhere between Nick Cave & Richard Ashcroft is what people have said, with maybe a touch of Beck I’ve heard my manager say before.”
Photo Credits: Sophia French
His new single began with a dream: a near‑empty theatre, a stage, and the strange calm of performing to no one. For most artists, that image would be a nightmare. For Matt‑Felix, it was grounding. “It was just like one of those classic dreams where you want to scream but can’t, except I felt quite calm and at ease performing to an empty theatre.”
He doesn’t force a metaphor onto it. He doesn’t pretend it’s a grand statement about his career. The image stuck and that was enough. Sometimes a dream is just a dream, until it becomes a song.
If the dream was quiet, the single ‘All You Need’ is anything but. It’s rooted in ambition and not the glossy, PR‑friendly kind, but the stubborn kind that keeps artists moving forward even when the industry punishes them for wanting more. “People should be allowed to openly strive for success, or to want to do something extraordinary. There is obviously a way to go about it, because nothing is uglier than someone with a massive ego. But being ambitious is something completely different. It’s inspiring to be around, and it should be viewed as a positive thing.” Matt-Felix is open about his artistic hunger, and it’s inspiring.
Artwork for 'All You Need'
"I hate when things feel sterile or too clean."
Part of that ambition is sonic and part of it is refusing to polish the life out of a track. ‘All You Need’ still carries textures from the original home demo, the imperfect fingerprints of the moment it was born. He explains: “I always find that keeping imperfect elements help keep the original character & feeling of the song. Especially if you work in the way I do where I’ll do a full production of the song just after I’ve written it.”
It’s a philosophy that runs through his writing too. He pulls from diary entries and personal notes, but never in a confessional‑for‑confession’s‑sake way. “Nothing ever feels too raw. But I’m not really that songwriter who’s going to reveal every detail about my relationship with someone, I just don’t naturally write like that. It’s more about the feeling, getting the feeling across.”
Matt‑Felix has played nearly every iconic small venue in London and one in particular stands out. “Selling out The Windmill was cool. Although it wasn’t my best performance, it was a great feeling and only our second gig,” he reminisces. Now he’s stepping onto a much bigger stage: opening the Second Stage at Latitude. His preparation is disarmingly simple. “I’ll probably just sit in silence for a while & listen to music in my headphones, always works.” The calm before the storm, if you will.
Some artists become different live. Matt‑Felix doesn’t. “I just want to be in the moment as much as possible and not overthink anything. So, I guess it’s not that different, to be honest with you. Musically the songs sound heavier live, which I like.” The intention stays the same, but the energy shifts.
"I think ‘All You Need’ kind of stands alone."
Where does ‘All You Need’ sit in his story? He’s not entirely sure, but he knows it marks something. “It feels like I’m closing a chapter, more so than opening a new one. But it’s neither to be honest.” And the next chapter is already forming. As he heads into a season of fresh recordings, bigger stages, and that unmistakable hunger to explore, it’s clear he’s not chasing a narrative. Matt-Felix shows that it’s cool to be authentic and ambitious, and this single proves it.
ALL YOU NEED OUT NOW.
Words by
Marie Müller, 2026.