Matilda Mann: Songs about love

With her just announced debut album 'Roxwell', Matilda Mann explores the big, mushy feelings along her own journey of self-discovery. Weaving together threads of nostalgia, love, and personal growth, she's created an intimate portrait of youth and the search for identity in a bustling metropolis. Read our latest Dork Mixtape cover feature.

Words: Stephen Ackroyd.

It's a big day for Matilda Mann. The 24-year-old singer-songwriter is on the cusp of unveiling her first full-length 'Roxwell' — a collection of songs that weave together the threads of her past, present, and future. Though the album won't reach us until early in 2025, today is the day the starting gun goes off, and all that build-up becomes a tangible 'debut album campaign'.

So, it's no shock that Mann is brimming with a mix of excitement and nervous energy. She's "just got back from holiday actually" and is "frantically" getting herself back into the swing of her normal life. If she thinks that whirlwind is going to calm down by announcing an album, she's got another thing coming.

The journey to her debut has been a long and winding one, spanning several years and multiple EPs. Mann's discography to date showcases her evolution as an artist, from the raw intimacy of her early work to the more polished edges of her recent offerings. Each has seen her push to bar higher while still maintaining the heartfelt honesty that has become her trademark.

As autumn starts to settle, Matilda is reflecting on the season that's just passed - a time that, for her, was more about creative growth than sunshine. "Not sure we got a summer this year, but I'm not complaining! I love autumn and everything under 21 degrees," she laughs. "But it was great; I've been finishing the album and planning lots of things for next year, so I'm super excited."

The excitement is tempered with a sense of nostalgia, as the forthcoming release draws heavily from Mann's formative years and her relationship with her own private space. "I think I decided to base the album around my home because it's where I feel the most myself," she explains. "Almost every day, I write down one lyric or a concept that comes into my mind in my Notes app, and most of the time, that's when I'm home, and I start snowballing an idea for a song. So, a lot of the songs started in my bedroom, and then the final demo was played in my kitchen."

The process of creating a body of work rooted in her early years has led Mann to some surprising revelations about herself. "I don't like reminiscing anymore," she admits. "I used to be obsessed with reminiscing and constantly thinking about the past and moments I loved, as well as moments that made me feel really uncomfortable, weirdly."

This shift in perspective reflects the broader themes of growth and change that permeate the record. She continues, "I really enjoyed the structure of my youth and how everything was planned and laid out for me in school. I think that's something I've struggled losing as an adult, especially with the job I have. Nobody tells you how to live your own life, and it's terrifying."

Yet, this terror has given way to a newfound appreciation for the present. "Looking back at pictures, I just see how much I've changed and grown, and now it feels wrong to want to be the person I was," she reflects. "I'm finally excited to be the age I am now."

The full-length's exploration of home extends beyond mere nostalgia, delving into Mann's evolving relationship with her childhood neighbourhood. "I lived on Roxwell Road my whole life, apart from the last year or two, where I've lived in different flats in different parts of London and am currently renting elsewhere," she explains. This transition has been significant for Mann, who never experienced the traditional university route of leaving home. "It's been an exciting adjustment moving out. I was very much ready to part ways when I moved out."

Despite this readiness to move on, Mann's connection to her roots remains strong. "Growing up in London is so strange," she muses. "There are so many different parts to it, and I feel like I only started exploring them a couple of years ago! But the area I grew up in has such a wonderful community. All the neighbours know each other, and there are still independent shops on the high streets and culture everywhere. It'll always have a special place in my heart."

After sharing a pair of new tracks - 'Meet Cute' and 'Tell Me That I'm Wrong' - she's heralding 'Roxwell' and its announcement with a gigantic, yearning emoto-bop, 'Say It Back'. It's about "that frustrating confusion of why, if you love someone so much and do everything you can, do they still not love you back," Matilda explains. "Unrequited love hurts the most because there's that feeling of "the chase" and it never being reciprocated. Are you just not their type? Smart enough? Cool enough? It can make you overthink so much you'd do crazy things for them."

This sense of community and belonging infuses the upcoming release with a warmth that extends beyond mere geography. Love, in its myriad forms, emerges as a central theme throughout the record. Mann's exploration of the mushy stuff is positively multifaceted, encompassing lost love, new love, and familial love. "I think love is something every human experiences," she explains. "Whether it's reciprocated or not, young or old, spoken or held back. There are so many topics to talk about when it comes to love; it seems never-ending to me. And love is usually the biggest story in our lives. Could be a love of a family member, or your job, or travelling. Loving what you do and the people around you is the best goal to have, I think."

Mann's optimism about love shines through in her music and her outlook. "I love love," she enthuses. "It's so exciting hearing about or watching someone fall in love. I know it can sometimes be painful and confusing, but I feel like even if that is the case, you'll learn so much about yourself and life from it."

This enthusiasm is fortified by personal experience, as Mann reveals through her own emotional journey. "For a long time, I didn't think I was capable of really falling in love," she admits. "I didn't feel like I understood what other people were talking about when they said they couldn't live without someone, but when I eventually felt it, it was the most terrifying realisation."

The creation of her debut wasn't without its challenges. Matilda's eagerness to complete the project sometimes clashed with the organic process of songwriting. "I wanted it to be done before it was ready," she admits. "I thought months and months ago I had written everything, but I kept writing for fun, which I think just took the pressure off it, and in that period, I wrote about 3 or 4 new songs that completely changed the shape of the album."

The tracklisting of her debut reflects this journey of emotional growth and self-discovery. Mann describes the opening as a cathartic release: "At the end of the day, it's about knowing when to move on. Sometimes, being angry at situations only affects you and holds you back; it doesn't change anything. I wanted to start the album by letting go of things I've held onto and starting a new chapter."

This careful consideration extends to the overall flow of the record. "I think listening to an album, you should lean into the energy of the song. So it shouldn't get taken away from you the moment it ends," Matilda explains. "So I tried to order the album as a slow transition between different energies and emotions."

For Mann, the essence of a great debut lies in its emotional resonance. "The feeling," she states emphatically. "Some of my favourite albums just have so much emotion and rawness to them, that they stay with me for days when I listen to them. People like Ryan Beatty, Olivia Dean, Adrianne Lenker and Paolo Nutini always sing with everything they have in them, with lyrics that make you feel seen. There's always such a range of highs and lows to those albums, and to be able to bring strangers along on that journey is incredible."

Now that things are really rolling, Matilda finds herself grappling with an understandable mix of excitement and trepidation. With six months ahead of her that could define her journey as an artist, there's a lot at play. Not that we should be reminding her of that too much. "I'm so terrified to release my album," she confesses with a laugh. "I love it so much, and I want so much for it, but I think I just need to be happy that it's done and out in the world." ■