Following the release of dance banger “Unforgettable”, we caught up with Mathilde SPZ to learn more about her background, influences and the challenges she had to overcome as a woman in the music industry.
Can you tell us a bit about your musical background and how you got started in music?
Yes! I have actually always been singing- I have videos of me as a 3-year-old performing in the living room. Both my parents are musicians and music has always been a way for me to express emotions and thoughts. I started playing several instruments in the music school from the age of 6 but I always turned to singing as my musical expression. I started writing songs when I was 9 (I actually started to write in English since I wanted to become an international superstar already from that age but the grammar was soooo bad my cousin had to help me!) and I performed my own song for the first time at a local talent show that year. After that, it was choirs, musical education and several different bands before I could make a living as a singer in 2015. Even though I have always been making music and performing I struggled with my confidence for a long time and it wasn’t until the pandemic hit that I found the courage to release my music as a solo artist.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences, both past and present?
Growing up I listened to everything my parents put on- Everything from Toto to Al Jarreau, Beethoven to the Manhattan Transfer but I always had a weak spot for electronic music and pop. I remember when Spice Girls came- Oh how I wanted to be Geri! I just loved her voice and how she just seemed to be herself. That has always been the biggest inspiration for me: Artists that seems genuine and dare to joke and goof around. That to me is what it means to be self assure: When you dare to think that you yourself has value and has something to offer others. That has always been my goal both in my personal life and as an artist.
What’s the story behind your latest track “Unforgettable”? Especially its unique structure?
«Unforgettable» describes the uncertainty in the beginning of a dating process when you feel like you are flying and sinking at the same time. I remember when we started writing it, I had this hook line in the back of my head that became the chorus line «unforgettable» and from then this intense feeling turned up: You know when you’re unable to sleep- desperate for attention from your date? That emotion mixed with some kind of self confidence is what we wanted to convey and I am really happy with how it turned out! The bridge was written as a counterpart both musically and emotionally to the chorus and, since I am a sucker for vocal harmonies and comes from a choir background, we decided to mix the bridge vocals into the chorus at the end to give it a bit of an Gospel feel :p
Could you share any memorable moments or experiences that have shaped your musical journey so far?
There are really so many moments that have been a huge part of my musical journey but what they all have in common is people I meet. My mom always said I carry my heart on my sleeve and that results in a lot of emotional encounters when dealing with relationships. The last years I have had several soul-shaking experiences at writing camps writing with people I didn’t know. That feeling when the chemistry is right and you dare to open up about a subject that is important and people, who you don’t really know, open their arms and heart to you and you write the crap out together- That is truly amazing!
Have you faced any challenges or obstacles as a female musician, and if so, how have you overcome them?
Absolutely! I have been working in the event industry for almost 10 years, since before «Me too», and trust me, things have changed after that! I was often groped and harassed by drunk men but luckily not as often now. I also remember I talked to my husband about how some of the technicians often talked to me at gigs, like I didn’t know what I was talking about when I said that my vocals sounded muffled, or asked them for a low cut or for less compression and my husband was shocked when I told him how often I was told that «it’s just your ears» or just told off. Nobody ever talked to him that way even if he asked for the same things. (He is also a musician and so it’s been really important for my confidence to discuss these things with him and he telling me that it has nothing to do with my competence.) I find that it always helps to talk to colleagues about these things and often you find that you are not alone and maybe you even find a solution!
How do you hope your music will resonate with your audience, especially with other aspiring female musicians?
I am not gonna lie and say that I don’t strive to earn money on my music, since, hello- I want to do this for a living… But, the most important thing for me, now, is that I do this in my own way and that I like all the music I release. If only one girl can see me as their «Geri Halliwell» I have succeeded! That type of confidence is what I aim for and some days it’s there, others not, but my goal is to spread the message of «You do you» and that «you in yourself have value» to people- Especially insecure girls since I soooo can relate to that! But everyone do have value by just being themselves and if you want to make music- Go ahead! But do it for yourself 😉