When it comes to a domination of modern-day music, no one has done it quite like The Weeknd. With some of his releases standing as a defining sound of our generation, it is fair to say that his impact will be felt for many years to come. One artist proving that to be the case is Matilda Cole as she unveils her own indie pop-infused take on the infamous track, “The Hills”.

When speaking on her new release, the artist claimed, “I wanted to do something to fill the gap between EP1 and EP2, and I used to spend hours making covers way before I ever wrote my own stuff so it felt good to do one properly. I think the best bit was taking a song that’s a very different style to my own and being able to strip it down and then build it back up in my own way. It was so fun to experiment with different sounds, and I finally got to release a song with Duncan Boyce, who was the first producer I ever worked with! So it was a nice full-circle moment.”

Upon the release of her new track, the artist sat down with Wonderland to discuss her upbringing in Brighton and the success of her debut EP. Head below to read our interview with Matilda Cole….

Hi Matilda, how are you doing? Talk us through your beginnings in music, when did you first realise your love for music?
Hi! I’ve always, always had a love for music. I used to write songs and sing and perform them in the playground when I was little, and I was convinced I was going to be the next Hannah Montana. It wasn’t until I got older that I really saw music as a viable career option, but ever since I did it’s been the only thing I could imagine myself doing. My one goal in life is to not be tied down in a job I hate, and as long as I can do what I’m doing now I think I’ve achieved that.

Do you think that your upbringing in Brighton, has had an influence on your sound?
Yeah definitely. The live music scene here is fantastic, and it’s such a creative and freeing place that it would be hard not to take inspiration from it. That being said, I actually live in a countryside town just outside of Brighton, and that small-town suburban environment probably impacted my music more than anything. There’s a certain boredom that comes alongside southern towns like this that kind of forced me to write about it, just for something to do.

Congratulations on the release of “The Hills”. Talks us through how the track came about!
Thanks! I wanted to do something to fill the gap between EP1 and EP2, and I used to spend hours making covers way before I ever wrote my own stuff so it felt good to do one properly. I think the best bit was taking a song that’s a very different style to my own and being able to strip it down and then build it back up in my own way. It was so fun to experiment with different sounds, and I finally got to release a song with Duncan Boyce, who was the first producer I ever worked with! So it was a nice full-circle moment.

Are you a big The Weeknd fan? If so, what is it about him that you love?
Yeah, I’ve loved his music for ages. I think his music creates such a unique atmosphere and feeling, and I love the way he writes. To me, his music always reminds me of driving on the freeway in LA, so in the visual, for my version, I centred it all around my Dads car (not quite as cool but the thought was there).

Your debut EP also found great success and even amassed 2 million streams. What was that like for you?
It was so mad. Especially because all of it happened in lockdown. I left sixth form in March of 2020, four months earlier than I thought I would, and never having sat my A-Levels. Within a month or two, I’d signed a deal and was preparing songs for release, whereas I was gonna take a gap year and then maybe go to uni. I’m so glad I changed my mind, though, cause the response and feeling of putting my music out there has been the best thing I’ve ever felt. Even if it was all done from my bedroom, on zoom.

If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be?
There’s so many! I think the ultimate number one would be Patti Smith, we don’t even have to collaborate – I just want to be in the same room as her. But, I’d also love to work with King Krule in some capacity, or maybe Sharon Van Etten. And Phoebe Bridgers. Obviously.

What is next for you? Do you have any other projects that you are working on?
Yes! I’m just putting the final touches on the second EP, which you should be hearing a single from very soon. I’m so excited to put it out, I grew so much as an artist and a person in the past year, and I feel like these songs reflect that. So keep your eyes peeled.