In this ‘Listed’ feature, we get to know the most radicalist up-and-coming stars through a themed list of their top musical picks.

Digging into the archives this time, it’s modern soul crooner Matt Maltese.

Taking notes from the timeless songwriting playbook of Leonard Cohen and the witticism of a young Jarvis Cocker, this crooning South Londoner has already made his mark on 2017 with two of the year’s most haunting and powerful singles to date – the apocalyptic ‘As The World Caves In’, and the more bruised ‘No One Won The War’.

He’s got friends at every turn too – from bedding himself into the bubbling south-of-the-river scene that’s produced similarly exciting new musical hopes in the form of HMLTD and Goat Girl, to rubbing shoulders with indie elite in best pal Hugo White of The Maccabees and The Coral’s Bill Ryder-Jones, who offers up some guitar on ‘No One Won The War’. As such, Matt Maltese’s wry songwriting feels poised for the big-time, without losing sight of the down-to-earth, indie artist’s graft that’s got him this far.

Never one to miss an opportunity for some oh-so-British self-deprecation though, Matt Maltese has provided us with a list of ‘Songs I Wish I’d Written’. If you’re looking to form a similar list yourself, come check out Matt’s talents at his Alt. Escape performance this at Hand In Hive x TMR’s showcase at The Mucky Duck, as part of The Great Escape festival.

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1. Chilly Gonzales and Jarvis Cocker – ‘Room 29’

This record from Mr Jarvis Cocker and Chilly Gonzales is a sublime sneaky ode to loneliness. And of course some beautiful emotional piano playing.



2. Tom Waits – ‘Opening Intro from Nighthawks at the Diner’

Not exactly a fully fledged pop song, but quite possibly some of the best pre-show small talk I’ve ever heard.



3. John Grant – ‘GMF’

What a genius motherfucker John Grant is.



4. Morphine – ‘Good’

Sexy, sexy music.



5. Anna B. Savage – ‘I’

I can’t sing, play or write like this. Wish I could.



6. Leonard Cohen – ‘Famous Blue Raincoat’

Sorry, but yes.



7. Karen Dalton – ‘Take Me’

Mmmm - dreamy, nostalgic, sensual. It’s essentially a bubble bath with your one true love put into a song.



8. Sultans Of Ping FC – ‘Where’s Me Jumper’

Geee, I’d sell my meagre soul to the devil for this one.



9. Nina Simone – ‘Black is the Color of my True Love’s Hair’

This song uses silence like no other. Magic.



10. Lou Reed – ‘Perfect Day’

Don’t we all?



Catch Matt Maltese at the free Hand In Hive x TMR Showcase on Friday 19^th May at Brighton’s The Mucky Duck.

-Tom Connick