Matt Wills

“I learned to play guitar to try and impress a girl.” Matt Wills readily admits what most artists are too cool (or pretentious) to reveal. While he rolls a cigarette, I’m quizzing Wills about what drew him to music; ultimately, it’s the opposite sex, and a throwback obsession with The Kooks. “I used to sit and learn their songs, and write my lyrics on top of it,” he chuckles. He dabbled in rap battles at school too — something he’s seriously embarrassed about — but the “party trick” was superseded (thankfully) by his urge to impress the ladies with his skills on a six-string and his dulcet tones. Wills’ sound functions as his public diary, with a back catalogue of tracks that traverse through his experiences in life and love. “I’m one of those people who really struggles with talking about their feelings. I always say everything as a joke and never say anything serious,” instantaneously he erupts into laughter. “I’m such a soppy person, I’m like Hugh Grant.” I’m sold, we’ve all imagined Bridget Jones era Grant serenading us, right? “Each one of my songs is about a person, or a moment in my life,” Wills continues on the translation of his life into lyrics. “They’re all moments in time.”