Matt Wescott has just released his new single “Run Away With Me,” and we are delighted to share a conversation with you that will allow us to delve into the world of his music and learn more about his creative process.”Run Away With Me” is a composition that sincerely invites us on a journey through sounds and emotions. Today, we will talk to Matt about his sources of inspiration, the influence of other artists on his music, and his plans for the future, including upcoming releases and tours.

V: Let’s start with your new single, “Run Away With Me.” Could you tell us what story or emotions inspired you to write this song?

Matt: The story of ‘Run Away With Me’ is one of freedom. I co-wrote the first draft with an American top line writer Aimee Proal. We wanted it to be summery and free.

V: Which artists or musical styles have had the greatest influence on the sound of this new single?

Matt: The La’s and in particular their maverick songwriter Lee Mavers are an influence on a lot of my work. They’re probably my favourite band of all time! Ocean Colour Scene and the way they incorporated Motown style drumming and honky tonk piano into the indie rock spectrum are also an influence now I come to think about it. Good question!

V: Your music is playing on radio stations worldwide. Are there any countries or cities that particularly interest you in terms of their response to your music?

Matt: The internet and digital age have completely changed the ball game. I speak as somebody who was carving out a ‘career’ in this game beforehand so feel I am well placed to comment. The advantages are clear in that even a relatively unknown artist like me can have thousands of listeners on a single platform which is obviously great and something I am grateful for. The challenges are firstly because it is so easy to put music out there that seemingly everyone is doing it so we are working in an incredibly saturated market. Secondly the digital age has devalued music in terms of monetisation so whilst people will now happily part with £5 for a cup of coffee they’re not as happy to part with the same amount for music. Because so much music is free or next to free not many musicians are making money from it and therefore I imagine a lot of talent is getting disheartened and giving up.

V: Can you share any particularly memorable moments from your live performances? Perhaps an anecdote or a story from one of your concerts?

Matt: I played a gig in Portsmouth last night. I supported Gary Stringer who is the singer from Reef at one of his solo acoustic shows. The audience were really cool, were very receptive to my set, friendly to me afterwards and my Spotify plays went up overnight. It was also very special to see Gary play an intimate solo show as he’s been someone I’ve admired for a long time. Perhaps a more entertaining anecdote would be a memory from my first ever gig in a city (Bristol). I was very excited and bouncing round like Tigger. I thought I was very cool until I fell backwards and knocked the drum kit, mics and drummer over!

V: You mentioned that you plan to release another single from the EP “Echoes Around The Sun.” What can we expect from this upcoming release?

Matt: The next single is a song called ‘Lost’. It’s more mellow than my first two solo releases. It’ll be everywhere once the campaign for this one finishes. As that is only really picking up pace now I don’t know when yet.

V: How do you choose the artists you’d like to perform with as support acts? Is there anyone you dream of sharing the stage with?

Matt: Gigs come through networking really. I try to play on bills that suit my style. For every good support slot or festival I get accepted for there are far more that don’t come off and some that don’t even reply. However, I do get rebooked lots so like to think that once I’m in I do a decent job. I’d love to support Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds or blur but I imagine everyone else would too.

V: What festivals or tours do you have planned in the near future, and are there any places you dream of visiting or performing at?

Matt: I am applying for next years festivals and working on tour supports and my own mini tour as we speak. Watch this space. I will also be doing a small stage or two at one of the world’s best known festivals that isn’t very far from where I am based in 2024.

V: If you could choose any city in the world for your next performance, which city would it be and why?

Matt: I’d love to play in New York. I have always loved it from afar and as it goes it is the city where the most people have listened to my first solo single so far.

V: We all know that musicians have their talismans or quirky rituals before performances. Do you have any such rituals before a concert?

Matt: I always drink a Lemsip on the day of a gig whether I have a cough / cold or not. I do some strange sounding vocal warm up’s and get my fingers going with some scales. I am big on visualisation and have to stretch and stuff as my spine, hips and neck aren’t in great shape. I also drink lots of water. Nothing exciting really. Sorry!

V: And the last question. If your music were a dish, what dish would it be and why?

Matt: If my music were a dish it would be a chilli con carne. Kind of familiar, but fresh, zingy and not too much.