Q&A: Neither Sinking Nor Swimming, Matilda Mann Has Learned How to Float
THE PHRASE “YOU LOOK LIKE YOU CAN’T SWIM” TYPICALLY FUNCTIONS AS A SUBTLE YET SNIDE DIG — insulting the receiver’s buoyancy and swimming aptitude. Matilda Mann, who swears she can indeed swim, utilizes this quip to represent her newest body of work, a five-track acoustic EP touching upon love, loss, and the precious moments in-between.
You Look Like You Can’t Swim, released July 14, marks Mann’s fourth EP release, and the first to utilize a fully acoustic soundscape. The tracks featured on this project are “the kind of songs I would’ve dreamed of making and releasing when I was 16,” Mann confides. Now 23, Mann has made listeners a lush bed of sound to rest upon; her glowy, vibrant compositions flow just as dandelion tufts do on warm, familiar summer breezes.
Regardless of whether Mann sings of unadulterated longing or soul-fulfilling companionship, the notion of unfettered optimism and healing permeates every note of this EP. In every track, Mann seems to ask, “How sweet is life when we have someone to love?” Adorning the minutiae of everyday life with tender sentiment, Mann creates an exquisite soundtrack well-suited for hours of sweet reverie.
Standout track “The Day That I Met You” takes listeners through a sweeping romance of a cinematic nature. With lofty string arrangements allowing a focus on Mann’s rich vocals, she chronicles a swoon-worthy love story, declaring that previous losses amount to nothing when compared to this new love that unexpectedly entered her life.
Giving herself away to devotion, Mann croons, “And though I’m still battered and bruised / I forgave the world the day that I met you.” And though she voices the lyrics just above a whisper, they feel as though they have been shouted, as the weight of their deep meaning settles in.
“I hope that there is so much more of me to give,” Mann shares, perhaps not aware that no one could ever ask for more than what she has already gifted the world. The artist has crafted an impeccable auditory home for wistful daydreaming — perhaps the most perfect activity for these remaining summer months.
“It’s a space to be more emotionally, intuitive, and vulnerable with what you’re feeling,” Mann upholds.
“I know that there's a million different ways I could say / How you're always the best part of my day,” Mann sings in “The Day That I Met You” — and rest assured, listening to You Look Like You Can’t Swim will be the best part of our days.
Grab your pool floaties and snorkel, and continue reading below to learn more about all of the (swimming) lessons that were imbued into Mann’s newest EP, You Look Like You Can’t Swim.
LUNA: Before we dive into the interview, I wanted to just check in and see how you’re doing today! What has been going on in your world?
MANN: Hiya! I'm actually on holiday! Trying to learn how to swim in a pool.
LUNA: When did making music start to feel like a meaningful outlet for you, and why does creating it continue to be meaningful for you?
MANN: I’m someone that’s in tune with my emotions and thoughts, but I find it quite hard to vocalize them in the moment. Each song is also kind of a diary entry for me. I get to look back and remember thoughts and feelings in such a unique way.
LUNA: You are surrounded by so many creatives who continue to support and champion your work. What do those friendships mean to you, and how does one know that they’ve found the right people to surround themselves with?
MANN: Regardless of what you do, you should surround yourself with people who are happy for you and celebrate your successes. Being supported by the people around you is something that will always be critical. As a musician, I’ve actually found that people who don’t work in the creative industry sometimes are the people you need to give you a different perspective on your job and a different source of ideas. It is incredibly important to constantly be humbled, (laughs) which my friendships since secondary school have been very good at.
LUNA: Congratulations on the release of your upcoming EP, You Look Like You Can’t Swim! You’ve mentioned that this project is one of your favorite things you’ve worked on thus far. How does this project differentiate itself from your other work? Does it continue the narrative your discography has already set, or does it create something new?
MANN: Over the past few years, I’ve loved progressing and experimenting with different types of genres and musical instruments and working with other musicians and producers. I've had such an urge to create a small group of songs that feel so simple, vulnerable, romantic, and emotional — the kind of songs I would’ve dreamed of making and releasing when I was 16.
LUNA: You’ve stated that the title of the EP has a couple of meanings for you — the saying was partly inspired by Loyle Carner’s album title Not Waving, But Drowning, which paints the image of someone who might look like they’re having a good time but in reality is struggling. What drew you to this title, and why does it fit the EP?
MANN: In all honesty, I discovered the saying “you look like you can’t swim” as a joke — you would say [it] to someone as a slight insult. It’s a metaphor for saying you look like you’re not capable of doing something, and that’s how I view myself in a lot of situations.
LUNA: As a whole, the project takes on a much more acoustic-leaning sound than your past discography. What emotions do you think acoustic soundscapes lend themselves to best?
MANN: It’s a space to be more emotionally, intuitive, and vulnerable with what you’re feeling. There’s more focus on the words, and the instruments highlight the lyrics more than a pop song would.
LUNA: What was your thought process on choosing which songs made the final cut? Are there certain themes that create a throughline in this project?
MANN: I definitely wanted it to be an acoustic EP — that meant minimal production and live instruments. I wanted romance, heartbreak, and all of the deep feelings that string arrangements can really bring out in a song.
LUNA: There are a couple of love songs featured on this EP. Do you have to be in love to write a good love song? Or can you write based on the idea of the feeling alone?
MANN: I actually wrote “The Day That I Met You” when I wasn’t in love. Movies give such a descriptive look into how love feels and what it should look like. And it might not necessarily exactly look like that innocent, pure, intense love, but I think it’s something people like to be reminded exists.
LUNA: In writing “In Plain Sight,” you wanted to write “an ‘end of the movie’ song, where everything finally comes together and everyone’s happy.” What film do you think this track would be best suited to accompany?
MANN: Juno.
LUNA: So much of your discography discusses interpersonal relationships, especially romantic ones. While romantic relationships can leave us feeling “battered and bruised,” we always seem to pick up the pieces and carry on, seeking out the next chance to love and be loved. What about love makes it so compelling for you to write about?
MANN: I think love is one of the best emotions, bringing out all of the different sides of yourself. That’s why it’s so easy to write about. It’s also something that every human feels in some way or another. Being in love can take you down so many different parts and into so many different situations.
LUNA: “If Only” describes wanting someone to reciprocate these really deep feelings, but ultimately ends with the feeling of disappointment with reality. Can you explain some of your inspirations for writing the track?
MANN: 500 Days of Summer is an amazing film that shows you the reality of unreciprocated love. From an outside perspective, that kind of relationship is so obvious to others, but when you’re in it, you’re tied up with the idea of what everything should look like and how it should go.
LUNA: What setting do you think this EP is best enjoyed in? A picnic in the countryside? A stroll down the street?
MANN: My favorite way to listen to music is with really good noise-cancelling headphones while walking down a path in a park in the sunshine.
LUNA: I like to end my interviews on a happy note, so what has been giving you joy lately?
MANN: I just directed my first music video for the song “You Look Like You Can’t Swim,” and it couldn’t have come out better than I planned. It’s giving me such a boost, and I hope that there is so much more of me to give.
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