
{"id":10734,"date":"2025-02-04T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T09:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/?p=10734"},"modified":"2025-02-28T22:35:42","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T21:35:42","slug":"matthew-cilia-interview-mesc-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/en\/matthew-cilia-interview-mesc-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"[Interview] Matthew Cilia : Son parcours, sa chanson \u00ab\u00a0Control\u00a0\u00bb et son aventure au MESC 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Passionate about music and a regular on the metal scene, Matthew Cilia is embarking on a new solo adventure with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/en\/performer\/matthew-cilia\/2025\/?swcfpc=1\"><em>Control<\/em><\/a>\" his first participation in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/performers\/national\/year\/2025\/country\/mt\/?swcfpc=1\">MESC 2025<\/a>, the Maltese selection for Eurovision. In this interview, he tells us about his journey, the inspiration behind his song and his preparations for this unprecedented experience. \ud83c\udfb6\ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-dominant-color=\"464140\" data-has-transparency=\"true\" style=\"--dominant-color: #464140;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"674\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/matthew_cilia_cropped-1024x674.png\" alt=\"Matthew Cilia - MESC 2025\" class=\"wp-image-10742 has-transparency\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/matthew_cilia_cropped-1024x674.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/matthew_cilia_cropped-300x198.png 300w, https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/matthew_cilia_cropped-768x506.png 768w, https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/matthew_cilia_cropped-18x12.png 18w, https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/matthew_cilia_cropped-120x79.png 120w, https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/matthew_cilia_cropped.png 1277w\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Matthew Cilia - MESC 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can you introduce yourself for our community? Could you share a bit about your journey in music and what brought you to the MESC this year?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Hello, My name is Matthew Cilia, I\u2019m 28 years old and this is my first time competing in MESC. My journey as a singer started 6 years ago with the band Delirium.mt before transitioning to Align the Tide with whom I performed at some of the biggest festivals in Malta. This is my first solo single and performance so it\u2019s a whole new experience for me. <strong>Delirium.mt<\/strong>before I joined <strong>Align the Tide<\/strong>With whom I've had the opportunity to perform at some of Malta's biggest festivals. This is my very first solo song and performance, so it's a completely new experience for me.<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/whereyou_matt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can you tell us the story behind the creation of your song \u201cControl\u201d in terms of inspiration and message?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cControl\u201d deals with the feeling of finding yourself even though others see only chaos and the loss of control. It deals with finding myself as an artist over the last year even when there seemed to be very limited hope of finding a way back to perform live once again<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/whereyou_matt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/whereyou_matt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/whereyou_matt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What was the creative process behind \u201cControl\u201d? Did you collaborate with other songwriters or producers?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The process started off with the MESC Bootcamp that happened last June were I got to experience writing with the talent writers and producers Marcus Winther-John, Andreas Lindberg and Rasmus Olsen. We got a full day to work on creating the song and just bouncing ideas off each other which I believe influenced the song positively as everyone had very different background which created an amazing writing atmosphere. <strong>MESC Bootcamp<\/strong> last June, where I had the chance to work with talented writers and producers such as <strong>Marcus Winther-John, Andreas Lindberg and Rasmus Olsen<\/strong>. We had a whole day to create the song and exchange ideas. This diversity of experience and influences really enriched the song and gave it a unique dynamic.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">You were the lead singer of the metal band Delirium from 2019 to 2022. How did that experience shape your current musical style?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\"><em>Given that Delirium was my first full foray into music and performing live, it definitely helped me gain confidence in my abilities as a vocalist and to connect with the audience. My music style has always been metalcore and nu-metal which can be seen when I transitioned to Align the Tide and my performances with them. Therefore there\u2019s a melodic influence from Delirium with the aggressiveness and energy of Align The Tide in \u201cControl\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How are you preparing for your performance at the MESC, both vocally and on stage?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><em><em>This is my first time performing on a stage with so many cameras therefore it\u2019s a bit of a learning curve to get used to but fortunately I\u2019m performing with two super professional musicians who always know how to have a laugh as well so it\u2019s made things a bit easier for myself. Warmups are essential when performing any music but especially with the growls included in \u201cControl\u201d, it\u2019s always essential to believe in your ability and enjoy the moment as well.<\/em> <strong>growl<\/strong> in \"Control \u00bb. But above all, I want to enjoy the moment and give my best on stage.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are you following some national selections for Eurovision this year? If so, any artists or songs have caught your attention?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><em><em>Although I\u2019m focusing on our own national final there have been 1 or two artists that have caught my attention however it\u2019s a bit early to tell without listening to the live versions. Saying that Red Sebastian and entries from Melodifestivalen have particularly caught my attention.<\/em> <strong>Red Sebastian<\/strong> and some songs from <strong>Melodifestivalen<\/strong>.<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/whereyou_matt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are your best memories about Eurovision?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Eurovision for me is always about people who might not always follow music gathering together in order to experience this wonderful, fun and inclusive festival. Therefore, I always fondly remember the parties that we used to go to at a friends house while cosplaying as the performers that took part in Eurovision especially when Lordi won.<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/whereyou_matt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Finally, do you have a message for your fans and our readers, especially those supporting you on this journey?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\"><em>I would like to thank all of those that have listened, appreciated and gave feedback on \u201cControl\u201d as it has been truly wonderful to see the outreach it has had. I also want to tell the readers to always live in the now and be as creative as you can possibly be, try to leave a good impact wherever you go and always <strong>ROCK ON ! \ud83e\udd18<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>This interview was conducted via an exchange of messages on Instagram, where Matthew Cilia took the time to answer our questions with passion and sincerity. A big thank you to him for this moment of sharing and for immersing us in his musical world before MESC 2025! \ud83c\udfb6\ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Matthew Cilia - <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/en\/performer\/matthew-cilia\/2025\/\">Artist details<\/a> - <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/whereyou_matt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div  id=\"_ytid_43824\"  width=\"800\" height=\"450\"  data-origwidth=\"800\" data-origheight=\"450\" data-facadesrc=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/O9BNhWASzUs?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;disablekb=0&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__ epyt-facade epyt-is-override  no-lazyload\" data-epautoplay=\"1\" ><img decoding=\"async\" data-spai-excluded=\"true\" class=\"epyt-facade-poster skip-lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"YouTube player\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/O9BNhWASzUs\/maxresdefault.jpg\" title=\"\"><button class=\"epyt-facade-play\" aria-label=\"Play\"><svg data-no-lazy=\"1\" height=\"100%\" version=\"1.1\" viewbox=\"0 0 68 48\" width=\"100%\"><path class=\"ytp-large-play-button-bg\" d=\"M66.52,7.74c-0.78-2.93-2.49-5.41-5.42-6.19C55.79,.13,34,0,34,0S12.21,.13,6.9,1.55 C3.97,2.33,2.27,4.81,1.48,7.74C0.06,13.05,0,24,0,24s0.06,10.95,1.48,16.26c0.78,2.93,2.49,5.41,5.42,6.19 C12.21,47.87,34,48,34,48s21.79-0.13,27.1-1.55c2.93-0.78,4.64-3.26,5.42-6.19C67.94,34.95,68,24,68,24S67.94,13.05,66.52,7.74z\" fill=\"#f00\"><\/path><path d=\"M 45,24 27,14 27,34\" fill=\"#fff\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Passionn\u00e9 de musique et habitu\u00e9 des sc\u00e8nes m\u00e9tal, Matthew Cilia se lance dans une nouvelle aventure en solo avec Control, sa premi\u00e8re participation au MESC 2025, la s\u00e9lection maltaise pour l\u2019Eurovision. Dans cette interview, il nous raconte son parcours, l\u2019inspiration derri\u00e8re sa chanson et ses pr\u00e9paratifs pour cette exp\u00e9rience in\u00e9dite. \ud83c\udfb6\ud83d\udd25 Matthew Cilia &#8211; MESC &hellip;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10742,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16,8,3881,3756],"tags":[3826],"represented_country":[3816],"class_list":["post-10734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-selections-nationales","category-artistes","category-interviews","category-malta-song-contest","tag-interview"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":0,"sum_votes":0},"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10734"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10734\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10907,"href":"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10734\/revisions\/10907"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10742"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10734"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10734"},{"taxonomy":"represented_country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eurovisionandfriends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/represented_country?post=10734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}