Matt Hansen
San Francisco singer/songwriter/producer Matt Hansen unveils new single “Find Me”.
Written by Hansen and produced by Johnny What, the pop record is about regretting letting someone go.
“Even though we had our ups and downs, I still can’t seem to get her out of my head because of how much she meant to me,” says Hansen.
Emotional, honest and memorable, Hansen delivers one of his best records with “Find Me”.
Based in Los Angeles as a sophomore at UCLA’s prestigious music school, the 20 year old artist hopes to connect with people on an emotional level with his music.
“Find Me” is now available on major streaming platforms.
Photo credit: Jimmy Winick
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
My name is Matt Hansen and I’m 20 years old from San Francisco California! I’m in my second year right now at UCLA as an ethnomusicology major and absolutely loving it so far. Music has always been my whole heart and I feel so lucky to be able to go to school and create music all while being in LA!
"Find Me" is your new single. What's the inspiration behind this record?
Find Me encapsulates regretting letting someone go and the emotions that come with that. Even though we had our ups and downs, I still can’t seem to get her out of my head because of how much she meant to me. It's been 2 years since I've actually seen her, but when I sat down that day she was all I could think about.
Could you describe us the songwriting/production process for this single? Who helped you create it?
It started out as a voice memo that I recorded on my phone (as most of my songs do). I had gotten a dm on instagram from Johnny What saying that he wanted to collab and I thought that this one idea was perfect for this session. We ended up writing and recording the whole song in about 3 hours which was amazing.
What made you want to release "Find Me" as a single?
I felt like it’s some of my best work so far, especially in terms of melody and structure. I also think people will really be able to emotionally connect and relate to this song, while also jamming out at the same time!
What is your goal for this single?
I hope to reach more music fans! I’ve never done legit promotion or PR for any of my songs so I’m really excited to see the people that this song reaches!
In your opinion, what makes a "good" song?
If I can get lost in a song I always find it to be a good song. Evoking emotion is such a crucial aspect of songwriting and I always find that the best songs do that effortlessly. Time seems to stop when you’re listening to good music.
As a producer, what equipments and softwares do you usually use?
I have a little mini studio setup in my dorm room. I produced 2 of my singles, “Falling?”, and “Summer Day,” with that little setup. I usually use Logic because that’s the software I know the best but I’ve used pro tools before and like it too. Johnny What produced Find Me and I couldn’t be happier with how the production turned out!
When did you start producing your own records? What was the biggest challenge when you first started?
I started producing my own records last year. I think my biggest challenge starting out was just getting to know how to mix things correctly (which I still don’t really know how to do). Learning about so many plugins and settings on certain tracks is pretty overwhelming so it took awhile to understand how each one would manipulate the track.
What appeals you the most about creating music?
I’ve always loved how creating music helps you release all of the emotion that builds up inside. I always disregard how I’m feeling so it’s good to release some of that tension in a song. It’s therapeutic in a way.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
I think the music industry is going in a really cool direction. We’re starting to see more and more genre bending artists that create a style of music we’ve never heard before and I think that’s really special. If I could change one thing, it would probably be the way that Tiktok runs the music industry. If Find Me blows up on Tiktok I won’t be complaining though!
What did your experience on American Idol teach you?
It really taught me about myself and how afraid I am to actually open up. I’ve never really felt comfortable being completely vulnerable and I think being on American Idol and having to talk about my life in depth allowed me a window into what vulnerability feels like. So grateful to have had that experience.
As a human being, what do you want to accomplish?
I want to make music that reaches people on an emotional level. Some of my favorite artists (Lauv, JP Saxe, Jeremy Zucker) create music that brings real emotions out of the listener, and I think that kind of music can change peoples lives.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
People don’t take the time to listen. If everyone stopped trying to prove they’re right all the time and took a second to listen to what other people are saying, I think there would be a lot less conflict. We’re all really similar and I think we forget that when we get entrenched in our own beliefs.
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