Matt Maltese shares new single ‘Pined For You My Whole Life’
The third release from his upcoming album ‘Hers’.
Photo: Dork
Matt Maltese reveals what we can expect to hear in his upcoming sixth album Hers with the third captivating single Pined For You My Whole Life, leaning into his genre of romance and melancholy, with a hint of subtle wit. The British-Canadian singer-songwriter’s ability of writing songs with an increasing sense of vulnerability and high level of yearning is evident in this release.
Since his debut a decade ago, Matt Maltese has grown to become an important and consistent artist in the folk-indie-pop scene, armed with the ability to arrange complex emotions into an experience where listeners easily connect with him.
Hers marks his first fully self-produced album since his second album Krystal and one that — according to Maltese — is his most intimate and more mature release to date. The new single follows on from previous releases Always Some MF and Anytime, Anyplace, Anyhow, with the latter linking lyrically with Pined For You My Whole Life as sometimes there is always a ‘motherfucker’ trying to steal the affections of the person you’re yearning for.
Compared to his previous musical repertoire — where Maltese touches on topics such as youthful affections of love, escapism, and existentialism — Hers begins a subtle shift in his narrative. For he is musing on his recent long-term adult relationships rather than short-term romances that allow a movie-lust all-consuming ideal. Exploring the complexities of love and minute details within this part of his life allows for a more confident persona and the creation of songs that possess a lingering ache of a long-forgotten wound.
Sincerity and vulnerability are at the heart of this single with poignant lyrics: “I hold hands with your shadow / Spend a night with your ghost / And I can’t wait for tomorrow / Where I can stay home all day, just waste away,” as for our narrator it “feels so good to pine / Every hour, every minute, every year.”
Heavily inspired by Motown and the Soul music Maltese grew up on, the arrangement with wind instruments, soft drum beats and piano cements his testimony of love within this timeless record. In this day and age, people question whether romance is well and truly dead, but Matt Maltese serves as a reminder that cheesy, boldly pathetic declarations of love are flourishing. The whole production is the epitome of a pensive dream-like state, as a swooning rich soundscape comes together charmingly, causing one to play this single on repeat. After three impressive singles, Matt Maltese is definitely teasing a brilliant new release which will see 2025 becoming an even stronger year for music.
Hers is out May 16th. Pre-order here.
