Passionate about music and a regular on the metal scene, Matthew Cilia is embarking on a new solo adventure with Control" his first participation in the MESC 2025, 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. 🎶🔥
Peux-tu te présenter à notre communauté ? Peux-tu nous parler de ton parcours musical et de ce qui t’a amené au MESC cette année ?
Bonjour, je m’appelle Matthew Cilia, j’ai 28 ans et c’est la première fois que je participe au MESC. Mon parcours en tant que chanteur a commencé il y a six ans avec le groupe Delirium.mt, avant que je ne rejoigne Align the Tide, avec qui j’ai eu l’opportunité de me produire sur certains des plus grands festivals de Malte. C’est ma toute première chanson et performance en solo, donc c’est une expérience complètement nouvelle pour moi.
Can you tell us the story behind the creation of your song “Control” in terms of inspiration and message?
“Control” 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
What was the creative process behind “Control”? Did you collaborate with other songwriters or producers?
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. MESC Bootcamp en juin dernier, où j’ai eu la chance de travailler avec des auteurs et producteurs talentueux comme Marcus Winther-John, Andreas Lindberg et Rasmus Olsen. Nous avons eu une journée entière pour créer la chanson et échanger nos idées. Cette diversité d’expériences et d’influences a vraiment enrichi le morceau et lui a donné une dynamique unique.
You were the lead singer of the metal band Delirium from 2019 to 2022. How did that experience shape your current musical style?
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’s a melodic influence from Delirium with the aggressiveness and energy of Align The Tide in “Control”
How are you preparing for your performance at the MESC, both vocally and on stage?
This is my first time performing on a stage with so many cameras therefore it’s a bit of a learning curve to get used to but fortunately I’m performing with two super professional musicians who always know how to have a laugh as well so it’s made things a bit easier for myself. Warmups are essential when performing any music but especially with the growls included in “Control”, it’s always essential to believe in your ability and enjoy the moment as well. growl dans « Control ». Mais avant tout, je veux profiter du moment et donner le meilleur de moi-même sur scène.
Are you following some national selections for Eurovision this year? If so, any artists or songs have caught your attention?
Although I’m focusing on our own national final there have been 1 or two artists that have caught my attention however it’s a bit early to tell without listening to the live versions. Saying that Red Sebastian and entries from Melodifestivalen have particularly caught my attention. Red Sebastian et quelques chansons du Melodifestivalen.
What are your best memories about Eurovision?
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.
Finally, do you have a message for your fans and our readers, especially those supporting you on this journey?
I would like to thank all of those that have listened, appreciated and gave feedback on “Control” 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 ROCK ON ! 🤘
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! 🎶🔥
Matthew Cilia – Artist details - Instagram
