Matt Fishel
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Matt Fishel is a British singer, songwriter, music producer and record label owner. He plays guitar, piano, bass and keyboards. He grew up in
Nottingham Nottingham ( , locally ) is a city and unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located north-west of London, south-east of Sheffield and north-east of Birmingham. Nottingham has links to the legend of Robi ...
in the East Midlands in the late 1990s, going on to study Music and Performing Arts at
Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. One ...
's
Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) is a performing arts higher education institution in Liverpool, founded by Paul McCartney and Mark Featherstone-Witty and opened in 1996. LIPA offers 11 full-time BA (Hons) degrees in a range ...
(LIPA) in the early 2000s, before moving to London, UK, where he currently lives.


Music and style

Fishel's music spans several genres including rock, punk rock and
pop punk Pop punk (or punk pop) is a rock music genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop. It is defined for its emphasis on classic pop songcraft, as well as adolescent and anti-suburbia themes, and is distinguished from other pu ...
and draws on influences from modern American rock,
college rock College rock was the alternative rock music played on student-run university and college campus radio stations located in the United States and Canada in the 1980s. The stations' playlists were often created by students who avoided the mainstream ...
,
alternative rock Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from mainstream or commercial ...
,
indie rock Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the music they produ ...
and pop music. He grew up listening to
Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. ...
and
Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
Roth, Jon
"Matt Fishel's First Time"
''
Out Magazine ''Out'' is an American LGBTQ news, fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle magazine, with the highest circulation of any LGBTQ monthly publication in the United States. It presents itself in an editorial manner similar to '' Details'', ''Esquire' ...
'', US, 16 December 2011. Retrieved on 1 June 2013.
and, as a teenager, discovered punk and hardcore, which inspired him to want to write songs.Fishel, Matt (from interview with Migliore, Nicola)
"Intervista esclusiva al promettente cantante Matt Fishel"
''Pianeta Gay'', Italy, 6 May 2013. Retrieved on 12 June 2013.
Fishel has cited a range of musical influences including American rock bands
Jimmy Eat World Jimmy Eat World is an American rock band formed in 1993 in Mesa, Arizona. The band is composed of lead vocalist and lead guitarist Jim Adkins, rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch, and drummer Zach Lind. They ...
,
Boysetsfire boysetsfire is an American post-hardcore band from Newark, Delaware. Formed in October 1994, boysetsfire is composed of guitarists Chad Istvan and Josh Latshaw, vocalist Nathan Gray, and bassists Chris Rakus and Robert Ehrenbrand. Lyrical themes ...
,
Green Day Green Day is an American rock band formed in the East Bay of California in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, together with bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt. For most of the band's career, they have been a ...
, UK rock acts Skunk Anansie.Fishel, Matt (from interview with Shaw, Andrew)
"The Romantic World of Matt Fishel"
''GNN Gay News Network'', Australia, 24 January 2012. Retrieved on 17 June 2013.
and
Funeral for a Friend Funeral for a Friend are a Welsh post-hardcore band from Bridgend, formed in 2001 and currently consists of Matthew Davies-Kreye (lead vocals), Kris Coombs-Roberts (guitar, backing vocals), Gavin Burrough (guitar, backing vocals), Darran Smi ...
, as well as pop artists
Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. ...
,
Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
,
Björk Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( , ; born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Noted for her distinct three-octave vocal range and eccentric persona, she has de ...
,
Seal Seal may refer to any of the following: Common uses * Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly: ** Earless seal, or "true seal" ** Fur seal * Seal (emblem), a device to imp ...
,
Annie Lennox Ann Lennox (born 25 December 1954) is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving moderate success in the late 1970s as part of the new wave band the Tourists, she and fellow musician Dave Stewart w ...
and
Pet Shop Boys The Pet Shop Boys are an English synth-pop duo formed in London in 1981. Consisting of primary vocalist Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe, they have sold more than 50 million records worldwide, and were listed as the most successful duo ...
. Fishel is openly gay and he is candid and open about his sexuality in the lyrics of his songs. Themes of love, lust, sexuality and education run through his work. His songs and lyrics frequently deal with the "joys, pains and experiences of growing up as a gay teenager and young man".Feature
"Matt Fishel is Not Thinking Straight"
''RightOut TV'', Canada. Retrieved on 16 June 2013.
British actor and writer
Stephen Fry Stephen John Fry (born 24 August 1957) is an English actor, broadcaster, comedian, director and writer. He first came to prominence in the 1980s as one half of the comic double act Fry and Laurie, alongside Hugh Laurie, with the two starring ...
has described Fishel's music as "gloriously gay, sweetly romantic, wonderfully touching".Shaw, Andrew
"The Romantic World of Matt Fishel"
''GNN Gay News Network'', Australia, 24 January 2012. Retrieved on 17 June 2013.


Career


2010–2012

In 2010, Fishel launched his own record label, Young Lust Records, which he runs from his London studio."mattfishel.com"
''Official Matt Fishel website''. Retrieved on 17 June 2013.
Tired of being advised by major labels to remove all the references to other men from his songs, Fishel set up his own record label to retain artistic freedom so he would not have to compromise on his music and lyrics.Fishel, Matt (Interview)

, ''GNI Magazine'',
Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...
. Retrieved on 15 June 2013.
Fishel's debut single "
Football Song A football chant or terrace chant is form of vocalisation performed by supporters of association football, typically during football matches. Football chanting is an expression of collective identity, most often used by fans to express their p ...
" was released worldwide by Young Lust Records on 7 June 2010,"iTunes-Music-Matt Fishel-Football Song-Single"
Retrieved on 16 June 2013.
with artwork by Italian comic book illustrator Jacopo Camagni. The official music video for "Football Song" is directed by Dan Shipton and features Fishel reminiscing about a crush on the captain of the school football team and performing the song alongside a team of dancing footballers."Matt Fishel – Football Song (Official Music Video)"
YouTube. 11 October 2009. Retrieved on 14 June 2013.
The fictional football team in the video comprises both professional dancers and members of Stonewall F.C.,Watts, Laurence
"Interview: Matt Fishel on his new album Not Thinking Straight"
''
Pink News ''PinkNews'' is a UK-based online newspaper marketed to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community (LGBT) in the UK and worldwide. It was founded by Benjamin Cohen in 2005. It closely follows political progress on LGBT rights ar ...
'', UK, 21 April 2013. Retrieved on 16 June 2013.
Britain's first and top-ranking gay football team. '' Attitude'' magazine called the song "our 2010 World Cup Anthem""Attitude on Twitter"
'' Attitude'', UK, 15 June 2010. Retrieved on 17 June 2013.
and Fishel's fan base started to grow further after
Stephen Fry Stephen John Fry (born 24 August 1957) is an English actor, broadcaster, comedian, director and writer. He first came to prominence in the 1980s as one half of the comic double act Fry and Laurie, alongside Hugh Laurie, with the two starring ...
publicly praised the song and video on Twitter. The video for "Football Song" won the Best Video So Far award at the 2012 RightOut TV Music & Video Awards."RightOutTV Music & Video Awards Winners"
''RightOut TV Awards'', Canada, 21 April 2013. Retrieved on 14 June 2013.
Fishel's second single " The First Time" was released on 7 November 2011."iTunes-Music-Matt Fishel-The First Time-Single"
Retrieved on 16 June 2013.
It was released as a three-track single, including two club remixes from
Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population of 907,976 within the city proper, 1,558,755 in the urban ar ...
remixer and producer Matt Pop. The official music video for "The First Time" was shot in
Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...
,
Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
Vives, Mélanie
"Vidéo: La romance gay de deux ados dans le dernier clip de Matt Fishel"
, '' Têtu'', France, 20 November 2011. Retrieved on 16 June 2013.
and is directed by Argentinian film director
Alexis Dos Santos Alexis Dos Santos (born 1974) is an Argentine film director and producer, screenwriter and editor. He has also shot a number of short and directed music videos. He is considered part of the New Queer Cinema movement. Dos Santos studied in Buenos ...
('' Glue'', '' Unmade Beds'', ''Random Strangers''). The video was filmed on location in
Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
and tells the story of the first kiss between two teenage boys. The boys are played by Argentinian actors Juan Gabriel Miño and Ronan Nuñez."Matt Fishel – The First Time (Official Music Video)"
YouTube. 30 October 2011. Retrieved on 14 June 2013.
Fishel does not appear in the video in person, but his image is displayed on one of the boys' T-shirts. Reviews for the song and its accompanying video were positive. '' Instinct'' Magazine called it "one of the most adorable music videos we've seen in a long time" and Out magazine's Jon Roth referred to the song as "an empowering soundtrack" and "A music video that will make you want to be a teenager all over again".Roth, Jon
"Matt Fishel's First Time"
''
Out Magazine ''Out'' is an American LGBTQ news, fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle magazine, with the highest circulation of any LGBTQ monthly publication in the United States. It presents itself in an editorial manner similar to '' Details'', ''Esquire' ...
'', US, 10 November 2011. Retrieved on 16 June 2013.
The '' Sydney Star Observer'' called the video "stunning". In 2012, Fishel released two further singles. The first was " Behind Closed Doors", a "driving pop-rock song" that deals with themes of homophobia and hypocrisy.Bond, Nick
"Fishel opening musical doors"
''
Star Observer The ''Star Observer'' is a free monthly magazine and online newspaper that caters to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex communities in Australia. Since 20 June 2019 the ''Star Observer'' is owned by media company Out Publicati ...
'', Australia, 2 May 2012. Retrieved on 16 June 2013.
Released on 9 April 2012,"iTunes-Music-Matt Fishel-Behind Closed Doors-Single"
Retrieved on 16 June 2013.
the song went on to win the 2012 Song of the Year award at the 2012 RightOutTV Music & Video Awards. " Testament" was Fishel's fourth single, released on 28 May 2012."iTunes-Music-Matt Fishel-Testament-Single"
Retrieved on 16 June 2013.
It is a fast-paced punk rock song. The official music video for "Testament" was directed by portrait photographer and visual artist Arno."Matt Fishel – Testament (Official Music Video)"
YouTube. 20 May 2012. Retrieved on 14 June 2013.
Towle, Andy

''
Towleroad Andy Towle is an American writer, publisher, and media commentator based in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Background Towle holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees from Vassar College in Art History and English. He was awarded the 1989 W.K. Rose F ...
'', US, 22 May 2012. Retrieved on 15 June 2013.
"Arno Online"
Retrieved on 14 June 2013.
The video is a mixture of live and archive footage which includes themes of "repression, tradition, marriage, religion and celebration". Fishel can be seen kissing another man in the video. ''Accidental Bear'' described "Testament" as "a song of empowerment, encourages you to raise freedom flags and celebrates falling in love...How refreshing to hear something that is more rocking and less clubby.""NEW MUSIC: Matt Fishel – Testament (Official Music Video)"
''Accidental Bear'', US, 22 May 2012. Retrieved on 12 June 2013.
Leo Kristoffersson of So So Gay said: "what we love about Fishel is that he is out and proud...but that he doesn't feel the need to pigeon hole himself as a 'gay singer.' 'Testament' could easily be a
Green Day Green Day is an American rock band formed in the East Bay of California in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, together with bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt. For most of the band's career, they have been a ...
song, with frantic guitars, frenetic beats and a style of vocal delivery usually associated with the lead singers of the best indie bands."Kristoffersson, Leo
"Singles Of The Week (28 May 2012)"
, ''So So Gay'', UK, 28 May 2012. Retrieved on 17 June 2013.


2013

On 10 March 2013, Fishel released a new
Lyric video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device ...
for his fifth single " Radio-Friendly Pop Song"."Matt Fishel – Radio-Friendly Pop Song (Official Music Video)"
YouTube. 10 March 2013. Retrieved on 14 June 2013.
The single was officially released worldwide on 18 March 2013."iTunes-Music-Matt Fishel-Radio-Friendly Pop Song-Single"
Retrieved on 16 June 2013.
The song is a comment on Fishel's experiences of the entertainment industry and of being repeatedly advised to remove any openly gay content from his work. In an interview with Blair Martin on Brisbane's Queer Radio
4ZZZ 4ZZZ (pronounced "Four Triple Zed" or simply "Triple Zed") is an independent community radio station operating in Brisbane, Australia at the frequency 102.1 FM. As a community radio station, 4ZZZ is a member of the Community Broadcasting Assoc ...
in May 2013, Fishel said that the song was a "fun, tongue-in-cheek response to certain A&R guys in major labels"."Queer Radio Interview with Matt Fishel"
''
4ZZZ 4ZZZ (pronounced "Four Triple Zed" or simply "Triple Zed") is an independent community radio station operating in Brisbane, Australia at the frequency 102.1 FM. As a community radio station, 4ZZZ is a member of the Community Broadcasting Assoc ...
FM.org.au'', Australia, 11 May 2013. Retrieved on 17 June 2013.
The song contains elements of pop, rock and
punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...
and includes an a cappella breakdown section.
LGBT ' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity. The LGBT term ...
entertainment blog "The G-List Society" called " Radio-Friendly Pop Song" "our favourite track of 2013" and "the most buzz-worthy song of ishel'sdiscography." They wrote of the song: "This catchy tune serves as a confrontational truth to mainstream music industry’s hesitation to allow same-sex love songs to be promoted to the masses. The lyrics blasting status-quo are genius and the choruses are spot on. We have lived to hear many hit singles pushing the buttons of controversy; yet, we have never heard a delectable tune challenging the seemingly homophobic practices of the music industry." Jeremy Feist of Canadian magazine ''
Xtra! ''Xtra Magazine'' (formerly ''DailyXtra'' and ''Xtra!'') is an LGBTQ-focused digital publication and former print newspaper published by Pink Triangle Press in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The publication is a continuation of the company's former ...
'' said " Radio-Friendly Pop Song" was "really good" and "super catchy".Feist, Jeremy
"Radio-Friendly Pop Song"
''
Xtra! ''Xtra Magazine'' (formerly ''DailyXtra'' and ''Xtra!'') is an LGBTQ-focused digital publication and former print newspaper published by Pink Triangle Press in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The publication is a continuation of the company's former ...
'', Canada, 18 March 2013. Retrieved on 6 December 2013.
Rebecca Eisenberg of viral content website
Upworthy Upworthy is a website dedicated to positive storytelling. It was started in March 2012 by Eli Pariser, the former executive director of MoveOn, and Peter Koechley, the former managing editor of ''The Onion''. One of Facebook's co-founders, Chris ...
called the song "pitch perfect", saying "when ishelfires back at 2:44, I was grinning like a fool. So good!" Cate Matthews from ''
The Huffington Post ''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...
'' called " Radio-Friendly Pop Song" "''ridiculously'' catchy", and said "we're supremely happy that Fishel is standing up and singing his heart out – with one caveat. We don't know how we're ever going to get his songs out of our heads." Fishel's debut album '' Not Thinking Straight'' was released internationally by Young Lust Records on 8 April 2013."This week's new releases 08-04-2013"
''
Official Charts Company The Official Charts (legal name: The Official UK Charts Company Limited) is a British inter-professional organization that compiles various "official" record charts in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. In the United Kingdom, its charts in ...
'', UK, 8 April 2013. Retrieved on 16 June 2013.
"iTunes-Music-Matt Fishel-Not Thinking Straight"
Retrieved on 16 June 2013.
The album was produced by both Fishel and UK music producer Mark Crew and contains thirteen tracks that deal with "themes and issues surrounding young gay life, relationships and experiences."Hopps, Gordon
"Songs In The Key Of Gay – Matt Fishel"
'' Bent Magazine'', UK, 15 March 2013. Retrieved on 13 June 2013.
Musically, it has been described as "a blend of heavy guitars, big vocal harmonies and anthemic choruses". '' Not Thinking Straight'' was released as both a physical CD (on
Bandcamp Bandcamp is an American online audio distribution platform founded in 2007 by Oddpost co-founder Ethan Diamond and programmers Shawn Grunberger, Joe Holt and Neal Tucker, with headquarters in Oakland, California, US. On March 2, 2022, Bandcamp ...
and Fishel's website store) and a digital download (on iTunes and
Amazon Amazon most often refers to: * Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek mythology * Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin * Amazon River, in South America * Amazon (company), an American multinational technolog ...
worldwide). The track listing includes the six singles "
Football Song A football chant or terrace chant is form of vocalisation performed by supporters of association football, typically during football matches. Football chanting is an expression of collective identity, most often used by fans to express their p ...
", " The First Time", " Behind Closed Doors", " Testament", " Radio-Friendly Pop Song" and " When Boy Meets Boy" plus album-only tracks "Maybe...", "Nottingham", "Seventeen Again", "Armitage Shanks (Jamie)", "Alastair", "Boxer Shorts & Razor Blades" and "Boys". In the album's sleeve notes, Fishel is credited as performing 'all lead and background vocals, piano, guitars, keyboards and programming' and as the sole composer and lyricist for all 13 tracks. The artwork for '' Not Thinking Straight'' was created by San Diego comic book artist and illustrator
Joe Phillips Joe Phillips is an American artist, known for his gay-themed illustration, erotic animation, and his earlier work on superhero comic books. Early life Phillips was born in Atlanta, Georgia in the 1960s. He attended Northside School of the Arts ...
. The album cover depicts Fishel as a superhero in cartoon form, with a guitar on his back and piano keys around his hands. The words 'Superfishel Comics' and '#1 First Issue' are also written on the cover. The booklet and CD art contain eighteen original illustrations by
Joe Phillips Joe Phillips is an American artist, known for his gay-themed illustration, erotic animation, and his earlier work on superhero comic books. Early life Phillips was born in Atlanta, Georgia in the 1960s. He attended Northside School of the Arts ...
, each representing a different song and its lyrics. On 2 June 2013, an official music video for " When Boy Meets Boy", Fishel's sixth single from '' Not Thinking Straight'', was released on Fishel's YouTube channel."Matt Fishel – When Boy Meets Boy (Official Music Video)"
YouTube. 2 June 2013. Retrieved on 14 June 2013.
The video is an animation music video, directed and animated by
Joe Phillips Joe Phillips is an American artist, known for his gay-themed illustration, erotic animation, and his earlier work on superhero comic books. Early life Phillips was born in Atlanta, Georgia in the 1960s. He attended Northside School of the Arts ...
."Watch: Matt Fishel's When Boy Meets Boy"
''
Out Magazine ''Out'' is an American LGBTQ news, fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle magazine, with the highest circulation of any LGBTQ monthly publication in the United States. It presents itself in an editorial manner similar to '' Details'', ''Esquire' ...
'', US, 3 June 2013. Retrieved on 17 June 2013.
Described by
Out Magazine ''Out'' is an American LGBTQ news, fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle magazine, with the highest circulation of any LGBTQ monthly publication in the United States. It presents itself in an editorial manner similar to '' Details'', ''Esquire' ...
as a "cute (and sexy)" love story "with a superhero twist", it shows an animated version of Fishel meeting a mysterious skater boy in a bar and concludes with a superhero fight and rescue sequence. British magazine ''The Gay UK'' called it "one of the best music videos we've seen in a long time." " When Boy Meets Boy" was released internationally as a digital single the following day on 3 June 2013."This week's new releases 03-06-2013"
''
Official Charts Company The Official Charts (legal name: The Official UK Charts Company Limited) is a British inter-professional organization that compiles various "official" record charts in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. In the United Kingdom, its charts in ...
'', UK, 3 June 2013. Retrieved on 16 June 2013.
"iTunes-Music-Matt Fishel-When Boy Meets Boy-Single"
Retrieved on 16 June 2013.
The three-track bundle includes another club remix by Matt Pop and an acoustic version of the song. The single's artwork is another illustration by
Joe Phillips Joe Phillips is an American artist, known for his gay-themed illustration, erotic animation, and his earlier work on superhero comic books. Early life Phillips was born in Atlanta, Georgia in the 1960s. He attended Northside School of the Arts ...
, featuring the two lead cartoon characters from the accompanying music video. On 30 October 2013, Fishel won another two awards at the annual RightOutTV Music & Video Awards. He picked up the 2013 award for Best Pop/Rock Video for " When Boy Meets Boy" and, for the second year running, he won the Song of the Year award, this time for " Radio-Friendly Pop Song"."RightOutTV Music & Video Awards Winners 2013"
''RightOutTV Awards'', Canada, 30 October 2013. Retrieved on 1 November 2013.
In November 2013, Fishel released a cover version of Mariah Carey's 2010 Christmas hit " Oh Santa!","This week's new releases 18-11-2013"
''
Official Charts Company The Official Charts (legal name: The Official UK Charts Company Limited) is a British inter-professional organization that compiles various "official" record charts in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. In the United Kingdom, its charts in ...
'', UK, 18 November 2013. Retrieved on 19 November 2013.
written by Mariah Carey,
Jermaine Dupri Jermaine Dupri Mauldin (born September 23, 1972) is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, record executive, entrepreneur, and DJ. Early life Jermaine Dupri Mauldin was born on September 23, 1972, the son of Tina (Mosley) and Michael ...
and
Bryan-Michael Cox Bryan-Michael Paul Cox (born December 1, 1977) is an American record producer and songwriter who is notable for his work with artists such as Usher, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, and Toni Braxton. Among his most notable productions are "Be Wit ...
. The single was released worldwide via digital download on iTunes,
Amazon Amazon most often refers to: * Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek mythology * Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin * Amazon River, in South America * Amazon (company), an American multinational technolog ...
and
Google Play Google Play, also known as the Google Play Store and formerly the Android Market, is a digital distribution service operated and developed by Google. It serves as the official app store for certified devices running on the Android operating sy ...
on 18 November 2013 as a one-track, non-album single."iTunes-Music-Matt Fishel-Oh Santa!-Single"
Retrieved on 19 November 2013.
The artwork for the " Oh Santa!" single is another illustration by Joe Phillips. The cartoon image depicts a Christmas scene in a living room into which Santa Claus is carrying a male character, wrapped up in a bow, whilst another male character is asleep in a chair. A simple promo video for the song was released on Fishel's YouTube channel."Matt Fishel – Oh Santa!"
YouTube. 25 November 2013. Retrieved on 26 November 2013.
Whilst the original Mariah Carey version of the song incorporates the musical genres of urban, R&B and dance-pop, Fishel's reworking of the song is guitar-led and contains elements of
pop punk Pop punk (or punk pop) is a rock music genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop. It is defined for its emphasis on classic pop songcraft, as well as adolescent and anti-suburbia themes, and is distinguished from other pu ...
, rock and pop and incorporates Christmas bells and chimes. Fishel's version keeps the same lyrics from the original version, giving the song a gay male perspective. JD Doyle of ''Queer Music Heritage'' wrote of Fishel's version: "I think it's wonderful...he wraps around it his usual perfect
power pop Power pop (also typeset as powerpop) is a form of pop rock based on the early music of bands such as the Who, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds. It typically incorporates melodic hooks, vocal harmonies, an energetic performance, and c ...
arrangement, and of course, arey'slyrics now become male-on-male ones...love, Love!""Matt Fishel Does "Oh, Santa!""
'' Queer Music HeritageJD Doyle'', US, 18 November 2013. Retrieved on 19 November 2013.
In December 2013, Fishel won both the Album of the Year award (for '' Not Thinking Straight'') and the Song of the Year award (for " Radio-Friendly Pop Song") at the 2013 Co-operative Respect 'Loved By You' Awards."Respect 'Loved By You' Awards 2013"
, UK, 19 December 2013. Retrieved on 20 December 2013.
"CoopRespectLGBT on Twitter"
UK, 19 December 2013. Retrieved on 20 December 2013.
The awards were voted for by the public.


2014

Back in May 2013, in an interview with Italian magazine ''Pianeta Gay'', Fishel had announced that he was working on an EP of
cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...
s, including songs from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. On 16 June 2014, Fishel released the artwork for the upcoming EP and announced its title '' Cover Boy'', stating that it would be released on 14 July 2014.Fishel, Matt

"Cover Boy Artwork", 16 June 2014. Retrieved on 22 July 2014.
On 22 June 2014, Fishel released the first taste of new music from the upcoming EP in the form of a teaser video on his YouTube channel, for the song " Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young",, YouTube. 22 June 2014. Retrieved on 22 July 2014. an epic rock song written by
Jim Steinman James Richard Steinman (November 1, 1947 – April 19, 2021) was an American composer, lyricist and record producer. He also worked as an arranger, pianist, and singer. His work included songs in the adult contemporary, rock, dance, pop, mus ...
for the 1984 film '' Streets of Fire'' and originally performed by Fire Inc. Fishel's teaser video contains a three-minute preview of his seven-minute track, comprising footage of rain, thunder, lightning, fire and angels, and concludes with a topless male torso emerging through flames, accompanied by two interlocking
male symbol A gender symbol is a pictogram or glyph used to represent sex and gender, for example in biology and medicine, in genealogy, or in the sociological fields of gender politics, LGBT subculture and identity politics. In his books (1767) and (177 ...
s, commonly recognised as a gay male symbol. On 5 July 2014, Fishel announced via his official Facebook page that '' Cover Boy'' would include six brand new recordings and a seventh, older track. This would be Fishel's A cappella cover of
Björk Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( , ; born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Noted for her distinct three-octave vocal range and eccentric persona, she has de ...
's song "
Hyperballad "Hyperballad" (sometimes written as "Hyper-Ballad") is a song by Icelandic musician and recording artist Björk, released as the fourth single from her second solo album, '' Post'' (1995). The song was written by Björk and co-produced by long ...
", taken from her 1995 album ''
Post Post or POST commonly refers to: *Mail, the postal system, especially in Commonwealth of Nations countries **An Post, the Irish national postal service **Canada Post, Canadian postal service **Deutsche Post, German postal service **Iraqi Post, Ira ...
''. Fishel stated that "
Hyperballad "Hyperballad" (sometimes written as "Hyper-Ballad") is a song by Icelandic musician and recording artist Björk, released as the fourth single from her second solo album, '' Post'' (1995). The song was written by Björk and co-produced by long ...
" would be included on '' Cover Boy'' as a bonus track due to his receiving several requests over the years by fans to release it officially after he posted it on his MySpace page a few years earlier in the mid-2000s.Fishel, Matt

"A bit more info on Cover Boy...", 5 July 2014. Retrieved on 22 July 2014.
In April 2014, Fishel announced a new video project via his official Facebook page, asking his fans to submit their photographs for an upcoming video. The title and details of the song were not yet revealed, other than that the video would be for one of the songs from his upcoming covers EP. Fishel requested that his fans, regardless of whether they were "gay or straight, transgender, bi, black or white, young or old (or anything in-between)", submit photos of what 'Pride' meant to them, their partners and their friends, with a view to including the submissions in a collaborative music video celebrating international Gay pride, Pride.Hawkey, Alex
"Finally! This Gay Singer’s New Music Video Is The Perfect Tribute To Pride And Unity"
, ''Outrising.com'', USA, 18 July 2014. Retrieved on 22 July 2014.
Fishel asked fans to use his Facebook, Instagram and
Twitter Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
pages to send in their submissions.Fishel, Matt

"Matt Fishel Video Project", 29 April 2014. Retrieved on 22 July 2014.
Fishel, Matt

"Video Project, May 2014 – Send Me Your Pics!", 29 April 2014. Retrieved on 22 July 2014.
On 13 July 2014, the day before '' Cover Boys release, the results of this video project were revealed when an official music video was published on Fishel's YouTube channel for the EP's lead single, a cover of
CeCe Peniston Cecilia Veronica "CeCe" Peniston (; born September 6, 1969) is an American singer and former beauty queen. In the early 1990s, she scored five number one hits on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Dance Music/Club Play. Her signature song " Finally" re ...
's 1991 dance anthem "
Finally Finally may refer to: Albums * ''Finally'' (Namie Amuro album) (2017) * ''Finally'' (Blackstreet album) or its title song * ''Finally'' (Sean Ensign album) or its title song "It's My Life (Finally)" * ''Finally'' (Layzie Bone & A.K. album) ...
"., YouTube. 13 July 2014. Retrieved on 22 July 2014. The video is animated by Kenneth Wilcox and is a fast-paced photo montage and lyric video "in celebration of gay pride everywhere".Shaw, Andre
"MATT FISHEL CELEBRATES GAY PRIDE WITH COVER OF ‘FINALLY’"
, ''GNN Gay News Network'', Australia, 15 July 2014. Retrieved on 22 July 2014.
The video displays the song's lyrics on the screen alongside all the submitted fan photos, which include many
LGBT ' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity. The LGBT term ...
couples hugging, kissing, getting married and celebrating
Gay pride LGBT pride (also known as gay pride or simply pride) is the promotion of the self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people as a social group. Pride, as opposed to s ...
, as well as heterosexual couples and individual '
Selfie A selfie () is a self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a digital camera or smartphone, which may be held in the hand or supported by a selfie stick. Selfies are often shared on social media, via social networking services such as ...
s'. Fishel maintains the original song's use of male pronouns, giving the song a gay male perspective, and the video opens with the lyrics "Meeting Mr. Right, the man of dreams" displayed on the screen. To accompany the video's release, Fishel posted the following statement underneath the video's credits on his official YouTube channel: "A HUGE heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed photos for this video and helped to make this a very special project and a celebration of international Pride! I had so much fun going through all the fabulous pics which you sent in from all over the world, representing the United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Lithuania, Cuba, Thailand and China. Thank you all and I hope you enjoy the results! Mx". Alex Hawley from Outrising.com said of "
Finally Finally may refer to: Albums * ''Finally'' (Namie Amuro album) (2017) * ''Finally'' (Blackstreet album) or its title song * ''Finally'' (Sean Ensign album) or its title song "It's My Life (Finally)" * ''Finally'' (Layzie Bone & A.K. album) ...
": "with a distinctly rockier edge than the original's club-infused panache, Matt has also maintained the original's use of male pronouns...which we think is awesome", calling the accompanying music video "the perfect tribute to Pride and Unity". '' Cover Boy'' was released worldwide the next day on 14 July 2014"This week's new releases 14-07-2014"
''
Official Charts Company The Official Charts (legal name: The Official UK Charts Company Limited) is a British inter-professional organization that compiles various "official" record charts in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. In the United Kingdom, its charts in ...
'', UK, 14 July 2014. Retrieved on 22 July 2014.
as a seven-track EP, available as a digital download on all international iTunes,"iTunes-Music-Matt Fishel-Cover-Boy"
Retrieved on 22 July 2014.
Amazon Amazon most often refers to: * Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek mythology * Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin * Amazon River, in South America * Amazon (company), an American multinational technolog ...
and
Google Play Google Play, also known as the Google Play Store and formerly the Android Market, is a digital distribution service operated and developed by Google. It serves as the official app store for certified devices running on the Android operating sy ...
stores. Musically, the EP incorporates elements of
Alternative rock Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from mainstream or commerci ...
, Pop, Rock,
Pop rock Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...
,
Rock opera A rock opera is a collection of rock music songs with lyrics that relate to a common story. Rock operas are typically released as concept albums and are not scripted for acting, which distinguishes them from operas, although several have been ad ...
, and A cappella. The EP contains Fishel's reinterpretations of the aforementioned "
Finally Finally may refer to: Albums * ''Finally'' (Namie Amuro album) (2017) * ''Finally'' (Blackstreet album) or its title song * ''Finally'' (Sean Ensign album) or its title song "It's My Life (Finally)" * ''Finally'' (Layzie Bone & A.K. album) ...
", " Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young" and "
Hyperballad "Hyperballad" (sometimes written as "Hyper-Ballad") is a song by Icelandic musician and recording artist Björk, released as the fourth single from her second solo album, '' Post'' (1995). The song was written by Björk and co-produced by long ...
", as well as four further recordings including: " Summer Rain" (originally performed by
Belinda Carlisle Belinda Jo Carlisle ( ; born August 17, 1958) is an American singer. She gained fame as the lead vocalist of the Go-Go's, the most successful all-female rock band of all time, and went on to have a prolific career as a solo artist. Raised in ...
and taken from her 1989 album ''
Runaway Horses is a 1969 novel by Yukio Mishima, the second in his ''Sea of Fertility'' tetralogy. Mishima did much research to prepare for this novel, visiting locations recorded in the book and studying historical information about the Shinpūren Rebellio ...
''), "
Run With Us "Run With Us" is the end theme song for the 1980s television series ''The Raccoons''. It was written by Kevin Gillis, Jon Stroll and Steve Lunt. The song was originally recorded by Steve Lunt for the first season in 1985 but was later covered ...
" (the official theme tune to the 1980s/1990s animated television series ''
The Raccoons ''The Raccoons'' is a Canadian animated television series that ran on CBC from November 11, 1985 to March 19, 1991 in Canada and on Disney Channel from July 4, 1985 to August 28, 1992 in the U.S., with three preceding television specials from ...
'', originally performed by
Lisa Lougheed Lisa Dawn Lougheed (; ; born September 9, 1968) is a Canadian former singer, dancer, voice actress, and songwriter. She is likely best known for her role in the animated television series ''The Raccoons'', where she performed for the soundtrack ...
), " Big Casino" (originally performed by
Jimmy Eat World Jimmy Eat World is an American rock band formed in 1993 in Mesa, Arizona. The band is composed of lead vocalist and lead guitarist Jim Adkins, rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch, and drummer Zach Lind. They ...
and taken from their 2007 album '' Chase This Light'') and "
Sky Fits Heaven "Sky Fits Heaven" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her seventh studio album, '' Ray of Light'' (1998). It was written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard; the song also contained additional production from William Orbit, ...
" (originally performed by
Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
and taken from her 1998 album ''
Ray of Light ''Ray of Light'' is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released in early 1998 by Maverick Records. A stylistic and aesthetical departure from her previous work, ''Ray of Light'' is an electronica and techno-pop reco ...
'').Stump, Howard
"Matt Fishel * Cover Boy"
''Soundtrack to My Day'', US, 16 July 2014. Retrieved on 22 July 2014.
Howard Stump of music blog Soundtrack to My Day said of ''Cover Boy'': "Fishel has an amazing grasp of pop music, serving up delicious treats with each release. So when taking on the treats of some of his favorite artists, my expectations were raised... he not only met them, but exceeded my expectations...'Cover Boy' should not be missed at all. The collection is a thoughtful and tuneful journey, one I keep taking again and again." He called Fishel's rendition of "Hyperballad" "special, and should not be missed" and said of "Finally": "the song feels so new, so fresh. I just love it!" On the day following the release of ''Cover Boy'', Grammy Award-winning record producer and songwriter
Jim Steinman James Richard Steinman (November 1, 1947 – April 19, 2021) was an American composer, lyricist and record producer. He also worked as an arranger, pianist, and singer. His work included songs in the adult contemporary, rock, dance, pop, mus ...
thanked Fishel for covering "Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young" and publicly praised Fishel's work on his Facebook fan page.Steinman, Jim

"Matt Fishel's Official Facebook Page", 15 July 2014. Retrieved on 22 July 2014.
On 10 August 2014, Fishel released a new music video for his cover of "
Run With Us "Run With Us" is the end theme song for the 1980s television series ''The Raccoons''. It was written by Kevin Gillis, Jon Stroll and Steve Lunt. The song was originally recorded by Steve Lunt for the first season in 1985 but was later covered ...
", the second single from ''Cover Boy'', on his YouTube channel., YouTube. 10 August 2014. Retrieved on 12 August 2014. The video is a compilation of clips and footage taken from the original animated Canadian television series ''
The Raccoons ''The Raccoons'' is a Canadian animated television series that ran on CBC from November 11, 1985 to March 19, 1991 in Canada and on Disney Channel from July 4, 1985 to August 28, 1992 in the U.S., with three preceding television specials from ...
'', from which "
Run With Us "Run With Us" is the end theme song for the 1980s television series ''The Raccoons''. It was written by Kevin Gillis, Jon Stroll and Steve Lunt. The song was originally recorded by Steve Lunt for the first season in 1985 but was later covered ...
" was the official theme tune. In Fishel's video, the footage is re-edited together in time to the music as an homage to the show, with scenes matching the song's lyrics. The video was created by Fishel with permission from ''The Raccoons'' creator
Kevin Gillis Kevin Gillis (born 2 February 1950) is a Canadian TV TV writer and producer, a singer-songwriter and a former TV host, mainly known for his work in animation. He is famous for creating the '' Raccoons'' franchise as well as other cartoons such a ...
, who also co-wrote the song.Fishel, Matt

8 August 2014. Retrieved on 12 August 2014.
In November 2014, Fishel won the 2014 RightOutTV Music & Video Award for Best Lyric Video, for "Finally"."RightOutTV Music & Video Awards 2014 Winners Announced"
The Seattle Lesbian, US, 11 November 2014. Retrieved on 14 November 2014.


2017–2018

On 1 December 2017, Fishel released new single "Bored of Straight Boys" for download and streaming worldwide, along with an accompanying animated music video on his YouTube channel. Described by Out magazine as "the anti-bro anthem we've all been desperately waiting for", it was the first single to be taken from Fishel's sophomore studio album ''M/F'', due for a 2018 release. On 26 January 2018, "LGBTQIA (A New Generation)" was released as the second single from ''M/F''. A music video for the single was released on the same day on Fishel's YouTube channel. Described by
Gay Times ''Gay Times'' (stylized in all caps), also known as ''Gay Times Magazine'' and as ''GT'', is a UK-based LGBTQ+ media brand established in 1975. Originally a magazine for gay and bisexual men, the company now includes content for the LGBTQ+ comm ...
magazine as "a storming queer rock anthem", both the song and video pay tribute to queer history and to all the LGBT+ pioneers, activists and trailblazers who paved the way and broke new ground in the fight for equality. The song is also "a celebration of today's generation of fabulous, open-minded youth" and acts as "a call to arms against those individuals and institutions that still try to oppress freedom, equality and progress". The single came out in conjunction with the UK's
LGBT History Month LGBT History Month is an annual month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. It was founded in 1994 by Missouri high-school history teacher Rodn ...
which, in February 2018, marked the fifteenth anniversary of the repeal of
Section 28 Section 28 or Clause 28While going through Parliament, the amendment was constantly relabelled with a variety of clause numbers as other amendments were added to or deleted from the Bill, but by the final version of the Bill, which received R ...
. Fishel released two further singles from the upcoming ''M/F'' in the first half of 2018: "Soldiers" on 23 March and "Twinks" on 1 June. Fishel's sophomore studio album ''M/F'' was released internationally by Young Lust Records on 6 July 2018, on limited edition Vinyl, CD, digital download and streaming services. The album was co-produced by Fishel and UK rock producer Lee Batiuk (
Deaf Havana Deaf Havana are an English alternative rock band from Hunstanton and King's Lynn, Norfolk, England. The band was formed in 2005 at the King's Lynn campus of The College of West Anglia. Biography Early days (2005–2008) Deaf Havana was formed ...
) and mastered by
Ted Jensen Ted Jensen (born September 19, 1954) is an American mastering engineer, known for having mastered many recordings, including the Eagles' ''Hotel California'', Green Day's '' American Idiot'' and Norah Jones' ''Come Away with Me''. Biography T ...
at Sterling Sound, New York. It features a range of guest musicians including Batiuk, London's The Killer Horns, British singer Zarif, Polish singer Ola Bienkowska, and a cheerleading squad. In terms of lyrical inspiration and themes, Fishel told Out magazine that ''M/F'' contains songs "about life from my perspective as an out, proud and happy gay man...politically passionate; in a beautiful, happy relationship; embracing and exploring many aspects of LGBT life whilst on my journey and curiously questioning the world around me and how I fit into it." The overall tone is "positive, upbeat and celebratory, with a little touch of melancholy thrown into the mix every now and then." Some of the songs are "tongue-in-cheek", others explore "many of the joys and complexities that can accompany life as a gay man in the modern world, as well as tributes to different elements of LGBTQ culture, past and present." On 7 August 2018, Fishel released a live action music video onto his official YouTube channel for ''M/F'''s fifth and final single, "I'm Totally Obsessed With Him". It was filmed at London's Shoreditch Town Hall and features Fishel fronting his band and performing choreography alongside an ensemble of dancers and musicians. Stylistically, the video pays tribute to a variety of eras, costumes and looks from queer iconography and history. Upon the video's release, G-scene magazine described Fishel as "unapologetically fabulous".


2019–Present

On 20 June 2021, Fishel revealed on his official social media accounts that he was building a new studio and working on his fourth album. On 18 October 2022, Fishel announced that his upcoming studio album, ''Tales of Queer Suburbia'', would contain 13 new, original songs and be released in 2023. https://twitter.com/mattfishel/status/1582381217412186112?s=20&t=1YsnLSeLKwDjNAE5uRy6YA


Discography


Albums


EPs


Singles


Videography


Awards and nominations


References


External links

* *
Matt Fishel
on
Discogs Discogs (short for discographies) is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. While the site was originally created with a goal of becoming the ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fishel, Matt Year of birth missing (living people) Living people English gay musicians Singers from London British indie rock musicians English male singers English male guitarists English rock guitarists English rock singers English male singer-songwriters British LGBT singers LGBT songwriters 21st-century LGBT people