Always wondered what pop stars themselves listen to whenever they are not on stage or writing new music? It’s time to find out! Every week, A Bit of Pop Music will bring you Friday’s Five, a selection of five favourite songs by a current pop artist. This week we get to hear Matthew Koma’s favourites!
American singer and songwriter Matthew Koma is a celebrated name in the world of dance and house music. As he puts it himself on his latest single ‘Hard To Love’: “My voice was like on every fucking house track.” Not only did he co-write hits like Zedd’s ‘Clarity’, but he also featured on a bunch of songs by DJs and producers like Zedd, Hardwell, Alesso and Tiesto. At the moment Koma is busy becoming the solo pop star he deserves to be. Last year he dropped the deliciously catchy single ‘Kisses Back’ and followed it up recently with the autobiographical ‘Hard To Love’. For A Bit of Pop Music he made a selection of five songs he is madly in love with!
Tom Waits – Time
“This is one of those songs where all the magic happens in one place for me. The right words , sentiment , recording, voice…it’s absolutely beautiful and always transports me somewhere else.”
Squeeze – Is That Love
“When I think of the word pop, this is what comes to mind. One of the best melodies of all time and Glenn Tilbrook’s voice is life.”
Dawes – Time Spent in Los Angeles
“This felt like a classic the first time I heard it. Continues carrying the torch in the company of Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen , Tom Petty, Jackson Browne…but it is new. And it isn’t derivative. I enjoy hearing how he sees the world, how he digests…this song was my introduction.”
Ben Folds Five – Philosophy
“Been back on a Ben Folds Five kick lately since it’s 20 years since Whatever And Ever Amen. One of the songs that made me fall in love with Ben’s way of story telling and melody sense was ‘Philosophy’. It was such a valuable and weighted sentiment coming from a voice that was so sincere in his real-time discovery of life and perspective. It was confidently inquisitive and snotty but had an awareness of itself that communicated humility and humor. The same kind of thing I loved about Joe Jackson.”
Joe Jackson – One More Time
“Fuck, this is rad!”
Some classics right there! Don’t forget to have a listen at Matthew Koma’s quite brilliant recent singles ‘Kisses Back’ and ‘Hard To Love’.