Q&A: Cat Matthews on Finding Her Voice Again and the Stories Behind Her Debut Album
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
CAT MATTHEWS IS NO STRANGER TO REINVENTION. The California native and rising singer-songwriter has carved her path through life's twists and turns, using music as her compass. Inspired by her deep creative roots—her grandfather is the legendary actor Michael Landon—and shaped by the Laurel Canyon greats of the ‘60s, Matthews’ sound is a blend of raw vulnerability and timeless storytelling. Her upcoming debut album, produced by Marshall Vore (Phoebe Bridgers, boygenius, Maya Hawke), is a reflection of her resilience and artistic growth, and it promises to be one of her most personal projects to date.
With singles like “Greener Pastures,” “Happiness is Sad,” and “October,” Matthews has already offered glimpses into her unique perspective, balancing heartbreak, nostalgia, and hope with a delicate yet powerful touch. However, her forthcoming single, “Kaleidoscope Eyes,” takes it even further. Written after a harrowing emotional experience, the song captures the complexity of love and self-discovery, further solidifying Matthews as an artist unafraid to bare her soul.
In this interview, Matthews reflects on the deeply personal journey that led to her debut album, the transformative challenges she’s faced, and how her creative vision has been shaped by her voice—both figuratively and literally. From grappling with being completely mute after a traumatic trachea injury to embracing her artistic individuality, Matthews’ story is as compelling as the music she creates.
LUNA: Your upcoming single, "Kaleidoscope Eyes," drops soon, and it’s part of your debut album produced by Marshall Vore. Can you tell us a bit about what inspired this single and what themes we can expect from the album as a whole?
MATTHEWS: “Kaleidoscope Eyes” was one of the last songs I wrote for this project. I had gone through a really cruel, year-long emotional affair with someone who was in a relationship with someone else. We had become really close friends and things got romantic against my better judgment (although I attempted to set boundaries several times); when he got caught, he abruptly cut me out of his life over a 5 minute phone call. I felt so much misplaced guilt and assumed a lot of self-loathing. One night as I was grappling with my feelings, crying in my car, the street lights looked glimmery and fuzzy and beautiful through my tears. I wrote the song the next day.
LUNA: You've described a long, challenging road to recovery after your trachea injury. How did that period of being completely mute influence your songwriting and creative expression?
MATTHEWS: I was forced to sit alone with my thoughts and had no other outlet or way of expressing my grief, heartbreak, and ideas other than at the piano in handwritten notes or iPhone docs. It forced me to retreat deeper into myself and articulate exactly what I wanted to say in my music. Ironically, becoming voiceless was the key to finding my honest voice as a songwriter.
LUNA: Your family has deep roots in the arts, with your grandfather being the actor Michael Landon. How has your family’s creative legacy shaped your own path in music?
MATTHEWS: In my family we always laugh that my grandfather’s talents skipped a generation—I only say this because he had a very beautiful singing voice and my mom is just a hair away from total tone deafness. To her credit she’s wickedly smart with a PHD and a knack for acting. I’m definitely the singular black sheep musician in my immediate family, but all of my siblings were gifted with incredible acting, writing, and directing talents. I love watching them work together and I’m grateful to exist in an environment where I’m encouraged to lean into my creative pursuits. My family is so supportive and that’s the biggest gift of all.
LUNA: Growing up in the San Fernando Valley, you were drawn to the Laurel Canyon greats of the 1960s. How do those influences manifest in your own music today, and what elements of that era resonate most with you?
MATTHEWS: I grew up listening to a lot of Neil Young, Janis Ian, Gram Parsons, Buffalo Springfield, Willie Nelson, etc. I’ve always admired the analog workflow and I love how raw and intimate their work is because of it. It’s as if you’re sitting in the living room with them while they write or perform. I adore the little flaws, the creaks of a chair in the back, soft chatter, the character, how unsterile it all is. I’m proud of my California heritage and I really love the great California west and the original cowboy.
LUNA: Your previous singles, "Greener Pastures," "Happiness is Sad," and "October," each seem to explore different aspects of life and emotion. How do these songs fit into the larger narrative of your upcoming album?
MATTHEWS: I wanted to release singles that share different facets of the album as a whole. It’s why I decided to put out the first 2 singles together as a 7”. There are so many more flavors and sides to the album that I’m really excited to share—some that will probably surprise people. The overarching theme explores my experiences as a young woman. So you can expect lots of heartbreak, some insecurity, searching for purpose, yearning, falling in love, moving on.
LUNA: Collaborating with Marshall Vore, who’s worked with artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Maya Hawke, must have been an incredible experience. What was the creative process like working with him, and how did he help bring your vision for the album to life?
MATTHEWS: Marshall was the only producer who had the same crazy vision that I had for this project—to record everything to tape and completely avoid the use of computers. It’s a super arduous task and an extremely time consuming workflow. It was so rewarding to capture the sounds and worlds that we envisioned for this record. He’s a true original and it was a huge gift to work with someone who didn’t try to model my sound after anyone else. We really wanted to maintain artistic integrity and dig into my own sound.
LUNA: You've been through both personal and professional transitions, from dropping out of NYU to the dissolution of niña. How have these experiences influenced your identity as an artist and the stories you want to tell in your music?
MATTHEWS: Really, it’s just all part of life. I want to let my lived experiences and views of the world be something many can connect with, while delivering it in a unique way through my own lens. That’s a win if I can accomplish that through my music.
LUNA: Looking back, how has your journey of regaining your voice changed the way you view music and songwriting? Do you approach creating music differently now?
MATTHEWS: It really challenged me as a songwriter and challenged the ideas that I had for my future. I didn’t know if I’d be able to sing again, or if I would, what it would sound like. I’m grateful for the mental fortitude and resilience I had to develop during that time. That chapter taught me how to truly listen to music and uncover parts of myself I hadn’t spent time with yet. Writing is getting harder, especially the older I become. I like to think it’s because I’m getting better at it.
LUNA: What do you hope listeners take away from your debut album, especially given the deeply personal experiences that inspired it?
MATTHEWS: More than anything I hope that they can resonate with my writing or connect to what I have to say. I really lean into my experience as a young woman and all that encompasses—heartbreak, love, loss, existentialism, finding purpose, forgiveness, and closing chapters.
LUNA: As you look forward to releasing this album, what’s next for you?
MATTHEWS: Hopefully just playing more shows and reaching more people. Fall happens to be my favorite time of year because I can stay cozy, cook everyday, and light a fire here and there. I’ll be doing plenty of that.
