In the vibrant world of indie music, it's always a thrill to discover an artist whose sound is as unique as their story. Mathilde Anne, a Pop-Rock musician from Victoria, Australia, is one such talent. With her distinct blend of punk and heartfelt lyrics, Mathilde crafts songs that deeply resonate with listeners, especially those who, like her, navigate the world with neurodiversity. Drawing inspiration from personal experiences and a love for the raw energy of 90s grunge, Mathilde’s music not only entertains but also empowers. In this candid interview, she opens up about her journey into music, the influence of her autism on her work, and the personal stories behind her powerful debut album. If you’re a fan of Big Thief, Billie Eilish, or The Cranberries, Mathilde Anne is an artist you’ll want to keep on your radar.

Nicolle: Hi, Mathilde! Could you introduce yourselves a little to any new potential fans?

Mathilde: Hey! My name is Mathilde Anne, I'm a musician from Victoria, Australia. I write a lot of Pop-Rock with a bit of a punk flare. It just depends on how heartbroken I'm feeling, really, haha - most of my writing stems from personal experience!

Nicolle: What inspired your journey into music? Was there a particular song that influenced you, or did it stem from your family background?

Mathilde: Growing up, music was always something I fixated on, heavily, and used to understand and process my own emotions. That being said, being a woman on the spectrum, there has never really been any music that accurately depicted how I feel. This was very isolating as a child/teenager and is one of the driving forces behind the music that I now make. I aspire to create something that allows others who have grown up with similar experiences/disabilities to feel seen, heard, and fucking powerful!

Nicolle: As an autistic woman, how has your journey influenced your music and the messages you want to convey to your audience?

Mathilde: I think being autistic has had a massive impact on who I am, and the music I make. For one, I unintentionally write a lot of music about coping with the feeling of being an alien in this world – and coming to some level of self-acceptance and self-love. I really enjoy writing music from my perspective as it feels really freeing to be able to express the whirlwind of emotions I bottle up into words. Personally, making music ‘as a whole’ always could convey emotion far more seamlessly than solely talking or writing ever could. I think this is also why I always want to make sure that my audience knows that they are seen and that their experiences are not just valid, but also extremely important. ‘Normal’, the title track of my album, is all about those experiences and the idea of coming to terms with the fact that being palatable, or not “too much”, isn’t living, it's just surviving.

Nicolle: I am obsessed with your song Crime Scene Cadillac. It is so much fun! What prompted you to write it? 

Mathilde: Thank you so much!!! This was a really fun one to write! The idea behind Crime Scene was giving into temptation. Sometimes it feels really good to love what's bad for you, whether that is a relationship or an experience. I wrote this track with three of my favourite humans in the whole world, Maxon, Nayomi Pattuwage and Cheryl Beattie. I think we just really wanted to create something we could all sing together, almost like our own little war cry or school chant - hopefully, that energy really comes across in the bridge!

Nicolle: You have a new song out called Haunt You (When I´m Gone). Can you share more about the personal experiences that inspired it?

Mathilde: This song is all about letting go of someone who never really knew how to give you the love you deserved. Also, knowing that while you'll move forward and be ok, their actions will catch up to them one day and leave a sour taste in their mouth.  The relationship in question was always really hot and cold. I was “so special”, but not special enough to meet their friends. They bought me flowers and then told me I couldn't see my friends. Once I realised I deserved better, and I left, they were sorry and wanted to change. The pivotal point for this song was a conversation I had with one of them at a party - they took me aside and apologised for everything that had happened, saying their behaviour and treatment of me still haunted them to this day. I hadn't really thought about any of that in a long time, but it was interesting to hear that their actions had stuck with them. Honestly, good, babe. You sucked. I hope it still haunts you xoxo 

Nicolle: Genre-wise, the new single blends 90s grunge with a contemporary punk-country-pop twist. What drew you to this unique combination?

Mathilde: I write most of my music on my acoustic guitar, in either my bedroom or living room, so usually the first draft of every song I make sounds a little bit more on the folk side. During the week that I wrote Haunt You, I was also listening to a lot of The Cranberries and Weezer and loving the 90s grunge feeling, and how dirty and fun it felt. It's the music I grew up listening to with my friends and parents, so I feel very connected to that sound. I think the two genres linked effortlessly once the song was fully written. It was almost out of my control. 90s grunge always seems to have very sarcastic, cheeky elements to it, and to me, that's exactly what Haunt You was - so it just made sense.  

Nicolle: You have an album coming out August 23rd. What was working on it like? Any challenges?

Mathilde: This album and its creation were honestly so healing. It came about during a time when I was doing a lot of self-reflection and working hard to know who I was. Each song on the album represents a moment in time, experienced as my authentic self, but also as a woman on the spectrum. Normal is all about coming to terms with the feeling that, unless I behave in a way that society deems “normal”, I won't find my place. I know that I can't be “normal” - my brain isn't wired that way, no matter how hard I tried to change that, and it's ok. The album’s story represents the emotional sojourn that culminates in the realisation we should not care to be someone considered easy and palatable, but someone whom we love. I just want to be myself and love her for who she is. 

Nicolle: Do you have any upcoming live performances or appearances where fans can experience your music in person?

Mathilde: I SURE DO! I have an Australian Tour coming up. I’m most excited for the headline Album Launch party in Melbourne/Naarm, and going back to my old stomping ground on the Gold Coast. Tickets can be found on my Bandsintown page if anyone is keen!

Nicolle: Where do you see your music career heading in the next few years, and what are your long-term goals?

Mathilde: I think in the next few years I want to travel overseas to play some of my first shows in the UK and USA. I really want to keep growing my community and spreading awareness about how ASD presents itself in women, and how we can improve our understanding and accessibility, particularly in the music industry. Long term goals… Writing with more amazing artists, maybe writing especially for some other artists. I would love to play some more festivals as well, but honestly, the big goal is just to know that the message I'm spreading, and the music I'm making, is aligning with people and maybe helping them feel connected or seen. Music is all about love for me and spreading that love to everyone. To be loved is to be seen, ya know. 

Nicolle: And finally: if you could pick anyone to write a song with, who would it be?

Mathilde: Probably the band Big Thief. I am completely obsessed with how unique their songwriting is, their use of alliteration, harmonies and musicality always feel so full of life. Writing with them would be an out-of-this-world experience. I’m even listening to their music while I do this interview!

You can follow Mathilde on her Instagram here and you can stream her latest song Haunt You (When I´m Gone) here. Her album Normal is coming out on August 23rd and you can pre-save it here.

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Nicolle Knapova is a 30-year-old young adult writer and freelance blogger from the Czech Republic. She has a master’s degree in Creative Writing and Publishing at Bournemouth University. She loves to write about music, books and TV shows. If she’s not writing her fan fiction, she’s writing her poetry and sharing it on her Instagram @elisecaverly.