Matt Maltese drops Hers, an 11-track album of raw intimacy, and unveils the music video for new single, “Happy Birthday.”
On May 16, Matt Maltese returns with Hers, his sixth studio album, released via The Orchard. Raw, introspective, and entirely self-produced, the record stands as his most personal and mature work since Krystal. Alongside the album, he shares the cinematic and nostalgic new single, “Happy Birthday.”
This time, Maltese shifts from fleeting infatuation to deeper reflections on long-term love. Hers explores the beauty, complexity, and quiet ache of relationships that have endured. “I’ve written a lot from a place of infatuation,” he says. “But this record comes from reflection. It’s like having a year to write a really important email.”
Musically, he layers delicate strings, soft woodwinds, and the creak of an old piano to create a twilight atmosphere where sincerity meets subtle humor. While Maltese jokes about writing too many love songs, he stays committed to emotional honesty. “At the end of the day, we’re all human,” he says. “It’s my job as a songwriter to excavate what I’m going through—and this is where I’ve been.”
Critics are taking notice. DIY calls the album “an undeniably safe pair of hands,” noting how even the simplest lines feel cinematic—a clear sign of his artistic growth since 2018. Meanwhile, CLASH rates it 8/10 and calls it “a beautiful glimpse of his creative essence.”
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Hers Tracklist
“Happy Birthday” Music Video
Matt Maltese’s new single, “Happy Birthday,” from his sixth album, Hers, reveals the quiet complexity behind a simple phrase. Inspired by years of casually posting “happy birthday” on Facebook, Maltese shows how those two words often carry unspoken emotions—especially between people with shared history. What seems ordinary actually holds feelings that linger long after everything else fades.
He calls the song a light title that hides deeper heartbreak. After breakups, the birthday message often becomes the last connection—outlasting affection and even conversation.
With his trademark blend of wit and melancholy, Maltese imagines a world where “I’d break my legs in half” could become the new birthday anthem when the cake is served—or maybe not. Either way, “Happy Birthday” transforms a fleeting phrase into something hauntingly human.
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About Matt Maltese
Matt Maltese burst onto the scene in 2018 with Bad Contestant, quickly earning praise for his sharp wit, dry humor, and vivid storytelling. Over the next five years and three albums, he firmly established himself as one of the UK’s most distinctive young artists, known for his signature piano and British charm.
Since releasing 2023’s Driving Just To Drive, Maltese expanded his creative work by writing for other artists and founding the indie label Last Recordings On Earth. In 2024, he released Songs That Aren’t Mine, a home-recorded covers album featuring guest artists, and made his theatre debut composing the score for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Twelfth Night, which The Observer praised as “inspired.”
Later in 2024, Maltese took his music global with a tour across Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. This followed extensive shows in the US, Europe, and the UK. Sold-out performances at LA’s Wiltern and London’s Brixton Electric highlight his growing international appeal, captivating audiences from Sydney to São Paulo, Jakarta to Tokyo with his sharp lyrics and emotional depth.
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Matt Maltese returned with Hers, an 11-track album of soulful songs about love and relationships, along with a video for “Happy Birthday,” which explores the hidden emotions behind a simple birthday message.
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