Matt Hansen is a singer-songwriter based out of Los Angeles who recalls that this music career kind of just happened to him. He was in school, and when COVID hit in 2020, which sent him back home, he got immersed in having more time to write songs. He had already been singing and posting on social media consistently then, but when he was able to return to school, TikTok entered the picture. He covered “Godspeed” by Frank Ocean, and it was that video’s engagement that made him decide to enter the music scene all in. Since then, he has been chasing that dream, and it’s led him to Summerfest 2026 in Milwaukee. Without all that, I don’t think our paths would have crossed. 

Like a lot of artists, he draws back on emotions and events that he’s experienced; his most recent track, titled “THINKING BOUT ME,” draws on topics about how sometimes people get in your head, but not necessarily in a good way. Sometimes people enter your life, and then they leave it; for better or worse, you cannot stop thinking about them and wonder if they still think about you, too. Hansen recalls how it’s more of a walk down memory lane of summer flings that get buried in time, but then something clicks, and you find yourself wondering. A need for extra validation to be remembered as well, but not trying to dwell too much on it because you don’t want them back in your life. I’m sure we can all relate to that, whether it’s a romantic or a friendship that once ended. 

It’s deep, raw, and authentic feelings he brings into the scene, even in the entire process. His songwriting starts with a feeling because sometimes he can’t quite find the words to say, so he often begins with a melody and chords first. He relates and draws a lot of inspiration from Coldplay when it comes to the process of creating. With this being said, he feels that his song “Orchid” is one of the most important ones that people should listen to. Hansen says, “I feel like it’s my best work and it encapsulates everything I’ve been through in a concise, perfect way. I feel like I wrote everything about that moment and it’s time to move on. It was kind of a perfect way to close that chapter in my life.” Speaking of the song, it also shares the title of his album, and he’ll be embarking on a full tour for it later this year. This is his biggest tour yet, and he’s super excited because up until now he states how it’s been mostly singles, and this is the first full-length album he’ll be sharing with us.

If you get a chance, definitely check his music out and maybe buy a ticket to one of his shows this Fall. Be sure to let Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, and Bon Iver know that if they ever need an opener, I know that Matt Hansen would love the opportunity.