5 Songs I Love w/ Matt Thompson

Award-winning pop singer-songwriter Matt Thompson has built his career on big hooks, emotional honesty, and a sharp instinct for crafting unforgettable pop moments. With millions of streams, chart success, and a growing list of accolades—including a Billboard Grammy Contender nod and a standout performance at SXSW—Thompson continues to carve out a distinct lane that blends vulnerability with high-energy polish. His latest single “Echo” leans into Y2K-inspired nostalgia while exploring the complexities of modern relationships, further cementing his ability to turn personal tension into cinematic pop. Here, he shares five songs that have influenced his sound and shaped the artist he is today.

1. Alexz Johnson - Let Me Fall

I remember it so vividly. A show called Instant Star came out back in 2004 and this song was part of the soundtrack for the season and did something really cool to the wiring in my head. It unlocked an artistic part of it I didn't think existed. I wrote my very first song after hearing this. I was 11. Overall the soundtrack for this show is something that I think still echoes in my subconscious to this day, and I'm grateful for knowing this music. 

2. Kelly Clarkson - Addicted

Kelly is one of my top 3 influences of all time. The way she sings, the shout out choruses, and the sticky melodies. This album deep cut off her Breakaway album always stayed with me. It's dark, histrionic in the best way, and was one of those songs that made me say "I want to be an artist and I make songs like this". 

3. Johnny Cash - Hurt

What a song. Originally a Nine Inch Nails song, masterfully reconstructed by the Man in Black himself. This song was one of the first examples of how a cover could really be so elevated from its original. And with Johnny's lived experiences, you could've sworn this song was written by him. It feels so lived in. 

4. Ariana Grande - break up with your girlfriend, i'm bored

Devious, shameless, and cheeky. We all have those toxic traits and the way she delivers this is so much fun. Down to the rumbling production which feels like the underbelly of a dark club (kinda like the music video). It's just a fun song, and kinda a genius way to end the thank u, next album. 

5. Miranda Lambert - Tin Man

I cried the first time I heard this song. In my opinion it's one of the best country songs of all time. It's one of those songs I wish I wrote, and one of those songs you wonder how it hadn't been written already. A clever and heartbreaking twist on the concept from the Wizard of Oz. Offering to trade your heart to avoid feeling heartbreak. A perfect song. 

If you enjoyed Matt Thompson's picks, make sure you listen to "Echo":