Final 2 Week

If I could go back to myself on the very first day of Idol and whisper something in my ear, I would say… Don’t do it man! Don’t do it! Just kidding… I’d say, “Don’t be afraid to do what you wanna do. And start smiling!”
 
What do I feel now that I didn’t expect to feel? Love for my fellow contestants… and gratitude for getting this far, Master Mossy! I feel very tired and all the negative feelings in the world… but I am really just kidding. I am being the man with the jokes. I feel excited because new adventures are about to start.
 
If I win, the first people I will thank will be Mr Bolt and Mr Cup Hat. And Samsung for the big ass TV!
 
The first thing I want to do the morning after the Grand Final is watch my big ass TV – with digital surround sound! Me and Marty just want to sit down and watch the Idol series from start to finish – like an Idol saga day!
 
I am still exactly the same Matty as I was on that first day. Except I just broke the button on my shirt while I was thinking of what to write just then… that was unfortunate. Bum.
 
If I only achieve one thing from my entire career, I hope it will be to sell my big ass TV and upgrade to a bigger one… nah, it really is to meet John Mayer and Lior. And to be able to work with Aaron Marsh and Ben Gibbard.
 
This being my last blog ever on Australian Idol, I’d like to say a short farewell message. I’d like to thank Rowan Wells, Jimmy Biasetto, Ben Jansen, Ben McKay, Ben Danning, Dan Elliot, my beautiful sister Grace and her boyfriend Josh. I’d like to thank my family of course - Mum and Dad - and Sam Crawford, Nick Allen, Bryce Jepson, Eric is cool… Jase Titus, Jarryd Klapper, Nicki Kummerow, Marley Klapper, Sam Radicus Williams, Shaneo, James Taylor, Col and Sarah Boyd, Chris “Moses” Monroe, Hannah Wilmont, Tristan “T-Bone” Thorne, Baby Shaka, James Diamond, Jono, Luke Taylor, Hannah Hoskin, Joel Dowling, Alyssa Novitski, Ignite, Impact and Insight Youth, ShireLive, Fatis Valour, every cool famous person I met, every person who enjoyed what I did, the Murphy family and last but not least, my darling Elyse.

- Matt

Final 3 Week

I think Carl or Nat deserve to win because I like them very much and they’re my friends. They’re also really talented and amazing artists. I will feel very happy with whoever wins.
 
Why should I win? I don’t necessarily think I should win... I think that’s a really hard question to answer because you can’t come out of it without sounding like a bit of a bumface.
 
If I could trade places with anyone in the Final 12, I would trade places with Bri – because she’s got cool originals and she’s awesome. And she’s my friend too.
 
If I could accept an ARIA for anything, it would be for Best Independent Album. Plain and simple.
 
I’d like to perform at all the Blues and Roots festivals and Sunfest and Black Stump and AGMF. And Woodford. I would like to play melodic, folk, bluesy stuff.
 
My dream backstage rider list would be -
103 M&Ms – all brown.
Six and a half bottles of homebrew organic cola.
A large teddy bear.
If I don’t have that, I won’t perform!!!!
 
Thanks to everyone who sent me presents for my birthday! I got a cool sword! And I really appreciate people that take the time out to give me stuff… it’s really very, very nice of them. And I would like to thank Marty Simpson for his hilarious card and present from Master Mossy! 

- Matt

Final 4 Week

The ARIAs made me feel scared and small like a little child! I felt like I was out of my league. It was great to meet other musicians… I hung out with Nat Bassingthwaighte, Rai Thistlewaite – he hadn't seen my performance of his song yet. I met Kate Miller Heidke too, which was cool. It was a little bit weird to be there, but I had fun. 
  

Here's how my week runs: 
Tuesday – Is the day that I get to hit people with my rhythm stick and I love them. Seriously, I am not kidding.
Wednesday – Normally a day full of nothing and I get lost in the black darkness of nothingness…
* Matt laughs and ponders his Wednesdays… *
Thursdays – are my favourite days because I get to go to the guitar store and restring my guitar.
Friday – My worst day because I don't like doing movement workshops. It is the worst thing anyone could ever do ever! I like John the coach, but I don't like movement. Movement can go eat a big banana, and then put the peel on the ground, slip on it and break its neck.  
Saturday – Normally a day off, which I love! I go surfing, either with Marty or just back home.
Sunday – Game day. I am a bit out of it for game day because I am in a trance the whole day. I am in performance, ‘Don't screw up' mode.
Monday – The fun day. We just try and muck around and keep the mood light. 
  
Idol has made me realise that I don't really want to be famous, but that music is really important to me and I just want to be able to create music that is respected.

-Matt

Final 5 Week

It is getting harder to say goodbye to someone every week. I like everybody and we will all stay friends afterwards. You get very attached to everyone. Most people here have all rallied together and pushed each other through and been very supportive. I don’t think we let the competition affect our relationships because I think we mostly keep the competition and our friendships separate.

It has felt like a long journey. So long it makes long things feel not long. That’s how long it is. I could compare its longness to a very long amount of time.

I think I have grown a lot over my time on Idol. This week, I have been playing the guitar a lot and jamming. I’ve really been getting into folk and a little bit of blues.

I am not thinking of this as a competition – I am more focussed on keeping my head above water. I try not to think about the competitive side because it can change people in a bad way.

I will be so nervous if I get to perform at the Opera House. I would want to do a nervous wee every five seconds, that’s how nervous I would be.

It’s a very scary feeling to think I am in the Final 5. It’s an awesome privilege and I feel I should be presented with a Samurai sword and a large offering of miso soup... (Personal joke).

- Matt

Final 6 Week

I think there are definitely favourites in this competition. But I think everyone is entitled to an opinion and they’re allowed to like whoever they want. Being a favourite is just a matter of opinion that doesn’t always translate into votes.

I think I am coping OK but I am finding the competition pretty challenging – we’re always on the go and there is a lot of pressure. I really miss my old life too – surfing, hanging with my mates, going to church… but that said, I do appreciate the opportunities I have been given and I am learning so much.

For some reason, Kyle is the judge I most like getting feedback from because the stuff he says is true and relevant… And he never contradicts himself.

I’d have to say I am most worried about disappointing myself… because I always do and I hate it. I hate doing a bad performance and I get really down on myself all the time when I do.

I feel amazing when I listen to music. Music has the ability to set my mood, anytime, anywhere. It’s my life – it’s what is inside me and what I always want to do.

If I have any fans out there… thank you for being them.

- Matt

Final 7 Week

It's really a selfish choice, but if I could sing any song on Idol it would be As Tall as Lions, "Ghosts Of York" or another song of theirs, I can't remember the name right now. They're an awesome band. I think they are awesome because of their awesomeness.

The most dangerous thing about fame? Everything!!! I hope I can use it for good but generally it's a really overrated concept. It's a novelty.

I'd say it's harder to write your own song than it is to rearrange someone else's. Interpretation is easier than creation.

If I could do a duet with anyone… I've got a few people in mind – Imogen Heap, Aaron Marsh, Chris Martin would be another one and Jarrod Clapper… there are so many people I admire. They are all really incredible musicians and songwriters, and singers with ability to make a difference with their music. 

I want to be remembered as someone who is respected for his musical ability and song writing ability. I would also like to be remembered as a polite, upstanding, young gentleman…. Haha joking. Just someone who likes to have a laugh.

Final words… I love everybody!

-Matt

Final 8 Week

How do I choose my songs? According to whatever style it is that week, I just pick my favourite song in that genre. I go through my iPod and go, “That's good, that's good” and write the songs down. I search a little bit on the net for some sweet songs too.

It's been really hard to stay myself in this comp because I have been put through so many situations that are not me, and I've had to perform so many genres that aren't me. I think the public gets the wrong idea sometimes – really, this is just a test of my voice and it all comes down to singing. People need to be aware of that and it's really hard to convey your style while performing other styles. In an everyday sense I just do what I do, but in a music sense it's very challenging.

I'd have to say that Idol has made me less confident. Some people see the show as a negative thing for musicians – I've had a lot of that feedback and I really don't think that's fair. I was a musician way before Idol.

My best moment has been just holding my guitar on stage. I didn't actually play my own guitar on Sunday night, I was my friend's Taylor.  Actually, the best moment was the Monday in rehearsals. We always run through our songs in case it's one of us who leaves. The best moment was when I played and four of the crew asked me to perform again, just because they enjoyed it. I was just playing and singing in front of five or six people in the studio and they all stopped and listened… and that was my best moment so far.

The hardest moment has been seeing Mark go – because he was my closest friend. I really miss him already. I am in a room by myself now and it's just hard. He was such a good dude – one of the best guys I've ever met and no one can say otherwise because I lived with him for a month! He's such a cool guy.

I don't think my life will ever go back to normal. Me and Marty went to the beach for a surf the other day and there was a paparazzi guy taking pics of us while we surfed. After we got out of the water, some fans came up and asked for hugs and we tried to give them some but we could see the guy taking pics. We just said, “Look guys, we're really sorry but we gotta go.” I was like, pick on people that are actually famous!

Last but not least, big thanks to everyone that's supporting me!

-Matt

Final 9 Week

It was really cool to get the first Touchdown – it's crazy how it's such a big deal but I am very stoked that I was the first person to get one. I was like, “Oh… I swear I didn't do that good!”
 
This week, the best moment was probably playing for thousands of people at Federation Square. It was an incredible rush. I've been to Melbourne many times and it's cool.
 
The best advice I have been given so far in the competition is to stay grounded. My mates and family told me that and I think it's really important. I can't say that anyone has really given me any bad advice.
 
I don't have any lucky charms… and my own pre-show ritual is to go to the toilet! [Laughs]. I didn't really take anything of sentimental value into Idol HQ… all those sort of things were left at home and I am kinda missing them.
 
I think Idol has made me a more mature person, and I am definitely more aware of things. I feel like I more aware of the real world, which is a bit strange because it's a competition that's actually detached from that.
 
Acoustic is the most ultimate style – it's where a true musician really shines through, because it's so raw and out there. You can't make a mistake. I can't wait to perform this week!

-Matt
 

Final 10 Week

I've been out of my comfort zone so much! Heaps actually - more than I expected. It would be cool if I could just do stuff I want to do, but this a chance to show if I can be versatile. I have been singing stuff I didn't even know I could do, which is cool because I have learnt a lot my about my abilities.
 
I've had a couple of sleepless nights… just staying up late, practicing and playing guitar. I knew most of the songs I wanted to do before I came into the competition and the genres have lined up with that really well.
 
On Monday's Verdict show, I was spewing! I looked at Jake and Ben and was like, "Oh man, me or one of these great two dudes will be in the Bottom Three." That was really weird. When they said I was through, I felt so stoked that I was in the clear.
 
The best fan moments are when young little dudes come up to you, look up to you and like what you do. It's pretty cool. Being able to be nice to them is awesome - it's crazy that people think of me as famous and being able to light up a young dude's day just by chatting to him is really awesome.
 
The biggest lesson I've learnt is to come out of my shell and be myself more. I've learnt to trust myself and do what makes me happy. People pay me out about the whole scarf thing, but that's just what I wear… and when Rock week came along I was like, "I'm wearing my scarf!"
 
I buy most of the necklaces that I wear. I make my Lego ones though… I just found a cool wizard one that I am going to make into a necklace. I like anything a bit kooky.
 
My family and my mates from church keep me feeling calm and happy. They always remind me who I am. My quiet times keep me grounded too.

-Matt

Final 11 week

Thing week I have just been cruising. I went shopping but didn't buy anything! I've also been doing my vocal workshops and trying to get my song down pat.

Living in Idol HQ with everyone makes me feel like I am touring again. I did that for a while when I was younger and I lived with older guys then. Getting time to yourself is not as hard as you would think. Everyone's really respectful and you get time to reflect. The house is massive too – there's always at least one spot that's not occupied by someone.

I was nervous on Sunday. It is a slow song and you need a lot of control to sing it. At the start, people were screaming and cheering and it was drowning me out a little bit. That put me off slightly – it's so loud!

All the talk about song choice didn't put me off. It actually made me go a little bit more out there with the songs I have coming up. I am going for some songs that only people who are really into music would know. If people don't like what I do, then I am not meant for the show.

When it comes to the judges, I choose what feedback to take on board. I thought it was ridiculous when Dicko said I didn't sing like Chris Martin, because it was a night to show who I am, not imitate someone else. It was pretty massive what Kyle said too. You take what helps and disregard what doesn't - and you have to try and do that for the whole comp.

Having my private life in the media is crazy. People just make stuff up. Now I know not to believe anything I read! Me and Bri are literally like brother and sister – she's like one of the dudes in the House! It definitely upset me to read things that aren't true about me, and it's upsetting that people can show such disregard for your life. People are unaware that stuff they make up can actually wreck people's lives.

At the end of the day, I hope the show helps me get a street rep of a good muso so I can go out and start a career from scratch. I just want to be able to do little underground gigs at sweet venues, do my own music and just develop a reputation as a good musician that I can build on.

-Matt

First Week in the Final 12

Probably the best moment this week has been walking down the red carpet – it was quite exhilarating. And I met Delta Goodrem – that was cool.

I still feel like a random kid that's just been thrown into all this. It hasn't really sunk in.

Idol HQ is absolutely magnificent. It's the coolest thing I have ever seen. It's really big. I am sharing a room with Mark – it was such a planned decision. We've been chilling together since Sydney – we're good mates. The only problem that could crop up in Idol HQ would be my untidiness!

We have one rule at Idol HQ and that's: "Have fun all the time."

I've definitely made some mistakes so far – just with the way I've come across on camera. I think I've come across as someone who's just a funk singer and I think I've put myself in a box a little bit. Totally unintentionally – but that's probably because I've sung two Stevie Wonder songs. I usually like doing stuff like Bobby Flynn style.

It's the weirdest feeling thinking you have fans – you just don't know what you've done to deserve it! It's so great to meet them though - I love it.

I'm really nervous about the competition in general – it's going to be hard and I am going to miss normality. But that said, I'm also really excited about everything ahead.

-Matt

How does it feel to be in the Final 12?

I was incredibly, incredibly stoked to get through to the Top 12. I couldn't believe it really!

My family and friends are loving it too. A few people have even recognised me out in public - I just give them a smile, and a wave and hug. It's pretty great… it's very weird and a bit awkward too, but it's awesome.

The best thing about the competition so far has been just getting to know everyone – I love everyone. We all hang out and I sing all the time, so does Marty.

I am really looking forward to moving into the Idol house and hanging out with all the guys! I'm close to Marty, Mark, Jacob and Miffy [aka Daniel]. Our crew is called the “Diamond Dogs”. Everyone's nickname is something “dog” – Miff Dog (Daniel), Corn Dog (me), But Dog (Jacob) and Sim Dog (Marty). I got Corn Dog because Corb Dog just sounded a bit weird.

Wearing the scarves… haha. The scarves are my own choice – it's just what I do. I've got a few of them - they're just chucked all over my room. I like ‘em.

When it comes to the ladies… my heart is indeed reserved. The rumours are true!

-Matt