Matt Cardle chats recovering from addictions, pressures of fame and beating One Direction on The X Factor
The X Factor champ, 34, catches up with Fabulous at skate park BAYSIXTY6 in London as prepares to release his upcoming album Time To Be Alive on April 27
WE BUST some moves with the singer, 34, and chat overcoming addiction, coping with fame and beating 1D.
Where: BAYSIXTY6, London.
What are we doing at a skate park, Matt? Aren’t we a bit old for this?
Absolutely not! It keeps me fit. I’ve skated since I was 12 years old and it’s a massive part of my life.
What tricks can you do?
Well, I’ve been known to switch blunt on the ramp. This will mean nothing to you! I also like a backside lipslide…
Sounds interesting! OK, so we haven’t seen you for a while. What’s been going on?
Well, I got into a pretty bad place a few years ago [Matt was addicted to alcohol and prescription drugs], so there’s been a lot of recovery going on, which is what my new album is largely based on.
I’m not proud of the state I let myself get into, but I’m proud I was able to ask for help, and it’s something I’ve poured into the album.
It’s about recovery, but it’s also about the dark times and medicating to feel nothing.
Which song off the album means the most to you?
Time To Be Alive, because of the sentiment. Life hurts – it’s unfair, it’s cruel, bad things happen to good people. You’ve just got to deal with it. Hallelujah is about Valium, and it sounds like a love song, but it really isn’t.
Are you teetotal these days?
No. I was sober for 19 months after I came out [of rehab], but I didn’t feel like it was me. I’m a hedy [hedonistic] person – you don’t find yourself in The Priory if you drink green tea. I do allow myself to drink, but I just have to be really careful. Recovery is a day-to-day thing. If something bad happened to me now, I could find myself in a horrible place again, but I really hope not. At least I have the knowledge of what I can do now.
You won The X Factor in 2010 – how did you go from achieving the ultimate dream to being in such a dark place?
The X Factor isn’t a normal thing for anyone to go through, and my year in particular was mental because so many people watched it.
I’d worked for years to get a record deal and then I got one, and even though my album went platinum, the label didn’t want to do another one. They had other things on their mind, like One Direction – and I probably would have done the same!
I wasn’t bitter about it but it did cut me to pieces. It was a f**ked-up situation. That coupled with a relationship breakdown didn’t leave me in a good place.
Do you wish you hadn’t been on the show the same year as 1D?
Not at all. My album sold great and they went off and conquered the world! That’s what came from that year, and that’s cool.
Of all the 1D lads, whose new music do you like best?
I loved what Harry did. I think it was a brave move to not even try to transition from the boy-band sound and just do what he wanted to do.
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Are you in a good place now?
Yes, definitely. I met my girlfriend Amber [27, a project manager] a couple of years ago and life is good.
We’re taking things very steady. Well, she is! She’s very sensible.
BTW
- Matt is obsessed with watching documentaries on serial killers.
- He was never a decorator like The X Factor portrayed, and says he’s “s**t” at painting!
- Brooklyn Beckham’s been spotted skating at the park.
- Time To Be Alive is out April 27.
- Thanks to BAYSIXTY6 ()