SMA Spotlight: Matt Sheeran

Matt Sheeran joined the SMART agency, a division of SMA Talent, as a young, frighteningly talented composer, proficient and exciting in many musical genres. His early credits include the 2017 feature 'With Love From Suffolk', 'The Haunted Hotel', and the short film 'Dr Sugarloaf' which was shown at the Cannes Film Festival.   

Now a bonafide member of SMA Talent’s main roster, he’s busier than ever. In recent years, Matt has reworked huge hits like Stormzy’s ‘Blinded by Your Grace’ and Ed Sheeran’s ‘Perfect’. The rearrangement of the latter, ‘PerfectSymphony,’ saw the brothers joined by the inimitable Andrea Bocelli, a collaborative relationship they rekindled later on ‘Amo Soltanto Te,’ featured on Bocelli’s Grammy-nominated Si. Currently, Matt is working with fellow SMA composer Dean Valentine on a number of film projects, the details of which will be revealed later on this year.

We chatted with Matt to find out a little bit more about what makes him tick as a composer…

Q > Hi Matt! First of all, can you tell us a little bit about your route into the industry?

Matt > I came from an academic, non-technical background so I had to work out how to use DAWs and sample libraries (with a lot of help from some very kind composers).  I created a showreel using pre-existing footage and sent it out to scores of filmmakers.  A few got back and I got some experience writing in a variety of different genres.  I was also introduced to a few directors and producers by the composers who I had asked for advice.  I then joined SMArising talent and they helped develop my career even further.

Q > You collaborate often as an orchestrator, arranger and composer. What do the best kind of collaborative relationships have in common? 

Matt > Clear communication, trust and good musical knowledge.

Q > What does an ideal working day look like for you? 

Matt > One with no distractions.

Q > Do you have any strategies you like to employ to get into the right frame of mind to work? 

Matt > Just do it!

Q > What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?

Matt > I have recently completed a piece for unaccompanied violin in memory of my Granny, who introduced me to music.

Q > What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far in your career? 

Matt > Mastering the technology!

Q > What do you wish you’d known early on that you know now? 

Matt > Trust your ears.

Q > What are you listening to at the moment? 

Matt > I’m listening to a lot of microtonal music.