Matty Healy, The 1975 live the popstar dream in 2019

MANILA, Philippines — Undeniably, one of the most influential bands of today that everyone keeps talking about is Manchester pop rock band The 1975. 

As part of their Asian tour, the hard-punk group led by frontman and lyricist Matty Healy returned to Manila for the fourth time, bringing their Filipino fans the best live music they could ever ask for during their recent live concert at the Mall of Asia Arena.

When their third and latest album, “A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships,” came out late last year, it quickly became a global smash hit. It’s also the first album to be produced by members George Daniel and Matty Healy, a quick break from their usual collaborator Mike Crossey. 

Their latest album consists of five singles: “Love It If We Made It,” “Give Yourself a Try,” “It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You),” “TooTimeTooTimeTooTime,” and “Sincerity Is Scary.” The album has received critical acclaim for its eclectic nature and lyrical relevance. 

Since then, the album has received awards, including British Album of the Year at the 2019 British Awards, propelling them to the number one spot in the UK charts and subsequently number four in the US.

Before its commercial success, “A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships” took a very long route before it got to where it is now. Drummer George Daniel started writing some of the songs as early as 2015 but haven’t had the chance to include them in their sophomore album “I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful.” It was also the following year when lead vocalist Matty fell into his heroin addiction that had forced him to go on hiatus, and ultimately putting the band into constant public scrutiny. 

But just like an old adage suggests, let bygones be bygones. Everything is in the past now. The group is back on tour, and doing what they love most, and reminding their fans why they fell in love with The 1975 in the first place. 

During their recent Manila concert produced by MMI Live, a healthy and ecstatic Matty appeared on stage. He looked very confident and charismatic in his white tees and jeans. And as he started moving in rhythm with his electric guitar, his signature curly long black hair was fluidly moving in unison. As he started reciting the lyrics of “People,” any doubt whether The 1975 will have a long lasting music career evaporated into thin air. 

They performed their current hit songs as the core four-man lineup but were soon joined by backup dancers, dominating the stage with pure energy and nothing but love for their fans. And as the night ascended, hearts were filled with warmth feel, beaming the arena with cellphone lights as Heally and his band went back to their emo roots with songs like “Be My Mistake,” “Inside Your Mind,” and the classics “A Change of Heart,” “Robbers,” and “Somebody Else.” 

Looking back at how they first started and their incredible journey as a group, one can’t help but agree how immensely talented and special they are. From writing and recording songs when they were in school together, to getting a record deal and performing to sold-out shows across the UK and the United States, they have come such a long way. 

They are definitely living the popstar dream, but they’re also artists whose artistry has defined a new zeitgeist in music. Their heart-pounding melodies that are often accompanied by a bigger than life hypermodern visuals in colorful kaleidoscope on stage is a byproduct of their musical influences, from acid rock of the ‘80s, to post-punk and new wave. The 1975 cycles through nostalgic references and lyrics that continue to break cultural boundaries.