Matty Healy has discussed how his earliest experiences of kissing proved to shape his sexuality and impressions of masculinity.
- READ MORE: A Brief Inquiry Into The 1975 – The NME Big Read
The 1975 frontman says that he “vividly” remembers the moment he saw two dancers kissing backstage at a show starring his mother Denise Welch.
“The first passionate kiss I saw was between two blokes,” he told Shortlist. “I remember it vividly.”
“How intimate it was, and I wanted that intimacy. It was an erotic and sexual presentation to do in front of a child, now I think of it. I just saw it as sexy. As a kid, if you see two grown-ups kiss properly, you’re a bit like: ‘What’s that? What’s that feeling? I didn’t know we did that with each other.’ I think my perceived ideas of masculinity stem from my first idea of sexuality.”
Discussing how it shaped his own experiences, he said: “Well, you can look at whether sexuality is a social construct – which, of course, it isn’t. But when I was a kid most of the people [around me] who were successful and doing what they wanted to do were gay.
“I associated that freedom of self with freedom of expression. I think I looked up to them, not as pariahs or outsiders, but as people who were truly themselves. I’ve always found that engaging.”
Healy added: “I’ve thought: ‘Maybe it’s unusual to be as flamboyant as I am, or unusual to be as in the gay world as I am… What does that mean? Am I a bit gay?’ And then I was, like, ‘No, that’s not how it works! It comes down to who you want to fuck.”
The 1975 release new album ‘A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships‘ on November 30. A UK arena tour follows next year. Visit here for tickets and more information.
Meanwhile, it was recently confirmed that The 1975 will play a tiny album release show at Kingston’s PRYZM for Banquet Records’ New Slang night on November 29. Visit here for tickets and more information.