Released in 2018, Bad Contestant is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter Matt Maltese. Blending sardonic wit with sweeping romanticism, the album offers a theatrical take on heartache, existential dread, and millennial malaise. Maltese’s baritone vocals and piano-driven arrangements draw comparisons to artists like Father John Misty and Rufus Wainwright, while his lyrics balance irony and sincerity. Highlights include the viral ballad “As the World Caves In,” a melancholic fantasy of love at the end of times, and “Greatest Comedian,” which opens the album with deadpan drama. It’s a debut rich in drama, charm, and bittersweet flair.

Tracklist:

Side A:
A1. Greatest Comedian
A2. Bad Contestant
A3. Sweet 16
A4. Like A Fish
A5. Nightclub Love

Side B:
B1. Less And Less
B2. Misery
B3. Strange Time
B4. Guilty
B5. As The World Caves In
B6. Mortal