Robyn’s Dancing On My Own is blaring through the speakers as Matt Evans dances around the studio to the special playlist he put together especially for WHO’s exclusive photoshoot. As the track changes over to Dua Lipa’s Dance the Night, the actor and musician breaks out into a megawatt grin.
“She’s my celebrity crush,” the 26-year-old star confesses. “And now we have something in common.” The connection that binds them is a pretty big deal, too.
Evans has recently been toiling away working on his new EP, which is due out in 2024. One of the singles is a collaboration with pop legend Sir Elton John, 76, just like Lipa did in 2021.
The melody of John’s iconic 1973 hit Crocodile Rock is woven into the music of his yet-to-be-named upcoming song.
It’s something Evans has been working on for months, sending the track off to John’s team for the go-ahead.
The project only got off the ground after the music superstar gave it the green light.
“The first song that I ever learnt on the piano and would sing to Mum while she was going through chemo for breast cancer was Your Song by Elton John,” he says. “So it’s really special that one of the first artists’ music that I use is from Elton.”
Evans says there will be a shift in the sound of his new tracks compared to what we’ve heard from him since he came to prominence on Team Delta in the 2020 season of The Voice.
“This is the most honest I’ve ever been in my music,” Evans reveals. “When I used to write, I was trying to be someone else – who I thought I needed to be – rather than myself, which I think sometimes came across as disingenuous. But now I’m being very real with who I am and the things I go through, and the lyrics are extremely heartfelt.”
When it comes to matters of love and loss, Evans says the best source of inspiration are experiences that aren’t the stuff of fairytales and happy endings.
“I make better music when I’m heartbroken rather than falling in love because, while it might sound controversial, I find it easier to write sad songs,” he says. “But these days, I try not to make all my songs just about love.”
Instead, he says that he tends to explore “being emotionally unavailable and running away from relationships or situationships”. He adds, “But sometimes I also just like to make music that will make people get up and have a dance or a bop around [and] that puts smiles on their faces.”
Evans confirms he has “been single for a while” but is “open” to finding The One.
“I wouldn’t say that I am running around looking for [love],” he says. “I feel content at the moment working on my career, but I’m not turning it down if I meet the right person. I could probably work on being less picky, though.”
As for what comes next, Evans says that on top of releasing his EP in Australia, his other goal is to break into the UK music market. The path is a well-trodden one for Aussie soap stars, with actors including sisters Kylie and Dannii Minogue and Natalie Imbruglia forging successful careers over in England.
“Home and Away has so many fans in the UK so it is a big goal of mine to provide for them, too,” he says.
But despite trying to crack the lucrative British music scene, Evans has no plans to pack up and leave Summer Bay, where he landed the role of Theo Poulos in 2021, even though he had no acting experience.
“It sounds clichéd to say but it really is the best place to work because Home and Away is like a family. I’ve made so many great friends, which was great because when I started I’d just moved from Perth and didn’t really know anyone, so it was great to have an instant support network,” he says. “Getting to go to the beach for work just about every day is pretty great, too,” he adds with a laugh.
He is particularly close to castmates Adam Rowland and Emily Weir. Evans also lived with Jacqui Purvis when he first joined the show, but moved out in 2023.
“We’re still great mates,” he says. “Living by myself just gives me the chance to work on my music or play an album in the middle of the night without having to worry about the noise.”
In the two years since he signed up for the show, Evans admits his character has had a “fairly easy” journey compared to many of the others. But in 2024, he will be showing the audience his “acting chops”.
“There are some really dark storylines that Theo is going to go through,” he says. “It was quite a challenge for me to personally attack these, but it was something I really wanted to do so I could continue to work and grow.
“And I’m pretty proud about what I have done. I hope fans will like it because they’re in for some pretty spicy stuff.”
These scenes were tackled with the help of the on-set acting coach. However, Evans also looks up to a long-term member of the cast as a mentor: Home and Away veteran James Stewart, who plays Justin Morgan. With Evans playing Justin’s nephew on the soap, Stewart, 48, has taken the newcomer under his wing.
“He takes acting very seriously,” Evans explains. “He’s very passionate and works very hard, so it’s great to be around that energy as it sets the tone on the set. I’ve learned so much from him and James is always happy to teach.”
While music will always be his first love, Evans has been surprised by how much the acting bug has bitten the past couple of years. It has got to the point where he couldn’t imagine abandoning one passion to pursue the other.
“Growing up, I was very focused and all I wanted was to be a musician,” he explains. “But acting [on Home and Away] has really changed my mind on what I want my career to look like and what it can be. The future is going to be continuing to do both. I don’t think I need to choose between the two. At least not yet, anyway.”
Home and Away returns on Mon., Jan. 8 at 7pm on Channel 7 and 7plus