Matías Roden Delivers a Bold, Queer Pop Anthem with "Please"

There’s a dizzying kind of magic that happens when heartbreak meets the dancefloor—when vulnerability doesn’t collapse inward, but instead pulses outward through strobe lights and soaring synths. That’s the space Vancouver-based pop artist Matías Roden taps into on Please, his latest single and the most unapologetically queer, club-minded release of his career so far. Equal parts emotional release and kinetic celebration, the track channels the nightlife energy of London, the pain of love gone wrong, and the confidence that comes with finding your voice.

Listen in here: https://open.spotify.com/track/3VUttLrwApgxDkSlztZNhn?si=1&nd=1&dlsi=b7a995e3fa0544f6

Written during a transformative month immersed in the queer club scene of East London, Please is drenched in synth-pop nostalgia and emotional immediacy. It’s a dance track that doesn’t flinch from messy feelings. Propelled by a punchy horn hook and energized by a rush of Hi-NRG rhythms and sleek, vintage textures, the song evokes the classic sounds of 80s UK icons like Pet Shop Boys, Bronski Beat, and Human League—artists who paired intimate storytelling with theatrical flair. Roden’s version of that sonic lineage feels both reverent and fresh, woven together with jazz house influences and the raw sincerity that’s become a hallmark of his work.

Please also marks a turning point in Roden’s lyrical evolution. It’s his first release that directly explores queer desire, shifting from subtext to center stage. The lyrics trace the emotional aftermath of a toxic romantic entanglement, where longing, humiliation, and craving all coexist. “Does it please you to hear me plead?” he sings, the line hanging like a dare and a confession all at once. It’s a portrait of someone losing themselves in love, fully aware of the danger but unable to stop the spiral. And yet, there’s joy in the descent—movement becomes medicine, the dancefloor a confessional booth.

“I wanted the song to feel elegant, but still raw—like a real memory,” Roden says. “It’s about falling fast for someone who’s not good for you and knowing they might even enjoy watching you suffer. And at the same time, it’s joyful. It’s nostalgic. It’s me fully stepping into who I am as an artist, as a gay man, and as someone who finds healing in movement.”

This sense of self-actualization extends beyond the lyrics and into the production itself. With Please, Roden takes on a producer credit for the first time, shaping the song’s sound alongside longtime collaborator Louise Burns (Hotel Mira, Haley Blais). The partnership has proven fruitful, striking a balance between intricate sonic layering and emotional immediacy. Together, they build a world where heartbreak shimmers, where yearning gets a four-on-the-floor beat, and where identity becomes inseparable from artistry.

Matías Roden’s global background adds another layer of depth to the track’s eclectic feel. Born in the UK, raised in Peru, and now rooted in Vancouver, Roden approaches music with a cross-cultural sensibility that defies easy categorization. His songs weave together reggaeton pulses, breakbeat foundations, indie melodies, and glossy pop structures—each track a reflection of lived experience and expansive musical curiosity.

His 2024 debut EP The Plea introduced audiences to his genre-blurring vision, with lead single “Close Your Eyes” earning acclaim from CBC and fans across North and South America. The track’s accompanying music video—a cinematic exploration of queer intimacy—signaled Roden’s commitment to storytelling that’s both personal and visually arresting.

Now, with Please, he sharpens that vision. The single is not only a preview of his anticipated debut album, slated for release in late summer 2025, but also a declaration of creative independence. It’s Roden stepping fully into his sound, his story, and his stance on the dancefloor.

Whether you’ve nursed a heartbreak under disco lights or found yourself mid-plea in a crowded room, Please offers something rare: pop music that dares to be complicated, celebratory, and deeply human. It doesn’t ask for permission—it simply asks, does it please you to hear me plead? And then, it dares you to dance.