aaamusic | On 12, Apr 2011

AAAMusic chatted with Matthew P about his music, travelling and piracy…

AAAMusic: Tell us a bit about yourself: when and why did you start composing music?

Matt P: I started writing songs when I was eleven years old. My dad had a guitar so would sit for hours in front of a Beatles songbook learning chord shapes and songs. I would spend most days in the kitchen writing songs or if mum was there then I would move into the garden as my singing would drive her crazy. My brother inspired me greatly as he was a gifted pianist who played from the heart. I would watch and listen to him and I think maybe that, along with my parents encouragement (not pushiness), and living in the middle of nowhere in Suffolk gave me a good start in songwriting.

AAAMusic:Do you think folk music is what best suits your story telling?

Matt P: I love folk music and wish I knew a little more of the traditional songs. I am a big fan of Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake, Bert Jansch, Paul Simon etc. My sound definitely has a big folk influence but I feel there is a lot more in its spectrum. I do love to write in a folk style as I feel it lends itself to lyrics and storytelling but I think its important not to be to clinical when your creating.

AAAMusic:Who inspires you?

Matt P: Musicians such as Joni Mitchell and Paul Simon inspire me but so much else inspires me.It can be good and bad. Conflict always inspires me to think of solutions in a positive way as do the tough times in everyday life. I just ran Brighton marathon and there were so many people there who were inspiring. Everybody who got out of bed and had a go made me feel strong it was like a pilgrimage but with no real ending it was the whole journey that made it amazing. I find the fact that everything is always changing really inspiring. That bad times will pass and that the good times should be seized and treasured.

AAAMusic:On your logo there’s a seagull: did you choose it and why?

Matt P: The seagull represents my love of the sea. They are always where the land meets the sea and that’s where I feel most at home. I live a few miles from the sea in Suffolk and it makes me very content to be able to go fishing, surfing, swimming or just walking my dog. I spend a fair bit of time in Cornwall when I can as it has everything I could ever want from a place and all just there. It’s a gift.

AAAMusic:I read you’ve been to Bali recently: “I am…in Bali.Its my last day in this paradise.When i say paradise I mean it in the true sense of the word being peaceful, harmonious and timeless”..do you think it’s possible to get a piece of paradise amongst the confusion of everyday life?

Matt P: It depends on your definition of paradise. I think paradise is people. The best memories of my life come from time I have spent with loved ones or good friends. As long as you have good people around you I think you have a form of paradise. There are times when I have been in the most picturesque places you could imagine but I didn’t feel anything and it didn’t mean anything because I wasn’t sharing it.

AAAMusic:I assume you like travelling. How much does this influence your writing?

Matt P: I like to travel and see things but not to much.I love to go to Indonesia and surf with friends there or go on trips with friends to places where we can surf and eat well and play music and be simple. I am a great believer in community as I feel this should be an extension of family so going to my local beach and bumping into someone for a pint of Adnams can turn into an inspiring moment simply through talking rubbish. I try to see things that might otherwise pass me by wherever I am. Even if this doesn’t lead to a song its always rewarding.

AAAMusic:The Breakfast song is a free download. What price do you think music should have?

Matt P: I don’t know.Something more than nothing.

AAAMusic: What are your views on piracy?

Matt P: Ha ha.difficult question. Buying music used to be an event, an act of investment, a process of growing with something believing in it and then walking into the shop to buy it. I feel it was more exciting back then and because there was more money in the business then bands could develop. Now they don’t have a chance. It’s really really really tough for bands that are signing record deals now as they have one shot and hardly any money to do it with. Also record companies don’t want to take risks as everyone feels their jobs are hanging by a thread so we don’t have as much of a variety of music in the commercial world as we maybe once did. I believe things will change legally and we will look back on this as a time similar to the wild west but only with the internet.

I have another new track “Medicine”, just coming out free again and there’s more to come really soon. I have just finished a new video featuring a go-kart and many locations so look out for that. I am playing various gigs and festivals over the summer (Cambridge folk fest, Secret garden party, Playfest etc) so look out for those on my Facebook page. It’s gonna be a busy fun summer.

Listen to Medicine here:
Matthew P – Medicine by matthewpmusic