Tuesday 26 November 2013

Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: A Little Late November Update ...

Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: A Little Late November Update ...: Evening, Morning, Afternoon Folks, A quick fly by blog whilst I'm in the mood. Very productive times here at Henshaw Towers. Everyth...

Monday 18 November 2013

No Matter How (lyrics) - Matt Henshaw

Here we go again up the hills and around the bend
All the letters never sent from your loved ones and your friends

The misty morning takes you by surprise again
As you try to find the strength just to be yourself
The tears you cry falling out of love of love again
Well it all seems so surreal and you don't know how to feel but it's alright

No Matter How you live you life
No Matter How you spend your time
No Matter How

Here we go again wave goodbye to the light
All the books you've never read you could read all through the night

The misty morning takes you by surprise again
As you try to find the strength just to be yourself
The tears you cry falling out of love of love again
Well it all seems so surreal and you don't know how to feel but it's alright

No Matter How you live you life
No Matter How you spend your time
No Matter How

Here we go again up the hills and around the bend
All the letters never sent from your loved ones and your friends
Here we go again wave goodbye to the light
All the books you've never read you could read all through the night

The misty morning takes you by surprise again
As you try to find the strength just to be yourself
The tears you cry falling out of love of love again
Well it all seems so surreal and you don't know how to feel but it's alright

No Matter How you live you life
No Matter How you spend your time
No Matter How
No Matter How
No Matter How
No Matter How

Sunday 17 November 2013

Some ways to be perfect ...

Get some sleep.

Eat an orange every morning.

Be friendly. It will help make you happy.

Hope for everything. Expect nothing.

Take care of things close to home first. Straighten up your room
before you save the world. Then save the world.

Be nice to people before they have a chance to behave badly.

Don't stay angry about anything for more than a week, but don't
forget what made you angry. Hold your anger out at arm's length
and look at it, as if it were a glass ball. Then add it to your glass
ball collection.

Wear comfortable shoes.

Do not spend too much time with large groups of people.

Plan your day so you never have to rush.

Show your appreciation to people who do things for you, even if
you have paid them, even if they do favors you don't want.

After dinner, wash the dishes.

Calm down.

Don't expect your children to love you, so they can, if they want
to.

Don't be too self-critical or too self-congratulatory.

Don't think that progress exists. It doesn't.

Imagine what you would like to see happen, and then don't do
anything to make it impossible.

Forgive your country every once in a while. If that is not
possible, go to another one.

If you feel tired, rest.

Don't be depressed about growing older. It will make you feel
even older. Which is depressing.

Do one thing at a time.

If you burn your finger, put ice on it immediately. If you bang
your finger with a hammer, hold your hand in the air for 20
minutes. you will be surprised by the curative powers of ice and
gravity.

Do not inhale smoke.

Take a deep breath.

Do not smart off to a policeman.

Be good.

Be honest with yourself, diplomatic with others.

Do not go crazy a lot. It's a waste of time.

Drink plenty of water. When asked what you would like to
drink, say, "Water, please."

Take the rubbish out.

Love life.

Use exact change.

When there's shooting in the street, don't go near the window.

Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Recommends ... The Simpletones

Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Recommends ... The Simpletones: Something a little different for you this time around. Vocal harmonies, doo-wop and barbershop. My kind of sound for an evening out. Th...

Matt Henshaw talks to The Indie Project

NXLevel TV S02E01 featuring Matt Henshaw #voteMattHenshaw

Bands and artists I have played with ...

Snow Patrol, Supergrass, Sandie Thom, Athlete, Delays, Jessie J, Chase and Status, Dizzee Rascal, Bombay Bicycle Club, Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band, Secret Affair, Purple Hearts, Slim Chance, David Sneddon, Ocean Colour Scene, The Holloways, We Are Scientists, The Chapman Family, Jake Bugg, The Swiines, Arctic Monkeys, Dirty Pretty Things, Kasabian, Metro Riots, The Rifles, 65 day of static, Young Knives, Charlotte Carpenter, Leah Sinead, Liam Bailey, Mint Iv, Twisted Wheel, Siblings, House of Thieves, The Simpletones, Mia and the Moon, Matt Zara, Becky Edwards, One Suspicious Monkey, Orla Gartland, Leo Stannard, Dog Is Dead, Frontiers, Nick Power, The Yards, Chris Helme, Kaiser Chiefs, The Zutons, The Ordinary Boys, Neil's Children, The Horrors, The 5 O'Clock Heroes, Frank Turner, Louis XIV, Nic Armstrong & The Thieves, IV Thieves, 22-20s, Miles Kane, George Moran, The Crooks, The Bluetones, From The Jam, Smokin' The Profit, By The Rivers, Little Night Terrors, The Dandilions, The Displacements, Madness, The Specials, Ellie Goulding, George Moran, These Mortal Cities, Milburn, Bromhead's Jacket, Reverend & The Makers, Primal Scream, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Lady Sovereign, Goldie Lookin' Chain, AJA, Esther Van Leuven,

Monday 11 November 2013

Music in Leicester / Arts in Leicester Feature on Singer Songwriter Matt Henshaw

Singers and songwriters in Leicester

This page is about singers, solo artists and singer/songwriters in Leicester
On this page you will find links to artist profiles, news, links to latest releases and shows where you can see local singers.
10th October
Matt Henshaw
Matt Henshaw
Matt Henshaw at the Soundhouse
Matt Henshaw performs in Leicester – see his web site for gig dates.

Matt Henshaw Interview with Leicestershire Music

Matt Henshaw Interview

henshaw

Matt Henshaw Interview

To be honest I didn’t really know a lot about Matt Henshaw until recently and after listening to hisSoundcloud channel continuously for the past week, the words eclectic and eccentric come to mind and I genuinely find his style a refreshing change from what other similar singers are putting out at the moment.
Matt was the NME breakthrough act winner of 2010 and has featured in the Guardian as well as having a string of radio performances and continues to wow audiences with his extraordinary mix of B-Boy Soul and Rhythm n Blues.
If you have never heard his stuff then he is definitely worth a listen and if you have, enjoy the interview.
LMCan you describe yourself in three words?
MH: Lead with a tough one, I want to steer away from neurotic singer songwriter so I’ll go with kind quiet gardener. My two personalities.
LM: Where were you born?
MH: I was born in Nottingham shortly after the election of Maggie Thatcher to the highest office for a third time and Michael Jackson’s Bad was selling millions of copies.
LM: When did you come to Leicester?
MH: I’ve been back and forth for years now. Finally settled down just about now I think, hopefully my roaming tendencies don’t make me wander.
LM: Why did you come to Leicester?
MH: Originally to study, years ago. And then, weirdly, work, it was the only place I could get a job, then I got bored and had to find a creative outlet and everyone in the Leicester arts and music scene has been so warm and welcoming I’m glad I’m here and feel at home.
LM: How old where you when you began to express an interest in music?
MH: Well, there was an advert on tele with Deep Purple on it and I remember that had some affect on me, and Oasis’ first album went to number one on my seventh birthday I remember but I didn’t really take an interest in playing and singing until I had a football injury and realised that being the next Chris Waddle wasn’t going to happen.
LM: Where your parents supportive?
MH: Yeah, they had no previous interest in music or any experience of it, or even much in the way of money, but I think they recognised my passion for it so they’ve been as supportive as parents can be.
LM: How would you describe your music?
MH: I like to call it acoustic rhythm’n'gospel, but I don’t know if it’s anything that grandiose, just soulful heartfelt songs.
LM: Who are your musical influences?
MH: Mainly the old soul singers like Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye, but I’ve gotta say I probably get closer to Steve Marriott and Stevie Winwood. Which I don’t mind.
LM: What’s your favourite music genre/s?
MH: Soul music, but that’s not restricted to Stax and Tamla Motown, anything that has feeling and is well crafted.
LM: Do you remember your first ever gig?
MH: Not really gigs but I used to sing songs on buses if anyone wanted to listen. But then the first time me and my mate who played the drums got asked to play at his neighbors birthday party I got too shy and wouldn’t sing, so we played a few instrumentals!
LM: Do you have any music on release at the moment?
MH: If yes give all details about the release Nothing official, I’m working on loads of songs and I’m being quite patient trying to find the right avenue to take with the songs that are so personal and close to me. But if you search around, I’ve pad my dues, and you could find something to buy or watch that would help fund my Yorkshire Tea habit.
LM: What are your plans for next year as far as your music goes?
MH: Keep going, pay the bills and keep petrol in the car, spread the word as much as possible in Leicester and around the country and then do a proper release when I’ve sorted out the logistics and gathered what cold soulless business I believe called “critical mass”.
LM: What are you currently listening to in the car?
MH: Traffic, the band I mean, not just rolling the window down and enjoying the sounds of the streets.
LM: What will your next music purchase or download be?
MH: I’ve no idea, I always feel like I own or have listened to all the music I’ll ever need to hear, and I’m in one of those phases at the minute but something always comes along that’s worth a go. Probably Charlotte Carpenter’s next EP though come to think of it.
LM: Finally, Christmas turkey or Christmas crackers?
MH: Not really sure, I like the excitement of crackers, but it’s always short lived and not really much use unless you need a miniature screwdriver set or a pack of playing cards too small to ever actually have a game of rummy with. And food is always welcome, dinner is usually the best part of Christmas day, it’s a bit of a family tradition of ours that we always listen to Glenn Miller, I have no idea why, but it’s the nicest part of the day when everyone’s together and happily eating away.
LM: Matt, can i just thank you for taking the time out to answer my questions today.
MH: No Problem at all.
You can here one of Matt’s personal favorites ‘It Ain’t Easy’ below or visit his You Tube channel.

Matt Henshaw Interview with The Ripple University of Leicester Newspaper

The Ripple Interviews Ex Leicester Student Matt Henshaw
October 31, 2013 by Culture Editor 1 Comment
26 year old, Matt Henshaw, talks “tea and tealights” after his acoustic set at Curve.
How long have you been playing for?

Well, I’ve been playing since I was a kid. Before I came to the University of Leicester I was in a band with a record deal but going to uni was an attempt for me to distance myself from that sort of life. I’m not certain if it’s recession or lack of jobs but that kind of thing inspires my creativity and a need to do something off of my own back. I’ve realised that ultimately, this might make me happy, and that’s really all that I can ask for.
So, have you only just come back to playing music or did you play during your time at university?

I fell out of love with playing the guitar so I just did vocals with hip hop groups and soul bands. A lot of the songs that I write are about falling in and out of love with things, and whilst it’s easier to sing about falling out of love with people, it’s not always the case. Now it seems that I’m falling back in love with playing the guitar and writing songs.
Have you listened to any of the local bands? What do you think of the Leicester music scene?
I decided to be a singer/ song writer this July and since then, I’ve met a lot of great people and a lot of great bands. For me, watching a gig with a cup of tea in a room full of tealights is the best kind of experience. It’s quite a warm scene, I’ve found, and everybody is friendly.

Your band, Satsuma Elephants, are they still touring?
When I decided to get back into playing music, I asked a friend of mine, who plays drums, to come and jam with me for a bit. Another guy that I know filmed a 45 second clip of us playing, and once it was uploaded onto YouTube, we got a few requests to play some gigs. It’s not something that we’ve put much work into but the rewards that we’re reaping have been fantastic. Unfortunately, the drummer is also a rather dedicated accountant so I don’t know if we’ll be continuing with the band.

What is your view of popular music at the moment?
I think that the music industry, the charts, and televised competitions are completely against what music is about. What’s quite sad is that as much as I love playing and performing on stage, the majority of the time, I’m looking for money in it. The difficulty comes in trying to do that without selling my soul. I got a phone call from somebody from The Voice asking me to participate in the show but I just couldn’t do it. I don’t feel as though I could be honest and that would affect my music.
As much as you want people to hear your music, are you alright with people listening to it for free online?
Apart from a vocal minority who have the backing of the industry, I think that most artists would be happy for the public to be sharing and enjoying their work. Hopefully, listening to the music will initiate people to come out to live gigs which is where an artist should be at their best.

What’s next for you?
I’m going to be putting some stuff together for a record and then finding the right people to back it. The only problem that I’ve been having is just the boring stuff: getting the pocket change together and licensing. That kind of thing.

Some Tealights with Matt information was passed around during the performance and they’re quite a fitting vehicle to represent the kind of music that he plays. The music is understated and works well in a warm, intimate atmosphere. The only problem with Matts work is how safe it is. The songs are well performed but the lyrics can be a little prosaic and one or two songs lack that something extra to elevate them creatively. Thankfully, Matt Henshaw’s personality comes across in his music and this, in itself, makes him worth a listen. It won’t necessarily change your life, but Matts music is fine when you just want something simplistic.
If you want to see Matt Henshaw live, he’s playing at the Charlotte Carpenters Tea Party gig at the cookie jar on the 29th November. He also has two webpages with some of his solo music and some of his work with the Satsuma Elephants.

http://www.matthenshaw.com/
http://www.satsumaelephants.com/
by Theo Beecroft

Wednesday 6 November 2013

Tuesday 5 November 2013