Thursday, 26 December 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Recommends ... The Bobcats
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Recommends ... The Bobcats: Seeing as we're having a bluesy Christmastime my next recommendation is for the blues explosion that is The Bobcats. Rural raucous c...
Sunday, 22 December 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Tippy The Cat ...
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Tippy The Cat ...: With his growing fanbase on Facebook and Twitter , in recent interview I was asked how I would if my cat became more famous than me?? Well...
Saturday, 21 December 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Savanna Bones
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Savanna Bones: Sorry I've been overdue a recommendation for a little short while now, so here' we go with some noisy rockin' cataclysmic dirt...
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Merry Christmas from Matt Henshaw (newsletter)
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Merry Christmas from Matt Henshaw (newsletter): Good morning, Good evening and Good afternoon ! Well, I've had a busy few months, I hope you have too, working on things to better you...
Monday, 16 December 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: MERRY ROCKIN' CHRISTMAS - In The Presence Of The L...
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: MERRY ROCKIN' CHRISTMAS - In The Presence Of The L...: Here's a little song I wrote ... Merry Christmas ! Matt Henshaw 'In The Presence Of The Lord' Recorded, Produced, Mixed ...
Matt Henshaw Interview with Jeremy Chick of Subba-Culture
Published on December 6th, 2013
We speak to the up ‘n coming Singer-Songwriter about his past and what his future might entail…
This soul-loving, tea-drinking gardener is a singer/songwriter of some repute from Ilkeston, between Nottingham and Derby, who is now living in Leicester and taking the local music scene there by storm. His penchant for acoustic sets and original songs showcases his love of guitar and vocal – based soul & blues, demonstrating his influences of Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Steve Marriott and Sam Cooke, and earning him the description of ‘an old soul in a young body’. He has named his unique sound Acoustic Rhythm and Gospel, creating a new music genre and inspiring his audiences to follow the man and his music. Widely respected by his peers and well known to the gig-going audiences in the Midlands, he is now travelling the length and breadth of the UK looking to broaden his appeal, continue the journey that has taken him this far, make his mark on the national music scene, and see where the ride takes him. Questions answered by the man himself, Matt Henshaw…
When and how did you get started?
Mid-2013 I’d be knocking around in bands and making music on and off since I finished school, had my ups and downs as we all do and I thought why not just go out and start playing some of these introspective songs that only my bedroom and living room walls have heard out in public, and people seem to like it so I’m happy.
What have you been up to recently? Any plans for the near future?
Just writing and recording and getting myself out there as Matt Henshaw, solo, singer/songwriter. It’s a lonely business sometimes and you always have your back against the wall but when it’s just me, myelf and I, you’ve only yourself to rely on to pick yourself up and keep yourself grounded so I like it. As for the future, we’ll see what comes, what will be, will be.
How did your sound evolve… did you have a clear idea of what you wanted to do from the beginning?
So organic, I’ve been in bands playing indie guitar music, blues, soul, funk, electronic stuff and hip-hop, and I forced myself almost to listen to a lot of esoteric stuff, but when I sit and write an inspiration hits me I always go back to something closer to home, I don’t think I’ll ever stray too far from the soul and a catchy chorus.
What can you remember of your first gigs, and what have you learned about approaching live shows since?
My first gigs are all blurry, I used to sing on buses if there was a microphone and at friend’s parties, I did Return to Sender by Elvis once at a mate’s 5th or 6th birthday party, very moving for the parents, I think everyone else was into their jelly and ice cream, I was always a little rock’n’roller and my music taste far advanced for my age.
Do you have any tips for working with promoters?
They’re all human, the same with sound engineers, record label people and anyone in the business, they’ll represent you how you represent yourself, the only tip I can give is to be natural, and try not to be a nuisance, it’ll only come back on yourself. Put the work in and they’ll put the work in for you, and if they don’t, it doesn’t matter because you put the work in yourself, and you’ll know not to bother with them in the future.
What do you consider to be your best 3 songs, and tell us the inspiration behind them?
I’m really enjoying playing one called ‘Stop Me Girl’ at the moment, it’s one I’ve been polishing up for ages, I used to sort of spar with an old mate at school, we’d always come up with song ideas then come in the next day and say “I’ve been working on this one, etc.” and it was a kind of friendly competition, this is sort of my ultimate soul ballad, falling so in love you can’t comprehend what you’re doing and lose control of all your senses and functions. ‘It Ain’t Easy’ is another favourite, it fell out of me late one night, I love it when that happens, it’s about having your life changed irrevocably by something or someone or an event and you know, for better or for worse, your life will never be the same again. And ‘My Life’ always gets a lot of praise, it’s not a love song and it’s a bit darker, always one for winning over the “chin strokers”, they won’t go ballistic when you’re playing on stage and singing but they’ll always come up to you after a show and say “well played mate, loved that one song about your life”.
Describe to us the process behind writing your music?
I write songs like you need the bathroom, sometimes nature calls and you just have to get it out there. Maybe it’s not as functional as that, more spiritual, a cathartic exercise, but saying that I’ve had a lot of good trips to the toilet.
How would you describe your own sound, or what do you hate being labelled as?
Soulful, heartfelt, someone told me recently I “stunk of musician”, I can only gather this to be a good thing as it can’t be Jack Daniels’ and body odour as I stopped drinking over five years ago and my personal hygiene has gone from strength to strength. I don’t know what I “hate” being labelled as, maybe I’ve not been doing it long enough to be labelled as anything in particular yet, but it is funny that originally being from Nottingham interviewers and radio jockeys always ask me about Jake Bugg, which I don’t mind, like I said, it’s funny, Jake’s a lovely soul, but all we share is geography and some of the same taste, I’m certainly not a Notts County fan.
What are your key influences (musical or otherwise)?
Whilst we’re on football I suppose being a Sheffield Wednesday fan has a huge effect on my mood, they can switch a song from a major chord to a minor chord in a matter of 90 minutes. Everything can be an influence, I write down all the things I like in a little blue and white notepad just to remind me there are nice things in the world. And musically, anything with soul.
Do new acts really need record labels anymore?
Not really. It just depends what works for each individual.
Many artists seem to be quite forward thinking when it comes to self promotion, what with the modern phenomenon of blogging, twitter, online releases etc. Do you think it’s important these days for bands to feel less segregated from their fan-base? What do you do to remain connected with them?
I’m always blogging and tweeting and doing all that stuff. Very approachable me. Drop me a line anytime, positive or negative feedback, I’ll always get back to you.
So far, what have you found helpful in getting noticed, and gaining fans?
Playing live is my bread and butter so I love that and always make new friends and fans out on the road, but the internet, wow, the internet. It’s huge, it’s a great democratiser and I know that people all around the world have listened to my tunes and read my beat poetry. That’s very cool.
Are there any online resource or sites you’ve found useful in promoting your band? How useful do you find Facebook and Twitter?
It’s all good. I was uneasy about it before but a mate of mine in another band said “they’re just vessels”, so if you just treat them as such you can make them work in your favour. I am enjoying YouTube at the minute, but just putting songs on there with minimal visual stimulus, getting positive reactions to my music is so heart-warming. And I love blogging, a music industry “insider” told me not so long ago that “blogging is dead” but I think I’d do it anyway if no-one read it, I love waffling on, as I’m sure you can tell.
Do you have management at present? If so, how has that changed things for you?
I’m looking after myself at the minute, I’ve had a few offers and worked with various people in the past, like I said earlier, all these people are just humans, you still have to work hard yourself, it’s all about finding different ways to connect with people, and the right people, that’s the most important thing.
What’s your favourite piece of gear, when it comes to live shows?
Would it be too twee to say my vocal chords? It’s just me and my guitar at the minute, and I’ve never had that kind of a adolescent fantasy feeling going for a piece of wood, as long as it’s in tune and I can get my words out I’m happy.
Check out his Music here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Or via Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/
Thursday, 5 December 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: FOOD MATTERS ... Stream & Watch for Free for 5 mor...
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: FOOD MATTERS ... Stream & Watch for Free for 5 mor...: Top of the morning to you, I've been planning on sharing a few things that I like, advocate or agree with on the world wide web for so...
Monday, 2 December 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Matt Zara
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Matt Zara: Recommending again, this time an absolutely sensational guitarist, who at a such a young age wasn't born when John Major was prime min...
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Anti-Tesco Activism, Protest Poetry & more ...
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Anti-Tesco Activism, Protest Poetry & more ...: Hello, As some of you may or may not know, I'm a bit of a idealistic type who believes that an egalitarian socialist humanist paradise...
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
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.
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...
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,
Wednesday, 13 November 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Charlotte Carpenter
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Charlotte Carpenter: So, here we go again , another ready made starlet from the East Midlands for you. Coming straight out of Northants and Live in Leicester ...
Tuesday, 12 November 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Radio Sessions Listen Again & Sheffield this week ...
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Radio Sessions Listen Again & Sheffield this week ...: Good morning, good afternoon, good evening and good night, Thanks for sticking with me, I've been busy this last month or so popping i...
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 at the Soundhouse
Matt Henshaw performs in Leicester – see his web site for gig dates.
Matt Henshaw Interview with Leicestershire Music
Matt Henshaw Interview
Matt Henshaw Interview
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.
LM: Can 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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.
MH: No Problem at all.
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
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
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Leah Sinead
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Leah Sinead: Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to draw your attention to Leah Sinead . The above picture is taken from her set a week ago or so at T...
Tuesday, 5 November 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Recommends ...
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Recommends ...: Monday Morning here again, Good day folks, here's my plan for another feature on this here Matt Henshaw blog - Matt Henshaw Recommends...
Thursday, 31 October 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Biography 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Biography 2013: Matt Henshaw’s biography is already complex at the age of 26, which gives his song-writing a depth and maturity that could only have come...
Matt Henshaw biography 2013
Matt Henshaw’s biography is already complex at the age of 26, which gives his song-writing a
depth and maturity that could only have come with experience; suffering for his art and travelling a journey that has shaped and honed his skills – and it shows. Having paid his dues, he is still on his way up…and the best is yet to come.
This soul-loving, tea-drinking gardener is a singer/songwriter of some repute from Ilkeston, between Nottingham and Derby, who is now living in Leicester and taking the local music scene there by storm. His penchant for acoustic sets and original songs showcases his love of guitar and vocal – based soul & blues, demonstrating his influences of Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Steve Marriott and Sam Cooke, and earning him the description of ‘an old soul in a young body’. He has named his unique sound Acoustic Rhythm and Gospel, creating a new music genre and inspiring his audiences to follow the man and his music. Widely respected by his peers and well known to the gig-going audiences in the Midlands, he is now travelling the length and breadth of the UK looking to broaden his appeal, continue the journey that has taken him this far, make his mark on the national music scene, and see where the ride takes him.
His recent decision to perform as a solo artist, stripping back his unique sound to just an acoustic guitar and his superbly mellifluous voice, has already generated much interest and he can be found most evenings on a stage doing what he was born to do, guitar in hand, working his particular brand of magic; his beautiful soulful voice and ethereal guitar weaving a spell over a gathering with self-penned songs so resonant with emotion and meaning they would cause an angel to weep, leaving his audience spellbound and wanting more. This rapidly growing interest has strengthened his resolve to make himself prominent on the UK music scene, and his web-based activities on popular social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter growing his following to promote himself and his music are now paying dividends, with fans across the globe wanting more.
His superlative voice and stage presence has already won him critical acclaim from respected publications such as the NME and The Guardian; he has been featured on BBC Introducing numerous times, appears regularly on independent radio stations throughout the Midlands, and opened the main stage for Dizzy Rascal at Lovebox Festival in London after winning the NME Breakthrough Act in 2010. He was previously a founder member of Censored, a band who garnered much critical acclaim and fame throughout the Midlands, and who supported Snow Patrol, Ocean Colour Scene and We Are Scientists, also playing the Isle Of Wight & Reading and Leeds Festivals. More recently, he has collaborated with numerous artists in and around his home patch to create a unique sound with the Derby-based MC Reggiimental, which has been dubbed B-Boy Soul and which generated the widely-acclaimed album ‘Coming Around’- the most under-rated album release of this year. He has also teamed up with a former bandmate, under the name of Satsuma Elephants, to generate psychedelic rock with soulful undertones; an eclectic mix which demonstrates how successfully he can slip from genre to genre, and even create new ones, without losing integrity and which showcases his appeal to his many appreciative fans.
depth and maturity that could only have come with experience; suffering for his art and travelling a journey that has shaped and honed his skills – and it shows. Having paid his dues, he is still on his way up…and the best is yet to come.
This soul-loving, tea-drinking gardener is a singer/songwriter of some repute from Ilkeston, between Nottingham and Derby, who is now living in Leicester and taking the local music scene there by storm. His penchant for acoustic sets and original songs showcases his love of guitar and vocal – based soul & blues, demonstrating his influences of Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Steve Marriott and Sam Cooke, and earning him the description of ‘an old soul in a young body’. He has named his unique sound Acoustic Rhythm and Gospel, creating a new music genre and inspiring his audiences to follow the man and his music. Widely respected by his peers and well known to the gig-going audiences in the Midlands, he is now travelling the length and breadth of the UK looking to broaden his appeal, continue the journey that has taken him this far, make his mark on the national music scene, and see where the ride takes him.
His recent decision to perform as a solo artist, stripping back his unique sound to just an acoustic guitar and his superbly mellifluous voice, has already generated much interest and he can be found most evenings on a stage doing what he was born to do, guitar in hand, working his particular brand of magic; his beautiful soulful voice and ethereal guitar weaving a spell over a gathering with self-penned songs so resonant with emotion and meaning they would cause an angel to weep, leaving his audience spellbound and wanting more. This rapidly growing interest has strengthened his resolve to make himself prominent on the UK music scene, and his web-based activities on popular social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter growing his following to promote himself and his music are now paying dividends, with fans across the globe wanting more.
His superlative voice and stage presence has already won him critical acclaim from respected publications such as the NME and The Guardian; he has been featured on BBC Introducing numerous times, appears regularly on independent radio stations throughout the Midlands, and opened the main stage for Dizzy Rascal at Lovebox Festival in London after winning the NME Breakthrough Act in 2010. He was previously a founder member of Censored, a band who garnered much critical acclaim and fame throughout the Midlands, and who supported Snow Patrol, Ocean Colour Scene and We Are Scientists, also playing the Isle Of Wight & Reading and Leeds Festivals. More recently, he has collaborated with numerous artists in and around his home patch to create a unique sound with the Derby-based MC Reggiimental, which has been dubbed B-Boy Soul and which generated the widely-acclaimed album ‘Coming Around’- the most under-rated album release of this year. He has also teamed up with a former bandmate, under the name of Satsuma Elephants, to generate psychedelic rock with soulful undertones; an eclectic mix which demonstrates how successfully he can slip from genre to genre, and even create new ones, without losing integrity and which showcases his appeal to his many appreciative fans.
Matt Henshaw Biography 2010-2012
Matt Henshaw, singer-songwriter originally from Nottingham, has been in previous musical incarnations such as the band Censored, when at the tender age of 17, played Leeds, Reading and Isle Of Wight festivals, receiving substantial amount of radio airplay and supporting the likes of Snow Patrol, We Are Scientists, Supergrass, Ocean Colour Scene, Arctic Monkeys, The Bluetones and The Holloways. In true rock'n'roll style, exasperated by years of alcohol dependency, band in-fighting, struggles against the confines of unimaginative industry labelling, and the bitter dissolution of several personal relationships, he decided to go away. He spent two years where he didn't touch a guitar or sing a note, instead he wrote a novel and a series of short stories, started gardening, quit alcohol and decided to study film at university with no aspirations to sing again.
* * * * *
Come Easter 2010, when he collaborated with underground UK hip-hop artist ReggiiMental almost by accident producing a full blown album named 'The Deepest Cellar' in May of 2010. The duo were then asked to play Lovebox by the NME in July and the press began making comparisons to Mike Skinner (The Streets), Mark Ronson and Jamie T . However Henshaw had a cheeky penchant for describing it as “hip-hop the new sound of Mod ... B-Boy Soul”.
* * * * *
With contemporary popular artists such as Plan B and Janelle Monae adopting a similar aesthetic of mixing modern hip hop with classic soul stylings, Henshaw’s sound found itself at the forefront of a possible new genre, one he and Reggiimental christened with the moniker B-Boy Soul. With both artists being reputable names in their respective music scenes, the album quickly circulated amongst friends and peers and was picked up in the underground UK hip hop press within weeks and bigger publications shortly thereafter. In fact, NME selected Matt and four other bands over thousands of artists to compete in a public vote via their NME Breakthrough community. And thus, within two months of beginning to sing again, Matt was voted by NME readers to open the main stage at London’s Lovebox festival.
* * * * *
Now an album and a couple of B-Boy Soul EPs, and a retreat of over a year to capture a bachelor’s degree in Film and Visual Arts later, Henshaw returns to do several dates over the summer/fall of his own material somewhere in between and akin to Paul Weller, Ryan Adams and Marvin Gaye, whilst recording his solo album due out sometime in 2013.
* * * * *
Come Easter 2010, when he collaborated with underground UK hip-hop artist ReggiiMental almost by accident producing a full blown album named 'The Deepest Cellar' in May of 2010. The duo were then asked to play Lovebox by the NME in July and the press began making comparisons to Mike Skinner (The Streets), Mark Ronson and Jamie T . However Henshaw had a cheeky penchant for describing it as “hip-hop the new sound of Mod ... B-Boy Soul”.
* * * * *
With contemporary popular artists such as Plan B and Janelle Monae adopting a similar aesthetic of mixing modern hip hop with classic soul stylings, Henshaw’s sound found itself at the forefront of a possible new genre, one he and Reggiimental christened with the moniker B-Boy Soul. With both artists being reputable names in their respective music scenes, the album quickly circulated amongst friends and peers and was picked up in the underground UK hip hop press within weeks and bigger publications shortly thereafter. In fact, NME selected Matt and four other bands over thousands of artists to compete in a public vote via their NME Breakthrough community. And thus, within two months of beginning to sing again, Matt was voted by NME readers to open the main stage at London’s Lovebox festival.
* * * * *
Now an album and a couple of B-Boy Soul EPs, and a retreat of over a year to capture a bachelor’s degree in Film and Visual Arts later, Henshaw returns to do several dates over the summer/fall of his own material somewhere in between and akin to Paul Weller, Ryan Adams and Marvin Gaye, whilst recording his solo album due out sometime in 2013.
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Interview with the Leicestershire Mus...
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Interview with the Leicestershire Mus...: Good day fine lurkers of the cyber web, I've another link for you boys and girls, this time I've been interviewed by the Leicester...
Monday, 28 October 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: An Open Letter to Sheffield Wednesay FC & Sheffiel...
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: An Open Letter to Sheffield Wednesay FC & Sheffiel...: Now, I don't usually do this but this evening I found myself embroiled in a debate on a Sheffield Wednesday fans' forum, as a short-...
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw featured on The Leicester Music Podca...
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw featured on The Leicester Music Podca...: Already the most listened to Leicester Music Podcast with the BBC's John Sinclair and featuring your very own new guy in town Matt Hen...
Sunday, 27 October 2013
Thursday, 24 October 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Play The Game - Matt Henshaw (newsletter)
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Play The Game - Matt Henshaw (newsletter): So, this is what we're doing. Playing the game. Whilst I'm slowly coming to terms with being a solo singer-songwriter and looking ...
Wednesday, 23 October 2013
Play The Game - Matt Henshaw Pop Trivia
Matt Henshaw 'Play The Game'
Recorded, Produced, Mixed & Mastered by Tristan Ivemy.
Recorded at Miloco Islington, Metropolis and Battery Studios, London, England, United Kingdom.
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar & Slide Guitar by Matt Henshaw.
Bass & Backing Vocals by Christopher Owen.
Drums, Percussion & Backing Vocals by Chris Goring.
Piano, String & Woodwind Arrangements by Tristan Ivemy.
Pop Trivia ...
The song is about Nottingham.
The songwriter was born there, but now lives in Leicester.
The theme of the third verse is globalisation, particularly Western, American Capitalist Culture's subtle dominance of the rest of the world.
The slide guitar used in the intro was played on a vintage Fender Telecaster borrowed from Mark Ronson.
The microphones used as overheads on the drum kit at Metropolis Studios were original used as vocal mics in Abbey Road in the 1960s, notably by Sir Paul McCartney doing takes for the classic ballad 'Golden Slumbers'.
The mixing desk at Battery Studios was handled and had it's nobs twiddled in the past by legendary producers such as George Martin, Glyn Johns and Chris Thomas, and was used in the mixing of Pink Floyd's classic seminal album Dark Side of the Moon.
Tristan Ivemy now works out of The Church Studios, Crouch End, London, original an old church bought by Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics in the 1980s now owned by White Ladder, Babylon, Please Forgive Me singer songwriter David Gray.
Recorded, Produced, Mixed & Mastered by Tristan Ivemy.
Recorded at Miloco Islington, Metropolis and Battery Studios, London, England, United Kingdom.
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar & Slide Guitar by Matt Henshaw.
Bass & Backing Vocals by Christopher Owen.
Drums, Percussion & Backing Vocals by Chris Goring.
Piano, String & Woodwind Arrangements by Tristan Ivemy.
Pop Trivia ...
The song is about Nottingham.
The songwriter was born there, but now lives in Leicester.
The theme of the third verse is globalisation, particularly Western, American Capitalist Culture's subtle dominance of the rest of the world.
The slide guitar used in the intro was played on a vintage Fender Telecaster borrowed from Mark Ronson.
The microphones used as overheads on the drum kit at Metropolis Studios were original used as vocal mics in Abbey Road in the 1960s, notably by Sir Paul McCartney doing takes for the classic ballad 'Golden Slumbers'.
The mixing desk at Battery Studios was handled and had it's nobs twiddled in the past by legendary producers such as George Martin, Glyn Johns and Chris Thomas, and was used in the mixing of Pink Floyd's classic seminal album Dark Side of the Moon.
Tristan Ivemy now works out of The Church Studios, Crouch End, London, original an old church bought by Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics in the 1980s now owned by White Ladder, Babylon, Please Forgive Me singer songwriter David Gray.
Play The Game - Matt Henshaw Track Details ...
Matt Henshaw 'Play The Game'
Recorded, Produced, Mixed & Mastered by Tristan Ivemy.
Recorded at Miloco Islington, Metropolis and Battery Studios, London, England, United Kingdom.
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar & Slide Guitar by Matt Henshaw.
Bass & Backing Vocals by Christopher Owen.
Drums, Percussion & Backing Vocals by Chris Goring.
Piano, String & Woodwind Arrangements by Tristan Ivemy.
Recorded, Produced, Mixed & Mastered by Tristan Ivemy.
Recorded at Miloco Islington, Metropolis and Battery Studios, London, England, United Kingdom.
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar & Slide Guitar by Matt Henshaw.
Bass & Backing Vocals by Christopher Owen.
Drums, Percussion & Backing Vocals by Chris Goring.
Piano, String & Woodwind Arrangements by Tristan Ivemy.
Monday, 21 October 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Play The Game - Matt Henshaw
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Play The Game - Matt Henshaw: More to follow, MHx http://www.matthenshaw.com http://www.facebook.com/matthenshaw
Sunday, 20 October 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw @ The Oxjam Leicester Takeover 2013 ....
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw @ The Oxjam Leicester Takeover 2013 ....: Afternoon Tea to all, Yesterday I played three sets in total at three wonderful venues for Oxjam 2013 ... met loads of great people, made ...
Friday, 18 October 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: How To Compost - Henshaw's Horticultural Blog
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: How To Compost - Henshaw's Horticultural Blog: Keeping you in tune with my gardening, I've just done a bit of weeding, tended to my patch and relocated my Christmas tree ... but what ...
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: My Life - Matt Henshaw
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: My Life - Matt Henshaw: Alright there?! October 2013 , where does the time go? Now seems like an appropriate time to look back on a highly creative year, let yo...
Tuesday, 15 October 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Planting in your Autumn/Winter Garden & Vegetable ...
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Planting in your Autumn/Winter Garden & Vegetable ...: Here in the East Midlands it's been raining heavily for the last couple of days, I haven't had much chance to get out and do anythin...
Monday, 14 October 2013
Sunday, 13 October 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: In the Garden with Matt Henshaw - Henshaw's Hortic...
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: In the Garden with Matt Henshaw - Henshaw's Hortic...: It's been a long week. I've been threatening to write more blogs so here we go again, up the hill and around the bend. This week I...
Saturday, 12 October 2013
Friday, 11 October 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw on instagram !
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw on instagram !: Good Day, Rainy day here in the East Midlands. And as I feel like my blog is my much neglected favourite child I'm going to start wri...
Thursday, 10 October 2013
Tuesday, 8 October 2013
Thursday, 3 October 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Join Team Matt Henshaw !
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Join Team Matt Henshaw !: Around 1200 of you Like me on facebook , over two and a half thousand on twitter , and I'm pleased to have a good few thousand on my m...
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Wednesday, 7 August 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Y-Not Festival & solo shows ! + Birthday Reminder...
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Y-Not Festival & solo shows ! + Birthday Reminder...: Wow, what a busy weekend and days filled with new and familiar faces. Thanks everyone and anyone who makes these things possible. I'l...
Wednesday, 31 July 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: August ! One month 'till Birthday celebrations .....
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: August ! One month 'till Birthday celebrations .....: Apologies for the lack of blogs through July. Hopefully I can step it up a gear through August. I've been very busy of late, even to ...
Thursday, 25 July 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: My Birthday Party (Friday 6th September) ...
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: My Birthday Party (Friday 6th September) ...: Good evening blog dwellers, I'll make it quick to start the ball rolling on my birthday celebrations in which. And my apologies too, ...
Monday, 15 July 2013
Tuesday, 9 July 2013
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw's Acoustic Rhythm'n'Gospel Cavalcade ...
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw's Acoustic Rhythm'n'Gospel Cavalcade ...: Hola mi amigos, I've been a busy boy this week ... after I'd given myself the week off ... Never ! Playing acoustic shows in Lei...
Monday, 8 July 2013
The Fire Pit - EP
Here it is ... bringing the fire to the main stage and your bedroom !
Record features Matt Henshaw, ReggiiMental and Radio 1 and Mike Skinner's new favourite rapper Joey G-Zus (special guest - Track 5).
December 2008. Following the final show by indie/blues band Censored for a packed-to-the-rafters Nottingham crowd whose rallying cries for encores went unanswered, front man Matt Henshaw retreats into hibernation, away from the music business.
Over the space of a few months, Matt saw his life’s dream implode in an alcohol-fuelled, cliché-ridden mess of affairs. In short, it all went a bit Spinal Tap. And he wanted out.
So, exasperated by a year of alcohol dependency, band in-fighting, struggles against the confines of unimaginative industry labelling, and the bitter dissolution of several personal relationships, Matt decided to go away, not bothered about ever again picking up another guitar nor singing another note. And for over a year, he didn’t.
Easter 2010. Having switched his more rock’n’roll vices for the, decidedly not so, habits of drinking copious amounts of tea and garden-tending, a long-sober Matt falls in with UK hip-hop stalwart ReggiiMental. And, after sufficient prodding, ego stroking and jerk-chicken laced bribery, Matt resignedly agrees to do some vocals on a track for the Birmingham rapper’s upcoming album release. The two instantly bond over a love of Michael Keaton’s Batman and a passion for old-school soul, reggae and hip-hop. Then, within a shockingly short space of time, a burst dam let flow a wave of neglected creativity and the two emerge from the basement studio with a bundle of songs combining Reggii’s rapping with Matt’s blue-eyed soul and they dubbed it, The Deepest Cellar.
With both artists being names of some repute in their respective music scenes, the album quickly circulated amongst friends and peers and was picked up in the underground UK hip hop press within weeks and bigger publications shortly thereafter. In fact, NME selected Matt and four other bands over thousands of artists to compete in a public vote via their NME Breakthrough community. And thus, within two months of beginning to sing again, Matt was voted by NME readers to open the main stage at London’s Lovebox festival.
With artists such as Plan B and Janelle Monae adopting a similar aesthetic of mixing modern hip hop with classic soul stylings, Matt Henshaw’s sound has found itself on the forefront of a possible new genre, one he and Reggiimental have christened with the moniker B-Boy Soul. The Deepest Cellar is a prime example of such deft genre mixing and goes even further to incorporate reggae, northern soul, dub and dance influence and sampling into the tracks. The lyrics jump from the politically charged to the moral and uplifting, all supported by a myriad of guest rappers with Matt’s blue-eyed rock/soul timbres being the only constant.
Matt’s musical biography is already so fascinating, convoluted and beyond his years that, at only 22, his song-writing belies a depth and maturity that could only have come with experience and the completion of the full-circle journey that brings every artist into their own. And with a stockpile of material waiting to be plucked from the shelf, plus another album near completion already, Matt’s pop-potential still lays virtually untapped.
credits
released 03 April 2011
Matt Henshaw, ReggiiMental, Jimmy B-Boy, Joey G-Zus, Unfriendly Neighbours, RJ Rizzle ...
tags
tags: hip-hop pop r&b/soul reggae remix soul b-boy soul beats hip hop lyrical political rap soul trip hop vocal Leicester
Record features Matt Henshaw, ReggiiMental and Radio 1 and Mike Skinner's new favourite rapper Joey G-Zus (special guest - Track 5).
December 2008. Following the final show by indie/blues band Censored for a packed-to-the-rafters Nottingham crowd whose rallying cries for encores went unanswered, front man Matt Henshaw retreats into hibernation, away from the music business.
Over the space of a few months, Matt saw his life’s dream implode in an alcohol-fuelled, cliché-ridden mess of affairs. In short, it all went a bit Spinal Tap. And he wanted out.
So, exasperated by a year of alcohol dependency, band in-fighting, struggles against the confines of unimaginative industry labelling, and the bitter dissolution of several personal relationships, Matt decided to go away, not bothered about ever again picking up another guitar nor singing another note. And for over a year, he didn’t.
Easter 2010. Having switched his more rock’n’roll vices for the, decidedly not so, habits of drinking copious amounts of tea and garden-tending, a long-sober Matt falls in with UK hip-hop stalwart ReggiiMental. And, after sufficient prodding, ego stroking and jerk-chicken laced bribery, Matt resignedly agrees to do some vocals on a track for the Birmingham rapper’s upcoming album release. The two instantly bond over a love of Michael Keaton’s Batman and a passion for old-school soul, reggae and hip-hop. Then, within a shockingly short space of time, a burst dam let flow a wave of neglected creativity and the two emerge from the basement studio with a bundle of songs combining Reggii’s rapping with Matt’s blue-eyed soul and they dubbed it, The Deepest Cellar.
With both artists being names of some repute in their respective music scenes, the album quickly circulated amongst friends and peers and was picked up in the underground UK hip hop press within weeks and bigger publications shortly thereafter. In fact, NME selected Matt and four other bands over thousands of artists to compete in a public vote via their NME Breakthrough community. And thus, within two months of beginning to sing again, Matt was voted by NME readers to open the main stage at London’s Lovebox festival.
With artists such as Plan B and Janelle Monae adopting a similar aesthetic of mixing modern hip hop with classic soul stylings, Matt Henshaw’s sound has found itself on the forefront of a possible new genre, one he and Reggiimental have christened with the moniker B-Boy Soul. The Deepest Cellar is a prime example of such deft genre mixing and goes even further to incorporate reggae, northern soul, dub and dance influence and sampling into the tracks. The lyrics jump from the politically charged to the moral and uplifting, all supported by a myriad of guest rappers with Matt’s blue-eyed rock/soul timbres being the only constant.
Matt’s musical biography is already so fascinating, convoluted and beyond his years that, at only 22, his song-writing belies a depth and maturity that could only have come with experience and the completion of the full-circle journey that brings every artist into their own. And with a stockpile of material waiting to be plucked from the shelf, plus another album near completion already, Matt’s pop-potential still lays virtually untapped.
credits
released 03 April 2011
Matt Henshaw, ReggiiMental, Jimmy B-Boy, Joey G-Zus, Unfriendly Neighbours, RJ Rizzle ...
tags
tags: hip-hop pop r&b/soul reggae remix soul b-boy soul beats hip hop lyrical political rap soul trip hop vocal Leicester
The World's Gone Mad
I'm sure if you listen to this song, even once, you'll be able to work out what the lyrical content is about, so probably the funniest things about this song is the rave review it received from a Paris Hilton Fan Club. The video that I made in my flat late one night is a video collage, montage, or whatever you want to call it of pointless celebrities, explosions, news footage and ultra-violent computer games, hence, The World's Gone Mad. However, featured in the video, with instructions below the video on YouTube to 'REJECT FALSE ICONS', was Paris Hilton. It is hillarious that the meer sighting of one's idol by one so deluded can cause feelings of such jubilation that you are prepared to completely misread and misrepresent a song then The World certainly has Gone Mad. Especially when the celebrity in question is undoubtedly the most stupid, selfish, spoilt whore of them all, with an inherited fortune and a brain like an invisible sieve it beggars belief.
Anyways, this is Joey G-zus' best work. Some of my best vocals and Reggii dropping in sounds sweet as ever. Just listen and laugh, or cry, it's up to you. It's Just A Ride.
credits
from The Fire Pit - EP, released 03 April 2011
Anyways, this is Joey G-zus' best work. Some of my best vocals and Reggii dropping in sounds sweet as ever. Just listen and laugh, or cry, it's up to you. It's Just A Ride.
credits
from The Fire Pit - EP, released 03 April 2011
When I Close My Eyes
Possibly the most enjoyable song to perform live when it's just me, Reggii and a man on the ones and twos. Just an uptempo soul groove with some catchy lyrics. Not a lot more, not a lot less. A love song with the cheapest video you're ever likely to watch, I had just woke up and the song had possibly not been recorded more than a few days previous. Definitely worth downloading and learning the words to because I'll sing this live at any given opportunity!
credits
from The Fire Pit - EP, released 03 April 2011
credits
from The Fire Pit - EP, released 03 April 2011
Get Me Some
A nice number here. Very much dashed off, probably in the middle of the night, a forlorn love song with an uptempo disco-ish beat. Reggii very much enjoying himself. I'm rifling through the Oxford Book of Song Cliches and throwing in a reference to Stax Records' finest group Booker T. & the MGs which I must admit I do quite like the surprise and sound of. It's not often someone that specific gets namechecked in a pop song. Always good to perform live and catchy little bit of pop music, sheer pop music, not sure there's much of my stuff you could say that about.
Selected by 22 Records & ClubStar Records in Germany to feature on their compilation album 'Sunday in Bed Volume 5 - Sexy Sounds For Lazy Lovers' ... sexy sounds indeed. The compilation also featuring the likes of Eryka Baduh, Serge Gainsbourg, Frank Ocean and Toddla T reached #2 in the German dance & electronic chart, outselling David Guetta and pipping him to the second spot in that week's chart. A nice bit of love from Europe there.
It was just unfortunate that Jimmy missed the release and I was off in my own quarter life crisis when this was happening. It would have been nice to jump on a ferry with my "partner in crime" and entertain some northern Europeans, especially considering our growing fanbase in Germany and Poland. We love you all, all over the world. One day you will be funked up by us.
credits
from The Fire Pit - EP, released 03 April 2011
Selected by 22 Records & ClubStar Records in Germany to feature on their compilation album 'Sunday in Bed Volume 5 - Sexy Sounds For Lazy Lovers' ... sexy sounds indeed. The compilation also featuring the likes of Eryka Baduh, Serge Gainsbourg, Frank Ocean and Toddla T reached #2 in the German dance & electronic chart, outselling David Guetta and pipping him to the second spot in that week's chart. A nice bit of love from Europe there.
It was just unfortunate that Jimmy missed the release and I was off in my own quarter life crisis when this was happening. It would have been nice to jump on a ferry with my "partner in crime" and entertain some northern Europeans, especially considering our growing fanbase in Germany and Poland. We love you all, all over the world. One day you will be funked up by us.
credits
from The Fire Pit - EP, released 03 April 2011
Get Down
Following my favourite ever Matt Henshaw & ReggiiMental recording comes possibly my least favourite. A lazy bit of sampling from myself, I must admit, one or two bars of Spencer Davis Group essentially for vocal warm-ups and freestyling. Reggii took a shine to it anyways and put this one together. If you're not mistaken the title of thesong is definitely 'Get Down', I think you're reminded of those two words about 40 or 50 times through the piece.
Anyways, it's the most previewed and purchased Matt Henshaw song on Amazon.co.uk. There must be something there. Sutten Catchy features on this one too, a character in himself, and I really don't know what more I can say about this one, except, Get Down.
credits
from The Fire Pit - EP, released 03 April 2011
Anyways, it's the most previewed and purchased Matt Henshaw song on Amazon.co.uk. There must be something there. Sutten Catchy features on this one too, a character in himself, and I really don't know what more I can say about this one, except, Get Down.
credits
from The Fire Pit - EP, released 03 April 2011
The Fire Pit
Trip Hop quasi Jazz from the B-Boy Soul duo Matt Henshaw and ReggiiMental coming at you in 2011 on a whole 'nother flex ! You ain't seen nothin' yet ... b-b-b-baby ... you just ain't seen it ...
Hands down my favourite B-Boy Soul song. It is unfortunate that it's possibly the least commericially viable tune we've ever done. The whole idea of The Fire Pit was to record a second album as a follow up to The Deepest Cellar, a collection of darker, more esoteric songs that reflected the socio-political zeitgeist, Jimmy's upcoming court appearance and my own personal battles post-Censored and pre-The Deepest Cellar. We did indeed record a whole album, you never know, you might get to hear it in it's entirety one day. But we abandoned it due to pressures from all over the place.
What emerged in February, March or April of 2011 was The Fire Pit - EP. I can't even remember when or why it came out. A collection of 5 demos essentially. There were untold mix-ups. Everyone was everywhere and no-one was really steering the ship. The tracklist was finalised at the last minute featuring 3 very soulful demos, the title track and possibly Joey G-Zus' best piece of work, still a rough recording though. It makes for surprisingly pleasing listening all things considered but it could and should have been a bigger step musically and artistically following the Can't Hold Back EP.
The artwork was changed multiple times and at the last minute a picture of me and Reggii sitting in a KFC in Nottingham Hill before a show with Jessie J at the tail end of 2010 was chosen and flipped on the back cover with the tracklisting, song titles still only working titles. With pressure and mistakes from a PR company a sizeable amount of blank CDs with the worng artwork went out to a few hundred DJs, producers and magazines accross the UK, which I'm sure didn't go down too well.
But, the music, what canI tell you? The title track, The Fire Pit, is a hip-hop, jazz-soul fusion piece with hints of psychedelia and scat singing. Jimmy producing 16 bars of some of his best prose and I was experimenting with layers of vocals that I think turned out quite nice. With a penchant at the time for doing illy sound affects in the booth I think a few of them still feature on the record. Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and the Wu-Tang Clan were on heavy rotation at this time, did we really expect to record anything sounding any other way than this ?!? Probably not !
Following it's release we put out a video we recorded in Jimmy's back yard with a bonfire - the night before Lovebox !!! - which I'm sure following the breezy summer stylings of Can't Hold Back came as quite a shock. I'm not sure "what on earth are these wierdos up to now?!" is ever really a good reaction to a release. But, anyways, like I said, I love it, and if I was going to sit down and listen to my own music at anytime ever, The Fire Pit is always what I would put on first. If only to try and work out what planet I was on when we were putting it together ... flanged sax anyone ??
Anyways, considering the mix-ups, mess-ups, prison sentences and my own personal vanishing act the EP still contains my favourite song, the most previewed and downloaded song of mine on Amazon, a song featured on a dance and electronic compilation in Germany that hitnumber 2 in the charts (outselling David Guetta), 4 of my most watched videos on YouTube and, as I said, Joey G-Zus' hardest, heaviest and most lucid piece of writing,his best bits, most evocative and thought-provoking of them all. I find myself thinking on a daily basis, The World's Gone Mad.
lyrics
Take me down ... down to The Fire Pit
credits
from The Fire Pit - EP, track released 03 April 2011
Matt Henshaw and ReggiiMental ... written and recorded by ... production from RJ Rizzle
Hands down my favourite B-Boy Soul song. It is unfortunate that it's possibly the least commericially viable tune we've ever done. The whole idea of The Fire Pit was to record a second album as a follow up to The Deepest Cellar, a collection of darker, more esoteric songs that reflected the socio-political zeitgeist, Jimmy's upcoming court appearance and my own personal battles post-Censored and pre-The Deepest Cellar. We did indeed record a whole album, you never know, you might get to hear it in it's entirety one day. But we abandoned it due to pressures from all over the place.
What emerged in February, March or April of 2011 was The Fire Pit - EP. I can't even remember when or why it came out. A collection of 5 demos essentially. There were untold mix-ups. Everyone was everywhere and no-one was really steering the ship. The tracklist was finalised at the last minute featuring 3 very soulful demos, the title track and possibly Joey G-Zus' best piece of work, still a rough recording though. It makes for surprisingly pleasing listening all things considered but it could and should have been a bigger step musically and artistically following the Can't Hold Back EP.
The artwork was changed multiple times and at the last minute a picture of me and Reggii sitting in a KFC in Nottingham Hill before a show with Jessie J at the tail end of 2010 was chosen and flipped on the back cover with the tracklisting, song titles still only working titles. With pressure and mistakes from a PR company a sizeable amount of blank CDs with the worng artwork went out to a few hundred DJs, producers and magazines accross the UK, which I'm sure didn't go down too well.
But, the music, what canI tell you? The title track, The Fire Pit, is a hip-hop, jazz-soul fusion piece with hints of psychedelia and scat singing. Jimmy producing 16 bars of some of his best prose and I was experimenting with layers of vocals that I think turned out quite nice. With a penchant at the time for doing illy sound affects in the booth I think a few of them still feature on the record. Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and the Wu-Tang Clan were on heavy rotation at this time, did we really expect to record anything sounding any other way than this ?!? Probably not !
Following it's release we put out a video we recorded in Jimmy's back yard with a bonfire - the night before Lovebox !!! - which I'm sure following the breezy summer stylings of Can't Hold Back came as quite a shock. I'm not sure "what on earth are these wierdos up to now?!" is ever really a good reaction to a release. But, anyways, like I said, I love it, and if I was going to sit down and listen to my own music at anytime ever, The Fire Pit is always what I would put on first. If only to try and work out what planet I was on when we were putting it together ... flanged sax anyone ??
Anyways, considering the mix-ups, mess-ups, prison sentences and my own personal vanishing act the EP still contains my favourite song, the most previewed and downloaded song of mine on Amazon, a song featured on a dance and electronic compilation in Germany that hitnumber 2 in the charts (outselling David Guetta), 4 of my most watched videos on YouTube and, as I said, Joey G-Zus' hardest, heaviest and most lucid piece of writing,his best bits, most evocative and thought-provoking of them all. I find myself thinking on a daily basis, The World's Gone Mad.
lyrics
Take me down ... down to The Fire Pit
credits
from The Fire Pit - EP, track released 03 April 2011
Matt Henshaw and ReggiiMental ... written and recorded by ... production from RJ Rizzle
Can't Hold Back EP
The brand new single from Matt Henshaw and ReggiiMental release on the 10th of the tenth, 2010. Can't Hold Back is a real peach of a B-Boy Soul anthem, hip-hop and smooth soul all in a three minute blast ...
lyrics ...
Say my friend you've gotta live your life,
Add it all together we've got time,
The river keeps on rolling far and wide,
But you Can't Hold Back, Can't Hold Back the night ...
credits
released 10 October 2010
credits from Can't Hold Back, track released 10 October 2010
Written by Matt Henshaw and ReggiiMental.
Production by Matt Henshaw, James Batchelor and Choppacop.
Mixed and Mastered by 2nd Suzpect Joseph Joe Rizzle Kosminsky.
lyrics ...
Say my friend you've gotta live your life,
Add it all together we've got time,
The river keeps on rolling far and wide,
But you Can't Hold Back, Can't Hold Back the night ...
credits
released 10 October 2010
credits from Can't Hold Back, track released 10 October 2010
Written by Matt Henshaw and ReggiiMental.
Production by Matt Henshaw, James Batchelor and Choppacop.
Mixed and Mastered by 2nd Suzpect Joseph Joe Rizzle Kosminsky.
Naughty Girls (Acoustic Demo)
An acoustic demo from down in The Deepest Cellar. My arm was kind of twisted to release this. But I had in mind the early Oasis singles / EPs where there would be at least four tracks and usually a Noel Gallagher demo on there somewhere. I often recorded acoustic tracks down in the cellar just to jot down ideas and test the levels and test if the microphones and recording equipment worked.
I wrote this one a while before it surfaced. I've had a lot of people ask me to write songs for them. I was acosted by a girl called Jade, who was a big Kaiser Chiefs fan and a big Censored fan back in probably 2006 who said "you should write a song about me, Jade" ... no funny business, it was only a brief conversation but the name stuck out to me. I'm sure the completed song is nothing like the girl would have imagined or I'm sure would have wanted to be inspired by her.
The song is about the promiscuity of young girls, who know full well what they're doing and how they're behaving and expect sympathy when things go wrong. Now, I'm all for women's lib and women's rights but strutting around full of Jaegermaiester in hot pants is no way to go around celebrating emancipation. Have some self-respect. I'm sure you might read this and draw all kinds of conclusions about me and my personal opinions but, hey, I've got no time to respect people who can't even respect themselves. Get some clothes on, go and listen to The Staple Sisters and get a grip.
Anyway, before you get hot and bothered about the context, subtext and syntax of the song, it was just an exercise in writing, using precious stones as metaphors. Jade, Diamond, Pearl, Ruby and Sapphire all get a mention in there, and it's always good to rip off The Specials for a hook, think I'll be doing that 'till the day I die, if only they'd made mroe than two albums.
lyrics
No you won't tell your mother where you've been tonight ...
credits
from Can't Hold Back, released 10 October 2010
I wrote this one a while before it surfaced. I've had a lot of people ask me to write songs for them. I was acosted by a girl called Jade, who was a big Kaiser Chiefs fan and a big Censored fan back in probably 2006 who said "you should write a song about me, Jade" ... no funny business, it was only a brief conversation but the name stuck out to me. I'm sure the completed song is nothing like the girl would have imagined or I'm sure would have wanted to be inspired by her.
The song is about the promiscuity of young girls, who know full well what they're doing and how they're behaving and expect sympathy when things go wrong. Now, I'm all for women's lib and women's rights but strutting around full of Jaegermaiester in hot pants is no way to go around celebrating emancipation. Have some self-respect. I'm sure you might read this and draw all kinds of conclusions about me and my personal opinions but, hey, I've got no time to respect people who can't even respect themselves. Get some clothes on, go and listen to The Staple Sisters and get a grip.
Anyway, before you get hot and bothered about the context, subtext and syntax of the song, it was just an exercise in writing, using precious stones as metaphors. Jade, Diamond, Pearl, Ruby and Sapphire all get a mention in there, and it's always good to rip off The Specials for a hook, think I'll be doing that 'till the day I die, if only they'd made mroe than two albums.
lyrics
No you won't tell your mother where you've been tonight ...
credits
from Can't Hold Back, released 10 October 2010
Adidas Trainers (Stan Smith Remix)
The second song Jimmy B-Boy AKA. ReggiiMental ever recorded. There's a funny story along with the recording of this, Can't Hold Back and All We Know that I just don't think I can tell you, but it resulted in us having to re-record all three, at the time I was absolutely clueless, but if you ever see me knocking about or during a "post show hello" ask me about it.
B-Boy Soul just got it's fashion garment numero uno. The adidas trainer has been synonymous with hip-hop music, soul music, reggae music and oozing "coolness" since day one, so ina Run DMC style, we thought it only right that we write our own little ode to the glorious footwear. And I think we did it right. Always people sing this one to me, probably because it's the easiest one to get the tune of, "all I need is a melody and adidas trainers" couldn't be simpler than that. Going for a one note Ian Brown type thing there. Channelling King Monkey I think worked out quite well on this occassion.
This is a reflection and meditation on the reasons why we do what we do, obviously from the title we're all susceptable to a bit of branding, but at the end of the day we can "leave the chasing paper" ... if you're doing what you do not for the love, but for the money then stop doing it right now! Choose something creative, scientific or recreational to do instead, you can't hurt anyone that way, but greed makes you strong, but only for hurting the weak. Choose Life. And I'm not talking about TVs, CD players and 3 piece suites in a Trainspotting stylee, I'm talking life, living it and enjoying it.
"Take it back to basics, back to the soul"
The remix, by Joe 2nd Suzpect Rizzle of Pukka Mix, released as the Stan Smith Remix has been greatly received. A minor hit in Poland, the finale to most live sets featuring myself and Jimmy B-Boy and currently Adidas trainers is the most remixed, refixed and reworked Matt Henshaw track out there to date (May 2013). A much needed dose of modern electronic jiggery pokery for 2010, the year of B-Boy Soul, the birth of a new genre and celebration of the most exciting cross generational, cross race, cross midlands colloration you're ever likely to hear.
credits
from Can't Hold Back, released 10 October 2010
B-Boy Soul just got it's fashion garment numero uno. The adidas trainer has been synonymous with hip-hop music, soul music, reggae music and oozing "coolness" since day one, so ina Run DMC style, we thought it only right that we write our own little ode to the glorious footwear. And I think we did it right. Always people sing this one to me, probably because it's the easiest one to get the tune of, "all I need is a melody and adidas trainers" couldn't be simpler than that. Going for a one note Ian Brown type thing there. Channelling King Monkey I think worked out quite well on this occassion.
This is a reflection and meditation on the reasons why we do what we do, obviously from the title we're all susceptable to a bit of branding, but at the end of the day we can "leave the chasing paper" ... if you're doing what you do not for the love, but for the money then stop doing it right now! Choose something creative, scientific or recreational to do instead, you can't hurt anyone that way, but greed makes you strong, but only for hurting the weak. Choose Life. And I'm not talking about TVs, CD players and 3 piece suites in a Trainspotting stylee, I'm talking life, living it and enjoying it.
"Take it back to basics, back to the soul"
The remix, by Joe 2nd Suzpect Rizzle of Pukka Mix, released as the Stan Smith Remix has been greatly received. A minor hit in Poland, the finale to most live sets featuring myself and Jimmy B-Boy and currently Adidas trainers is the most remixed, refixed and reworked Matt Henshaw track out there to date (May 2013). A much needed dose of modern electronic jiggery pokery for 2010, the year of B-Boy Soul, the birth of a new genre and celebration of the most exciting cross generational, cross race, cross midlands colloration you're ever likely to hear.
credits
from Can't Hold Back, released 10 October 2010
The Deepest Cellar (Unfriendly Neighbours Remix)
I actually prefer this version. I love the variation that the Unfriendly Neighbours bring. BiggaMan does perhaps his best verse, certainly that I've ever heard anyway, and to think he heard the track and half an hour later it was complete. The same with Joey G-Zus, who would feature heavily on my future releases. His Yorkshire inflections on this one are indicative of just how good UK hip-hop can be, and should be.
Rounds off the record nicely, The Deepest Cellar for me detailed just how soulful, funny and hard-hittingly political hip-hop music can be. It matters not who is the biggest or who is the best, but that we're all having a good time.
Sincerely Yours,
Matt Henshaw x
Rounds off the record nicely, The Deepest Cellar for me detailed just how soulful, funny and hard-hittingly political hip-hop music can be. It matters not who is the biggest or who is the best, but that we're all having a good time.
Sincerely Yours,
Matt Henshaw x
Wanting More
A breezy disco affair to close the album proper. We did record a video for this once upon a when at the Broadway Cinema in Nottingham but all the footage was subsequently lost. I wasn't too bothered, not really one for disco stuff but my mum seems to like it. I don't think it's really indicative of what me and Reggii do, and I always feels you can't help but sound quite cheap over a disco beat, even Gladys Knight and Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross sounds pretty at home though, Rose Royce and Donna Summer to, but I'd rather belt it out over some horns and/or a string section.
The most entertaining thing about the recording of this one was having to explain the phrase "four to the floor" to Jimmy B-Boy. Such an inquisitive young chap.
credits
from The Deepest Cellar, released 01 May 2010
The most entertaining thing about the recording of this one was having to explain the phrase "four to the floor" to Jimmy B-Boy. Such an inquisitive young chap.
credits
from The Deepest Cellar, released 01 May 2010
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