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
Stand By The Window
Jimmy B-Boy's extended poetry session, wordplay and metaphors intermingle with deep down lust. By this time in recording The Deepest Cellar he was revelling in referenced that he knew would tick my boxes, I think The Beatles and The Style Council both get a mention in this one. Easliy one of the most musical bits of hip-hop you're likely to hear this decade, lyrical and potent, Reggii is hitting his stride. I was in a Morcheeba kind of mode when it came to recording my outro, and it kind of works.
The initial idea behind the lyric was lying in bed watching a girl undress casting a shadow on a blank wall, probably a dark silhouette on an orange tinged beige wall, a very British image of lucozade shaded street lamps and magnolia painted walls. The video, award winning and fantastically produced by Tamworth's Mr. Adam Awni, leads to the only conclusion, however, that the song is about prostitutes. Now, I've writted some songs about prostitutes in my time, but I can honestly say that this wasn't intended to be one.
Thanks to St. Abans Film Festival for crowning this the winner of their Best Music Video award. And Choppacop, Sean overin Sweden whose provided lots of beats for this record and Coming Around. Good on y'all !!!
lyrics
Stand by the Window cast your shadow on the wall ...
credits
from The Deepest Cellar, released 01 May 2010
The initial idea behind the lyric was lying in bed watching a girl undress casting a shadow on a blank wall, probably a dark silhouette on an orange tinged beige wall, a very British image of lucozade shaded street lamps and magnolia painted walls. The video, award winning and fantastically produced by Tamworth's Mr. Adam Awni, leads to the only conclusion, however, that the song is about prostitutes. Now, I've writted some songs about prostitutes in my time, but I can honestly say that this wasn't intended to be one.
Thanks to St. Abans Film Festival for crowning this the winner of their Best Music Video award. And Choppacop, Sean overin Sweden whose provided lots of beats for this record and Coming Around. Good on y'all !!!
lyrics
Stand by the Window cast your shadow on the wall ...
credits
from The Deepest Cellar, released 01 May 2010
All We Know
The first collaboration me and Jimmy ever worked on. Initially released on his album 'Something For The Strive' under the title of 'Who Am I?' with myself guesting as "MH" after 2 years of n music, no band and no real urge to do anything that creative at all. When it came time for therelease of The Deepest Cellar, the track was re-recorded and my name is there on the cover for all to see, and all over the internet like a musical rash.
The words of the hook pretty much some up the nadir I was in at the time. "Who Am I? Given all we need to know?? Living in my own time, feeling just like a ghost, with All We Know" ... pretty dark really. Haunting too. I remember going down into The Deepest Cellar for the first time. Wearing all black. LEather winklepickers, black jeans, black v-neck jumper, black Fred Perry polo, black woolie hat and unkempt facial hair from a summer in the garden tending to my vegetable patch. The colour scheme something of the Grim Reaper and not necessarily a ghost, dark all the same but from that moment on, recording those few lines I was hooked on B-Boy Sould and wished we could have gone on recorded all day and everyday like we did over that winter, if only our paths hadn't diverged so a year or so later. No use in worrying, we made it back with a second album, even if it was three years later, the facial hair's returned and the optimism too.
lyrics
Well Who Am I ?
credits
from The Deepest Cellar, released 01 May 2010
The words of the hook pretty much some up the nadir I was in at the time. "Who Am I? Given all we need to know?? Living in my own time, feeling just like a ghost, with All We Know" ... pretty dark really. Haunting too. I remember going down into The Deepest Cellar for the first time. Wearing all black. LEather winklepickers, black jeans, black v-neck jumper, black Fred Perry polo, black woolie hat and unkempt facial hair from a summer in the garden tending to my vegetable patch. The colour scheme something of the Grim Reaper and not necessarily a ghost, dark all the same but from that moment on, recording those few lines I was hooked on B-Boy Sould and wished we could have gone on recorded all day and everyday like we did over that winter, if only our paths hadn't diverged so a year or so later. No use in worrying, we made it back with a second album, even if it was three years later, the facial hair's returned and the optimism too.
lyrics
Well Who Am I ?
credits
from The Deepest Cellar, released 01 May 2010
Far Away
3 of the midlands' top MC bring the reggae flavours out in this one. Ras Supa, ReggiiMental and Rukus of The Trinity Band sit on the beat like they've recorded their bars in a shanty town just outside of Kingston. The hook was a refix of track sampled, Far Away. I added my Notts white boy exxence to it, good music is colour blind. And Rukus watched Emmerdale, who would've thought, eh?
The inclusion of this on The Deepest Cellar is probably due to the man Jimmy Cliff, his music was on heavy rotation and his film The Harder They Come was watched at least once a week during the recording of the album. 'You Can Get It If You Really Want It' became something of a mantra for myself and ReggiiMental. We can often be found down in The Deepest Cellar or out on the road shouting incoherently to each other in patois. Simmi Jimmy ! Wagwarn ???
lyrics
There is a land so Far Away ...
credits
from The Deepest Cellar, released 01 May 2010
The inclusion of this on The Deepest Cellar is probably due to the man Jimmy Cliff, his music was on heavy rotation and his film The Harder They Come was watched at least once a week during the recording of the album. 'You Can Get It If You Really Want It' became something of a mantra for myself and ReggiiMental. We can often be found down in The Deepest Cellar or out on the road shouting incoherently to each other in patois. Simmi Jimmy ! Wagwarn ???
lyrics
There is a land so Far Away ...
credits
from The Deepest Cellar, released 01 May 2010
What's Really Good
For some reason, and I just can't fathom it, this is Reggii's least favourite track from The Deepest Cellar. I think it's something to do with his verses being too long, and that's rare for a rapper. Usually MCs want to spit and listen to themselves talk for hours. This is where I've got to show a lot of respect for what Reggii does, how he understands music and, whilst having an ego, values it no higher than anyone else he's collaborated with. The man, fittingly, knows What's Really Good and what's not.
I like the strings on this one, and the hook is simple and possibly a little ciched but it wraps itself round the beat like an anaconda on the hunt. That 70s Stax soul sound was ringing in my ears before recording this one I think. It sits nicely in the middle of the record for me.
lyrics
I see finder keeping and losers weeping
Feel What's Really Good lie my soul it really should
credits
from The Deepest Cellar, released 01 May 2010
I like the strings on this one, and the hook is simple and possibly a little ciched but it wraps itself round the beat like an anaconda on the hunt. That 70s Stax soul sound was ringing in my ears before recording this one I think. It sits nicely in the middle of the record for me.
lyrics
I see finder keeping and losers weeping
Feel What's Really Good lie my soul it really should
credits
from The Deepest Cellar, released 01 May 2010
Propaganda
I've always been intrigued by the word 'Propaganda' and the connotations it has and the reactions it provokes. This was a strange track in that the verses were recorded before I put down my vocals and before I'd even listened to the track. The Lost Generation's Devas and Saynt Luke had done some bars each that summed up for me, particularly, the west's view of Propaganda and how it is used and manipulated to use and manipulate the population of the world, to the detrament of the minds and bodies of us all.
Joe Rizzle of Pukka Mix finished the track off nicely with a sample from one of the numerous documentaries that he finds himself falling asleept to, luckily he was tuning into some political stuff just at the right time and not UFO conspiracy theory nonsense.
The hook is simple, maybe a little A-Level history/literature/philosophy student-ish but it is succinct, full of pleasing allegories and, above all, it works.
The track has found itself of the Zeitgeist Movement website, remixed and refixed by numerous producers and DJs and still stands out to me as the most lucid expression of my political and historical beliefs.
lyrics
Sippin' at Propaganda through a straw ...
credits
from The Deepest Cellar, released 01 May 2010
Joe Rizzle of Pukka Mix finished the track off nicely with a sample from one of the numerous documentaries that he finds himself falling asleept to, luckily he was tuning into some political stuff just at the right time and not UFO conspiracy theory nonsense.
The hook is simple, maybe a little A-Level history/literature/philosophy student-ish but it is succinct, full of pleasing allegories and, above all, it works.
The track has found itself of the Zeitgeist Movement website, remixed and refixed by numerous producers and DJs and still stands out to me as the most lucid expression of my political and historical beliefs.
lyrics
Sippin' at Propaganda through a straw ...
credits
from The Deepest Cellar, released 01 May 2010
Can't Hold Back
What can I say about Can't Hold Back? As near as I've gotten thus far to writing 'a classic', it's very difficult to be humble when rooms and fields of people are singing your words back at you, thousands upon thousands of people have listened to your little basement recorded ditty online and the video has been featured as 'single of the month' in The Guardian. No budget, no frills, just pure soul. I poured every ounce of emotion into this one - positive yet with a hint of fragility you can hear in my voice, heart and soul - almost to the point of embarrassment as I wasn't sure I wanted to release something so tender with my name on it. But, it turned out to be a great third single from The Deepest Cellar and I feel richer for having shared it with you.
I hope you get everything from it that I have given, and the complimentry lyrics and flow Reggii added to this one sticks a lump in my throat everytime we perform it.
We've probably played this tune every time we've been out to play live, it never gets boring, it never gets old and I think we'll keep performing it, maybe until I write something better. I'll have to do some real soul searching in the studio, and maybe I'll never be in that place or feel that way again.
If I have to put my finger on a meaning, it would be that, no matter how hard you try or what you wish for, things will happen wether you want them to or not, good or bad if you believe in such a simplistic binary outlook on life, but all you can do is face every day with a positive attitude and believe in what you do. And what you do is important, if it's important to you and it's at least a little bit altruistic then we should all be on the right path.
Soldier on people, onwards and upwards!
lyrics
Say my friends you 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
from The Deepest Cellar, released 01 May 2010
I hope you get everything from it that I have given, and the complimentry lyrics and flow Reggii added to this one sticks a lump in my throat everytime we perform it.
We've probably played this tune every time we've been out to play live, it never gets boring, it never gets old and I think we'll keep performing it, maybe until I write something better. I'll have to do some real soul searching in the studio, and maybe I'll never be in that place or feel that way again.
If I have to put my finger on a meaning, it would be that, no matter how hard you try or what you wish for, things will happen wether you want them to or not, good or bad if you believe in such a simplistic binary outlook on life, but all you can do is face every day with a positive attitude and believe in what you do. And what you do is important, if it's important to you and it's at least a little bit altruistic then we should all be on the right path.
Soldier on people, onwards and upwards!
lyrics
Say my friends you 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
from The Deepest Cellar, released 01 May 2010
Adidas Trainers
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"
lyrics
All I need is a melody and Adidas Trainers ...
credits
from The Deepest Cellar, track released 01 May 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"
lyrics
All I need is a melody and Adidas Trainers ...
credits
from The Deepest Cellar, track released 01 May 2010
The Deepest Cellar
Over the Dapp Kings Jimmy and myself weave the quintessential B-Boy Soul tapestry. The vibe is party, party, party. From DJ sets to Lovebox to a groovy house party I've heard this song and it's still refreshing to know that I'm on it breaking some musical ground, paving te way for the likes of Plan B and Janelle Monae. Come to think of it, sometimes I forget I'm even on it and just enjoy it, that's the way music should be I think. When I hear or read artists that are embarrassed to be on their own records, hear their own voice or see themselves in the videos, it sickens me. I just don't understand, your making the music for all the wrong reasons, or you shouldn't be doing it. I think you can tell from these 3 and a half minutes that we're really into what we're doing and truly enjoying it. Hope you're enjoying it too.
lyrics
Down in The Deepest Cellar
Beneath the floorboards of the fortune teller's
There's the swinginest party to be had
'cos you got your soul and you're feeling mighty glad
credits
from The Deepest Cellar, track released 01 May 2010
lyrics
Down in The Deepest Cellar
Beneath the floorboards of the fortune teller's
There's the swinginest party to be had
'cos you got your soul and you're feeling mighty glad
credits
from The Deepest Cellar, track released 01 May 2010
B-Boy Soul
"This is the intro" says Jimmy and we're off.
With Abdominal and DJ Format's 'Participation Prerequisite' in mind all the time we were recording The Deepest Cellar and, film of choice, Jimmy Cliff in 'The Harder They Fall' on the box on a loop the mindset for the album is introduced. A nice soul instrumental from Third Degree Liam Byrne sampled from an old Soul / R&B classic and Reggii logging a preface for the record, accompanied by my B-Boy Soul mantra, the foundations of the swinginest party to be had are set.
"We got your B-Boy Soul, got to be letting it go, move on up and soldier on from the morning 'till the break of dawn!"
lyrics
We got your B-Boy Soul ...
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Festival Season ... Godiva setlist ...
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Festival Season ... Godiva setlist ...: Afternoon folks, Good Monday, Absolutely pooped with the busy-ness ! Filled up on sleepings last night after a hectic week ... anyways, h...
Tuesday, 2 July 2013
Matt Henshaw interview with Ana Cristina LoCus about the Music Business ...
Complete Name: Matt Henshaw
Occupation: Professional Singer-Songwriter & Musician
Company: MattHenshaw.com / Satsuma Elephants
Website: http://www.matthenshaw.com / http://www.satsumaelephants.com
1.- About you: How, When and Where did you realise you wanted to be a musician. How did that happen?
I was an infant and saw an advert on TV for Strongbow cider with Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple playing, at that moment I didn't know what it was but I knew that was what I wanted to do, make music like that !
2.- About the industry: What do you think is the best way of beginning a career in music?
Just be passionate about it, be the best you can possibly be, and as we all know sometimes it doesn't even matter how good you are, some of the best artists go unnoticed, just persevere and you'll get where you want to be, or at least half way there !
3.- There are so many talented musicians in the world. How to make a difference?
Mani from The Stone Roses and Primal Scream said to me once, "you've got to blow your own trumpet because no one is going to blow it for you" and that's kind of stuck with me.
4.- What is success for you? Do you consider yourself a successful artist?
Petrol money and plenty of milk and tea bags, as long as I have those things then I consider myself succeeding. Obviously I have dreams and ambitions but at a basic level being comfortable and doing what I love everyday is a great success.
5.- Order the next attributes from 1 to 8, being 1 the most important attribute and 8 the less important one for a musician's success: Talent,Charisma, Leadership, multifaceted, Time, Contacts, Good looking & Money.
1 - Talent
2 - Charisma
3 - Leadership
4 - multifaceted
5 - Time
6 - Contacts
7 - Good looking
8 - Money
If you put effort into the first 5 then the contacts will come, and you shouldn't ever worry about your looks, that applies to everyone. And money too, it's just an illusion.
6.- What do you think about the way the MEDIA works. Have you ever had a good or bad experience with the Media (radio, TV, Newspapers)?
It works, and it's always worked in the same way. As long as we live in this same free market monetary capitalist society it will never change so you have to find your way in and make it work for you, or make them work for you as the case may be.
8.- What do you think about fame? Do you think a musician needs fame to sell records and concerts?
It all goes hand in hand. Depends what you want to achieve, people sell records and make money or a living in the music business without anyone ever knowing who they are, they're usually the best ones !
9.- Is there anything about the Music Industry that was different from what you thought or what the people think?
It's just a business like any other, I think that's the biggest source of confusion, people believe all the myths and the fiction of it and the sex, drugs and rock'n'roll stuff but it's just cold hard business in the main.
10.- What would be your advice for all aspiring musicians who want to break into the industry?
Just believe in what you do, stick to your guns and do what you can to achieve what you want to do, it's all possible.
11.- Is there any bad or good experience. A wrong or good decision you made in your career that you would like to share, which can be useful for other musicians?
Don't drink too much, that made me quit the music business about 5 years ago, and almost was the death of me anyways, it's taken me all this time to recover properly and be able to keep a proper check on my affairs ... my mum always used to say "everything in moderation", but I can't subscribe to that, too "all or nothing" so now I don't drink at all, but everyone's different so do what works for you but stay focused on your goals.
Occupation: Professional Singer-Songwriter & Musician
Company: MattHenshaw.com / Satsuma Elephants
Website: http://www.matthenshaw.com / http://www.satsumaelephants.com
1.- About you: How, When and Where did you realise you wanted to be a musician. How did that happen?
I was an infant and saw an advert on TV for Strongbow cider with Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple playing, at that moment I didn't know what it was but I knew that was what I wanted to do, make music like that !
2.- About the industry: What do you think is the best way of beginning a career in music?
Just be passionate about it, be the best you can possibly be, and as we all know sometimes it doesn't even matter how good you are, some of the best artists go unnoticed, just persevere and you'll get where you want to be, or at least half way there !
3.- There are so many talented musicians in the world. How to make a difference?
Mani from The Stone Roses and Primal Scream said to me once, "you've got to blow your own trumpet because no one is going to blow it for you" and that's kind of stuck with me.
4.- What is success for you? Do you consider yourself a successful artist?
Petrol money and plenty of milk and tea bags, as long as I have those things then I consider myself succeeding. Obviously I have dreams and ambitions but at a basic level being comfortable and doing what I love everyday is a great success.
5.- Order the next attributes from 1 to 8, being 1 the most important attribute and 8 the less important one for a musician's success: Talent,Charisma, Leadership, multifaceted, Time, Contacts, Good looking & Money.
1 - Talent
2 - Charisma
3 - Leadership
4 - multifaceted
5 - Time
6 - Contacts
7 - Good looking
8 - Money
If you put effort into the first 5 then the contacts will come, and you shouldn't ever worry about your looks, that applies to everyone. And money too, it's just an illusion.
6.- What do you think about the way the MEDIA works. Have you ever had a good or bad experience with the Media (radio, TV, Newspapers)?
It works, and it's always worked in the same way. As long as we live in this same free market monetary capitalist society it will never change so you have to find your way in and make it work for you, or make them work for you as the case may be.
8.- What do you think about fame? Do you think a musician needs fame to sell records and concerts?
It all goes hand in hand. Depends what you want to achieve, people sell records and make money or a living in the music business without anyone ever knowing who they are, they're usually the best ones !
9.- Is there anything about the Music Industry that was different from what you thought or what the people think?
It's just a business like any other, I think that's the biggest source of confusion, people believe all the myths and the fiction of it and the sex, drugs and rock'n'roll stuff but it's just cold hard business in the main.
10.- What would be your advice for all aspiring musicians who want to break into the industry?
Just believe in what you do, stick to your guns and do what you can to achieve what you want to do, it's all possible.
11.- Is there any bad or good experience. A wrong or good decision you made in your career that you would like to share, which can be useful for other musicians?
Don't drink too much, that made me quit the music business about 5 years ago, and almost was the death of me anyways, it's taken me all this time to recover properly and be able to keep a proper check on my affairs ... my mum always used to say "everything in moderation", but I can't subscribe to that, too "all or nothing" so now I don't drink at all, but everyone's different so do what works for you but stay focused on your goals.
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: July July July ... #GoodTimes #GayTimes #MoreGoodT...
Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: July July July ... #GoodTimes #GayTimes #MoreGoodT...: Hello Hello Hello and good welcome(?), So I've had a pretty busy loooooong weekend. 2 shows Friday, down in Gloucestershire on Saturd...
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