Matt Walters - Reaches for the moon, stars and people

You talk to Matt Walters and for a moment you forget that he is only 20 years old – there is such a profound sense of maturity and wisdom from someone so young.

His instruments of choice include his voice, of course, and the guitar, piano, harmonica and mandolin. When asked how he became insterested in such a range of instruments, he explains.

“It’s hard to say really. There have been instruments floating around my house for most of my life. I used to pick up the guitar and just strum it not knowing how the hell to play! I liked the way it sounded though, I always have

“I remember I was forced to take piano lessons when I was much younger though, and I remember hating it! ...I just picked up mandolin and harmonica recently, I love learning to play a new instrument.”

Although I don't get the pleasure of meeting him in person, I get a brief mental picture of one of those buskers with a dozen instruments attached, who with talent, manage to play a tune that doesn't sound like a jumbled, painful mess!

Matt's just released his second album The moon, stars & people – its beautiful cover art created and painted by Victorian artist, Teresa Howard - is currently available to purchase on iTunes. The official “physical” CD release is marked for mid 2006.

This album is a quantum leap in production from his first, Like Therapy, which he started making when he was 16 – he created it in his lounge room over a two year period while completing his final years of school at the time. Album number two received the full studio production treatment, with Troy Tringwell at the helm, who has worked with such big names as John Butler trio (Sunrise over sea) and Killing Heidi. Matt talks about the 'Troy Tringwell experience'.

“Troy is a great guy to work with. Just really chilled out and really creative too. He came to a lot of the rehearsals in pre-production and listened very carefully to what was happening with the band. I made it clear early on that I wanted great energy on the album, and he was incredibly good at capturing that. He has a way of making the vibe in that studio really special for laying down your tracks,” he says.

Matt speaks fondly of Woodstock Studio's facilities, described on the studio's website as “a beautiful place to capture music.” He elaborates,

“Yeah I loved it. I recorded the first album in the producers living room, so it was a great change. It’s great to get up in the morning and know that you get to spend the next 10 hours working on your tunes! It’s really well set up there, really comfortable too,” he says.

Matt explains the transition from lounge room to studio

“...I was 16 when I started making Like Therapy, ...over a period of 2 years when I was free to do it. Pretty casual really!. I took the making of The moon, stars and people very seriously. I had always wanted to go into a studio and make a record in a concentrated amount of time. It’s a different environment though, and it produces different results,” he says.

Matt elaborates on how his songs evolved in a studio setting,

“The song Cold is not the kind of song I was used to doing. Before we went into the studio it sounded like acoustic folk-punk rock or something. In the studio we kind of felt like it had a latin feel to it, so we went with it. And it was great. We added Wurlitzer organ and Latin percussion and it was just a lot of fun to see a song come alive in a completely new way. Every time we took a chance with the songs, we were totally surprised. It was a lot of fun.”

Individuality and uniqueness, for a musician, is always an intriguing question – in an age where as a musician, you more than likely always sound like a band you're influenced by. He lists his influences as Shane Howard, Colin Hay, Bob Dylan, Art of Fighting, Ryan Adams, Nirvana, Joni Mitchell, Something for Kate, Counting Crowes and Death Cab for Cutie.

“I love Something for Kate. Paul Dempsey is an incredible songwriter, they really had a profound effect on me when I was growing up. I think individuality is an interesting concept on its own,” he says.

“Over the last few years I’ve learnt that people instinctively compare new music they hear with other music that they are already aware of, otherwise hearing new music can be a very uncomfortable experience. ...I don’t think there is an artist without influences of some sort. If I didn’t grow up listening to Shane Howard, Colin Hay and Joni Mitchell records that I stole from my parents I wouldn’t sound like I do. Actually I might not be playing music at all! But it’s not difficult, all you can do is be as honest as possible about what you do and hope for the best.”

Matt has been bringing his new album live to the crowds in small intimate acoustic venues across Melbourne, with the full band experience traveling around regional Victoria and possibily the rest of Australia this year.

“I’m going to play as many shows as possible this year and really get behind this album because I’m really proud of it. I really want to travel everywhere, meet lots of people and bring my music with me. Most of all I just want to be able to keep making records really.”

Album is available on iTunes now.
“The moon, stars and people” will be out in June on Goanna Arts through MGM.

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