Friday 22 May 2015

Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Sings ... 'My Girl' by The Temptation...

Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw Sings ... 'My Girl' by The Temptation...: Here's me trying to do justice to a classic song. I don't do a lot of covers as many of you very well know, hence the lack of &qu...

Sunday 17 May 2015

Matt Henshaw Interview in Electric Magazine


When did you decide a career in music was for you and when did you get your first break/gig in the music industry?

It's the only thing I feel like I could possibly be doing, I think the straw that broke the camels back was sitting in an office day-in-day-out, I'm almost envious of the people that can do that. I'm always waiting on my Big Break, I think that's the nature of most artists, even those playing Wembley are surely thinking about what's next ?!

Who or what inspires you in life and in music?

My Mrs, it might sound corny, but she's my best friend, and I wouldn't be doing any, and I mean anything, if it wasn't for her ... and everytime I do something I always think "would my dad approve of this?" usually I'm sure he probably wouldn't care, but I always think it anyway.

How would you answer the question …...Who is Matt Henshaw?

Me, I'm Matt Henshaw. I think the proper answer would probably be "singer-songwriter from Nottingham", but seriously though, I'm still trying to figure it out for myself.

Can you tell me three things about yourself that people might not already know?

My great uncle played in the 1951 FA Cup first round for Ilkeston Town FC, I've got a false tooth and I had a lazy left eye as a little kid, but he perked up around the age of 11.

What has been your biggest achievement to date, what was your biggest career regret and is there anything you want to achieve in the future?

I've packed a fair amount into the year and a half I've been doing this, I think the thing that makes me the happiest is be able to go and play shows in 7 different countries over the last nine months, 5 of which I'd never been to before. And luckily I haven't been doing it long enough to have any major regrets.

I know 15 year old Matt Henshaw wanted to be in a band, play the Albert Hall, the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, and be on Soccer AM, so I think I'll stick with them, for him, and I don't think that's too much to ask, do you?

What in your opinion is the best festival performance you have seen from another act either live or on TV?

Toots and the Maytals at Glastonbury, hands down, always, I don't think anyone could make everyone smile and jump around so much on a sunny afternoon down south.

What was the first record you ever bought?

Definitely Maybe by Oasis, went in at number one on my 7th birthday. So many things made so much more sense after that.

What can we expect from you at the Festivals,what will you do before and after your set and who else’s Festival performance are you looking forward to seeing?

My songs, by me, for everyone else. Might have a few stories to tell seeing as I've been such a travelling troubador over the last year, but mainly the songs. Not sure, I like comedy tents at festivals because you can sit down and have a cup of tea, and hopefully have a laugh. There are so many festivals now, it's confusing, I think the best ones are where it doesn't matter who's on, it's the experience of it all, but I'm intrigued to see where my mate Martin Luke Brown will pop up this year and next.

If you had to give up the music industry for another career what would you do and why?

Gardener, somewhere a bit warmer than here though. I love it, although I'm not sure if I "worked" as a gardener it would be as enjoyable, because it's something I do to relax and take my time and mill about when I'm not busy making music, or phone calls.

What do you do before and after you have been on stage and what is it like for you to play live?

Tea, but I suppose that's before, during and after. I don't really have any other routines or rituals, playing live for me is like the most natural thing in the world.

Can you tell me one story from a time backstage, on tour or at a Festival?

I've met some incredible people on the road, and some famous people I suppose, but the only two people I've ever asked to have a photograph with are Bill Bailey and Will Young ... I'm not usually one for asking for autographs or that kind of thing, so, I'll be honest, I knew Will Young was in a hurry and late for something, so I had asked for a couple of photographs in spite of this for my own amusement, but because he was so polite and nice about it I do feel a bit awful about that, I think he missed the start of a Grace Jones performance or something, not too bad.

What does the rest of 2015 have in store for you and when can we expect new music from you?

My new single 'Easier' is coming out on September 10th, it'll be available for pre-order on August 13th, there'll be a video and all the usual stuff. After that and all the festivals are done no doubt I'll hit the road again, all work and no play brother. Peace, Love & Tea.

Matt Henshaw Interview


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Matt Henshaw Review on Carpe Carmina

Stop Me Girl (taken from 'Your Eyes Are Made Of Gold' (EP))



Leicester-based singer/songwriter Matt Henshaw has composed a soulfully stirring and honest ballad with 'Stop Me Girl'. Passionately played piano melodies - sometimes resonating with alluring ambience, sometimes with bracing vitality - blend with ardent still sensitive vocal verve, add both melodic grace and buoyancy to an emotionally moving song that involves a strong, vivaciously glowing vocal performance.



The Way It Is (taken from 'Always In The Way' (EP))



A dashing and droning drum pulse, forceful and feisty guitar trembles, tenebrous bass reverb - NME Breakthrough Act of 2010, Matt Henshaw knows how energy-driven music should sound like - 'The Way It Is' impresses with sonorous and stormy melodic impetus, with sassy and fervent vocal blues, and whilst the singer/songwriter asks his audience to allow him just a minute of their time, you should instead grant him at least 4 to enjoy this vigorous and bold belter in all its compositional glory.




Reach out to Matt Henshaw on ...

.. twitter ...
.. facebook ...
.. his official website ...
.. soundcloud ...
.. bandcamp ...


http://carpecarmina.blogspot.de/2015/04/carpe-carmina-selection.html


Matt Henshaw Derbyshire Times Article

Singer to perform in home town after tour

09:21Friday 17 April 2015

Nottingham born singer-songwriter Matt Henshaw will be playing a huge homecoming free show at The Contemporary in the city’s Lace Market.

Matt takes to the stage in his hometown on Saturday April 18 following a highly successful European tour.

His travels have seen him play all over the UK, including Scotland and Wales, plus visits to France, Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands for crowds of hundreds and receiving international press and sales of his 2014 records.

Upon arriving back to England, Henshaw won has won multiple awards, including Best Solo Male at the Midlands Independent Music Awards and Best EP for ‘Your Eyes Are Made Of Gold’ at the Galaxy Music Awards.

It’s far from time for rest and relaxation though for Matt as following the Nottingham show he’ll undertake a busy festival season.

And he has already started to record his next single in London with a producer behind the sounds of Babyshambles, The Magic Numbers and Frank Turner with a release date set for autumn this year

For more information visit www.MattHenshaw.com or www.facebook.com/MattHenshaw.

http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/what-s-on/gig-guide/singer-to-perform-in-home-town-after-tour-1-7208293

Matt Henshaw Nottingham Post Interview April 2015

Nottingham Sound: Matt Henshaw
By NottmPostEG | Posted: April 14, 2015

By Rachel Gorman
MATTHENSHAW
Matt Henshaw
After nine months on the road, Matt Henshaw is back home this weekend with a show at Nottingham Contemporary. He tells Rachel Gorman about nagging a Sex Pistol...

Are you Nottingham born and bred?

Yeah and I love Nottingham, even more so since I've been touring all over the place. It's quite easy to become contemptuous about the place where you grew up when you've lived there for the first 20 years of your life, but then when you get out, for one reason or another, you realise how great it is. And you begin to understand why my the roots of my family tree are in Notts.

How long have you been doing this for?

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18 months, since I plucked up the courage to go out to some open mics. I never imagined that, in such a relatively short space of time, I'd have records in charts, won awards or been over to Europe.

Describe your sound

I love soul music, and I try to emulate what I listen to the most, which is usually Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye's 60s stuff. Because of who I am and where I'm from it's always going to come out sounding more like the guys back in the day who were trying to do exactly the same thing, people like Steve Marriott, Stevie Winwood, Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney, maybe even Rod Stewart on a husky day.

Who are your biggest music influences?

In terms of influencing my tastes and listening preferences, my musical coming of age came in the early/mid 90s. Noel Gallagher, Damon Albarn and Paul Weller were so great to have around in the mainstream, as they wore their influences on their sleeves and they made them so obvious to trace. I went all the way back to that great English music heritage of the 60s and 70s, then beyond to so many great black American blues, jazz and soul singers and musicians. Love it or loathe it, it all started with BritPop for me.

Any claims to fame?

I asked a Sex Pistol to move over, as he was sitting on my jacket backstage at a London show. I don't care what band you were in, no one likes creases in their suit. He understood, cool chap.

What should we expect at one of your gigs?

Songs, and loads of 'em - proper songs. I'm not really on for pyrotechnics, not yet anyway, or dancing around like Morrissey, but I'd like to think I write songs that will stick with you, rattle around in your head, and hopefully you'll want to hear again plenty times more.

Any music for sale?

I released three EPs last year and they’re all available digitally or on CD and vinyl from my website (MattHenshaw.com) as well as T-shirts and other goodies.

Other Notts musicians/bands you rate?

I write a blog called 'Matt Henshaw Recommends...' and I've put some Notts acts on there like Georgie, Aja and Three Girl Rhumba to name a few. There are loads of others I've played with, but I'd love to do some shows with D.I.D and The Swiines soon enough.

Next gig?

At Nottingham Contemporary on Saturday, April 18 with some special guests. It’s a free homecoming party, having spent the last nine months touring all over the UK and Europe. I'm taking a bit of a break to record over the summer.

Anything else?

I’m currently recording my next single with a chap who did one of Frank Turner's records, and has done some stuff with the Magic Numbers and Peter Doherty.



Read more: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Nottingham-Sound-Matt-Henshaw/story-26331328-detail/story.html#ixzz3aPgKG9vA
Follow us: @Nottingham_Post on Twitter | NottinghamPostOnline on Facebook

Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw FAQs - Matt Henshaw 11 & The Number E...

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