Following a second single release, ‘Alone You Go’, and an upcoming hometown gig at Record Junkee (9th Dec), Maisie HonJacobs spoke to Sheffield-based musician and ex-Kartica frontman about embarking on a solo career.
Hi Mat! I have been listening to your new single ‘Alone You Go’ on repeat. It feels like a very heartfelt and personal song. Can you tell me a bit about what it means to you?
It’s exactly what you’ve described – a very personal song and a heartfelt one, but also one I hope can resonate with other people? I feel it’s got that sentiment, one people can identify with. I think often it’s the most personal songs that find common ground with people because, ultimately, everyone at some point or another tends to feel the same things. I think all my songs have got that element, they’re all coming from the same place. I’m not creating songs for a specific arena, like dance music or whatever, it’s everyman music, that could translate to you on your own in your bedroom – or to 80,000 people in a field. Eavis family, if you’re reading…
The promo video features Sheffield sporting legends Chris Waddle and Kell Brook, amongst a number of well-known faces. How did that come about?
I filmed the vast majority of the clips myself and edited the video too. I was inspired by two music videos, The Conells classic ‘74/75’ and also the more recent Gerry & The Pacemakers ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ video. I’m a Liverpool fan, so that’s kinda seared into my mind.
I liked the idea of just kinda showing faces and letting each face tell its own story within the song, and especially contrasting the neutral and lighthearted moments. Most of the people in the video are friends and family (my mother, brother, daughter and even dog are in it!), but there are some where it was just a case of stopping people in the street. Filming the clips was lots of fun, and the more awkward people were, the better haha!
As far as Chris and Kell, I know both of them to a degree socially. Each was really receptive to the idea and did it with minimal fuss, which was great of them.
After having a long break from putting out music, was there anything in particular that inspired you to get back in the game?
As mundane as it sounds, it was probably boredom more than anything. It was mainly during the lockdowns that I started giving it any serious focus. Also, I’d had a bit of a health scare in 2021 and that, alongside tough times generally in my personal life, over the previous few years, contributed to me thinking, ‘You know what, I enjoy doing this more than anything else. So time is flying and I may as well do what I enjoy!’
Your last release, debut solo single ‘Runaway Road’, was well received airing on both BBC 6 music and Radio X, with plays by influential DJs Steve Lamacq and John Kennedy. How did that feel and what are your hopes for ‘Alone You Go’.
It’s great to have a record that gets national airplay and especially by such high-profile presenters. John had some really great things to say about it on air and Steve, who I met in person, considering he’s such an iconic name in music broadcasting, was such a genuine and down-to-earth bloke. In a sometimes pretentious world, it was comforting to know a bloke like him has held such an influential position for so long. As far as hopes for this record, it’d be great to get similar levels of exposure and response, but that kinda thing is mostly out of my hands. I’ll continue to aim for the stars and if I’m lucky, I might hit the roof!
Which musicians and artists have inspired your solo material?
My inspirations were all the British guitar scene of the 90s: Oasis, The Verve, Ocean Colour Scene, The Stone Roses. I love all that, always have and always will. My old band Kartica was heavily shaped by those influences and I’m still in the same boat. I’ve no more than a passing interest in what’s deemed current or even particularly innovative; I just like a certain sound and a certain feel, and I know it when I see it. If you do too, then maybe I’m the man for you!
I think often it’s the most personal songs that find common ground with people because, ultimately, everyone at some point or another tends to feel the same things.
Live performance seems to be crucial to your career, and your Kartica gigs are fondly remembered amongst many Sheffield gig-goers. How do you feel about the move to solo gigs? Does it feel more personal?
Well, I started off doing acoustic gigs, with me singing and Dave Howard (of The Hudares) playing guitar for me. I can play the guitar (and have done live), I’m just more used to purely singing.
As time’s gone on, I’ve used, and continue to use, various musicians to form a full band. In that sense, it’s not much different to my old gigs with Kartica; it’s just more singular in the approach and preparation, with it still being a “solo” project. That suits me and to be honest, I’m more comfortable playing live now than ever. I feel totally at home on stage. I think, as I’ve aged, I feel more connected to an audience, so if anything that makes it feel more personal.
Your sound is a very powerful one. What are you trying to get across with your music and how do you like your listeners to feel?
I think I’m getting across a feeling, first and foremost. A feeling that I’ve always carried with me, it’s a kinda ‘carrying the past whilst holding hope for the future’. I think you described it well that my sound is “powerful”. I like the music to feel like a tidal wave.
As far as what I’d like my listeners to feel, I think, obviously, some kind’ve connection to me maybe, but more importantly, a commonality, a togetherness with others, however briefly. So many people live such individual lives these days, often at odds with each other, and yet I think of football terraces or music festivals and I think harnessing those moments of people feeling connected, in a positive sense, is really special. Certain music styles appeal to that more than others in my opinion and I think my style and ethos fit the bill.
Your musical journey has been a long one. How did you know this was a path you needed to take?
I think I’ve just always had this urge to express myself in some way. I’m both a pretty social person, I love a laugh and joke and can happily chat away to most people, but there’s also quite a large side of me that’s introspective, that’s kind’ve distant to a lot of the world I see around me. I think music is a way for me of bridging that divide, connecting with people on a bit more of a deeper level than just daily smalltalk and jokes etc. I think [music] it’s either in you or it ain’t. And it’s in me, so although there’s every chance I’ll veer away from it from time to time, I think I’ll always come back to it.
Your upcoming gig in the city centre at Record Junkee (9th Dec) has sold out. How much are you looking forward to it?
It’s the first time I’ve been involved in headlining a ticketed event for around 10 years, and for it to sell out so early, even if it is quite an intimate venue, is a great feeling. It gives me the belief that we can expand size-wise down the line. There are loads of me mates coming and that’ll just give the night a great vibe. It’s a privilege that I can be the catalyst in that sense for getting people together. I always have an unshakeable expectation that I’ll nail any live gig, so I love the prospect of it on the horizon. The support bands (The Causeways, Bloom) are great too, so I think it’s gonna be a really special night. As I’ve got older, I’m really aware that you never know how many more of these kinds of nights you’ll have; they don’t come around too often, so I’ll make sure to savour it and be in the moment.
“It’s the first time I’ve been involved in headlining a ticketed event for around 10 years, and for it to sell out so early, even if it is quite an intimate venue, is a great feeling.”
What can we expect from you in the future?
As far as my writing and song production goes, if you’ve heard a few tunes from me you’ll know more than what to expect going forward. I’m happy with that: you don’t go to a chippy to get a salad. It’ll always likely be a guitar-driven, mid-tempo track. With that in mind, the plan, although things are dragging on, is to keep releasing singles next year and eventually release the debut album (currently being recorded) sometime next year.
I’ve got plans to record some standalone tracks at some point with some musician mates, which may have a slightly different vibe to my usual stuff. I’m really looking forward to doing that actually, because it’ll be a ‘pressure off’ kinda vibe. And for now, as mentioned, it’s all focused on the single release and towards the Record Junkee gig. Everything I’m doing now, a second time around in music after I thought it was all in the past, means I’ve got to really enjoy this moment. It won’t last forever and these moments are special.
