20/7/06
IT must be a depressing revelation for young musicians that it is not enough to have talent to succeed.
As with many careers, timing, contacts and business sense play a huge role in launching an individual into the big league.
For up-and-coming folk musician Matt English, this is no surprise. Having worked the Brighton music circuit for the last 10 years in the guise of various bands, the 30-year-old guitarist and singer knows only too well the fickle tides of the music industry. As his band ‘Matt English and the 13 Roses’ are on the cusp of signing a record deal, he mentioned his fear of being ‘shelved’, a tactic employed by unscrupulous record labels to buy up anyone and stifle any potential competition. Anxious not to become a musical wreck, the trio has welcomed manager Gary Hutchins, who previously worked with international music label EMI, to help find the right record deal.
Gary, who runs Penny Lane Music shops in Haywards Heath and Brighton, met Matt when he started working at his Brighton shop. Matt said: “Gary’s the final link. There’s always been a basis because of what we do.”
Along with landing him a manager Matt’s line of work has helped him meet a wealth of musical contacts including Nick Cave, Graham Coxon and the Kooks. Matt said: “There’s such a great music scene here.
here’s something going on every night.
“You can walk down the street and see some big music name. It’s Music Central here.”
Immersed in such a music-centric culture, it can be hard for bands to get heard over the cacophony of talent fighting for attention. But the trio has one distinct advantage that makes them stand out.
Drummer Richard Jayston said: “If you look at the kind of people who normally play this kind of music, they’re usually a lot older.
There’s a lack of young blues men around.”
The trio make reference to big American influence Jack White, who “took blues into the mainstream” adding that they’re taking it one step further, fusing blues and folk to concoct a very refreshing genre of ‘folk noir’. It is true there are few bands that would lug a cello around with them but there is no point being different for different’s sake. As Martha, who was classically trained, points out. “If you’re into something, you do it well. If you turn to what everyone else is doing, it doesn’t work. I don’t think you should compromise.”
Matt agreed adding: “Record companies want to see something different. They don’t want another Radiohead. We were just lucky that this genre was coming up. It’s all on the back of bands like Jim Noir.”
The trio only came together six months ago but since then it has been a roller coaster ride with live, stripped down sets every night. Though the band had taken a night off to meet me for an interview, as if to cement their dedication, they returned to Matt’s flat in Kemp town to rehearse afterwards. Prolific gigging with an unplugged vibe in relaxed venues like Dylan once did has won Matt English and the 13 Roses much of its following. They are worth searching out if not for their quirky songs recounting stories of real-life local characters, then for the fact you are likely to spot various members of the Kooks in the audience. Since supporting the Kooks live, the band has fostered a close friendship based on the music but they are dismissive about fame saying that it does not influence these sorts of friendships.
They quote a major influence for all three of them, prolific singer and song-writer Ryan Adams who once said in an interview he played guitar to get famous and meet girls. Martha is quick to point out that though they do not share this ideal, they hope to play as prolifically as Adams and attract a similar cult following for their timeless music.
Richard said: “I’ve had expectations raised in other bands but nothing has come through. There’s always that element if you get good so you’ve got to be prepared for what might happen. But you’ve got to live for what you’re doing too. At the moment we will do the best we can.”
Matt added: “I would just rather people liked our music.”
Matt English and the 13 Roses
Influences: Kelly Joe Phelps, Natalie Merchant, Ryan Adams, Johnny Shotton, Tom Waits.
The band: Matt English, 30, Brighton, singer and songwriter. Martha Rowsell, 18, Brighton, Cello and violin. Richard Jayston, 25, Brighton, drummer.
Look out for: ‘Genoveve’, about a random girl. Matt said: “It’s all drawn from our worries in life. It makes us think someone else always has it harder than us.” And ‘Oh Jim’, about a local character in his 70s who Matt met at an open mic night. “I started to find out about his life. He had been an orphan and went to live on a farm. It’s perfect song material”, said Matt.
Sounds like: Folk noir, quirky English folk fusing country and bluesy sounds.
Music Label: Waiting to pitch to EMI Parlophone and BMG.
Claim to fame: Richard’s dad, Michael Jayston, is a successful actor having appeared in Only Fools and Horses, Dr Who and Sherlock Holmes.
Hear them at: www.myspace.com/mattenglishandthe13roses
Future gigs: August 2, The Providence, Brighton, August 20, Prince Albert, Brighton, August 30, Landsdown Lewes, September 2, Sanctuary Café, Hove, September 20, The Brighton Dome, supporting the Kooks.
