Can you give a brief introduction to Sieben?
Hello. Yes, Sieben is my one-man show. It consists of myself, a loop pedal (Linesix DL4, just in case you were wondering) and my violin. I build layers of sound, looping round, adding plucks, beats on the body, bowed melodies and all other sorts of strange sounds. Then I sing over the top. The songs are arranged, but I am open to ‘go with the flow’ and keep a song going and expand it, if the mood is right!
How would you describe the music of Sieben?
Pretty much in technical terms as above- I find it easier writing and playing the music than describing it. If I was pushed though, I would say the music has richness, simplicity, and a hypnotic effect. It is mind music :)
The music is really unique, how did you come up with this style?
I worked and worked, I developed, I made mistakes and rectified them, I worked and worked some more. Then I relaxed into the music, taking stock of what I knew and what I was, and hey presto there was my style…
You just finished a tour with labelmates, Emilie Autumn, how did it go, what is the best memory you have about the tour?
Some lovely gigs, and some fun along the way. The Sheffield (home-leg of the tour) concert was really nice, and it was so heart-warming to be given a warm welcome in my hometown. I began to get Stockholm Syndrome and learned to love my rabbit-hutch sized bed bunk. And I got more sleep than I have in years- I caught up on three years of sleep deprivation on the long journeys. And I snored and kept the girl awake. Sorry about that, girls ;-))
No, not really. I do that often enough as it is, playing with other bands, playing with my student’s bands when I put on concerts for them. And some places I go I have my own ready-made backing band anyway, such as Italy and Greece. I love the simplicity of what I do with just myself and a violin. And I love to see people who haven’t seen me before- thinking ‘oh Christ, one person and a violin- this may be pretty boring’ and then seeing their jaws drop down in astonishment ;-))
How do you keep things visibly interesting onstage, have you thought about that before playing live?
Sometimes I do, I have used projections and backdrop etc. But what I do is about the music, that’s the point. I’m not bothered about backdrops, or teddy bears on stage. You can close your eyes and never look at me while I’m playing for all I care! It’s about the music. No-one should have to look at me for too long- it just isn’t right ;-())
You build your songs layer by layer on stage, how does this work, are you observing the responses of the audience?
Yes, to an extent. I can feel if something is right for the moment, for the mood, and I respond accordingly. I will lengthen tracks that are fitting the mood right, and occasionally stop tracks a little shorter if I want to change the mood, or up the tempo. And sometimes I will add more violin playing, improvising and playing off the audience’s vibe.
Does the result make you wonder every now and then of this, wondering by yourself, what did just happened, what did I do?
Often. And even without the audience’s intervention. Sometimes I can feel myself falling into a trance-like state while I’m playing in front of people. At the WGT this year I had to ask a member of the audience which songs I had already played- because when I finished playing I had no memory of what song I had just played, or any of the songs I had already played!
I don’t have specific people, just specific ideals, I suppose. People who are open, who are altruistic, who give of themselves without thinking what they will gain, people who pursue their hearts, but don’t tread on others, people who make the best of what they have, and don’t always need more, need what is new, to satisfy them.
You released seven albums already, when you look back now, see you a development in style and direction, are you going the way you originally intended to go?
I didn’t know which direction I should be going, except ‘better’. The more I have done, the less I set myself a direction, the more I let it flow from myself. It needs to be worked on, worked out and encouraged out of me, but I am more relaxed about what I produce now, than I ever have been. The years of obsession and attention to detail were the grounding for releasing the art inside me.
You also have some more projects, what can you tell about them?
I release material under my own name, kind-of neo-classical strange instrumental music. And recently, under my own name, I have completed setting my father’s poetry (read by himself) to music. It will be a hardback book and CD release, by P.R.E. in Rome. This will be released later in the year.
Do all the different project reflect a different part of you as a person and when we put them all together we have a good view who Matt is?
Ah ha, there are many sides to me, to be sure, he he. It gives you a whole perspective on my musical output, at least… As for the rest, that remains to be seen ;-)
I will weave some magic, and put people under my spell, I hope! They had better expect something they’ve never seen live before ;-) Unless they’ve seen me before, in which case they can expect me, only more full-on!
Any last words for the readers?
Beware! I am coming! ;-) All the best, and see you there :)
Matt