Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: My name is Matt Wescott and I am a singer/songwriter and music teacher. As a child my sister taught me to read music. I was bought up in a space where exploring music was the norm. I played recorder, trumpet, cello, drums, percussion and trombone to a decent standard as a kid before picking up the guitar when I went to 6 th form college. My mum was a good pianist and my dad was a keen jazz musician. Very early on I was introduced to The Beatles, Miles Davis, The Clash and Blondie by my family. That definitely had a huge influence on my eventual direction as melody, harmony, rhythm and energy is so important in all of that music and they are the things that draw me in to this day.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Matt Wescott”?
A: My first aim is to write and record some of my best songs and produce it to a standard that I am happy with. I am always writing bits and bobs. Obviously in this day and age it is fairly easy to then get that music onto big streaming platforms etc. I aim to grow my fanbase by playing more high profile gigs, getting some media exposure, radio play, getting included on playlists and hopefully via word of mouth too! Whilst it is easy to get your music out there now that means musicians are operating in a saturated place. I am learning about how to raise my profile as I go really but maintain that having good songs is the most important thing. Recently I have played at Jeremy Clarkson’s brewery and Something Else’s End Of Season Party. Both these were really cool places and events and I hope my performances there lead to more.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: I have a lot of artists that I find inspiring for different reasons. Two that spring to mind in the context of this conversation are Gerry Cinnamon and Gary Stringer. Gerry Cinnamon is first and foremost a great singer, songwriter and performer but is also someone who is inspiring for me because his first releases were independent and he has built it up brilliantly. Gary Stringer is first and foremost an amazing singer and performer but is someone that is inspiring for me because he is from Somerset in the UK like me. However, unlike me currently he has achieved worldwide success and is still producing great music with his band Reef to this day. He’s also on my mind because I am supporting him at a gig in Portsmouth this week. Making music is my life I am inspired to
write songs by things I see and hear in every day life.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “Run Away With Me.”?
A: Run Away With Me is a song about connection and freedom. In my opinion it is easy to get bogged down with financial pressures and to think things like social media are more important than they actually are. What is really important, if you ask me are friendships, family, human relationships. Lines like ‘throw away our phones into the sea’ ‘life is so simple when our stars shine’ and ‘we own the sun’ are about connecting with someone one to one and loving the simple things in life together. ‘Let’s go left it feels so right’ is more political and the line about ‘stranger things’ is more about popular culture and how that can also bind us together. Like lots of other people I watched that series and it gave me something to talk about with others. A connection. Run Away With Me is about
connecting with someone through simple yet important things. That is something we are all free to do but many of us are guilty of not putting enough importance on those connections and nurturing them properly.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Catchy.
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Run Away With Me”?
A: Run Away With me was one of the first songs I co-wrote. That process took some getting used to as opposed to just doing solely what I think or feel. Aimee Proal is a great writer though and was fun to work with. When I came back to the song some time later I really wasn’t happy with some of our first draft lyrics so I redid the second verse and some of the chorus too. In terms of recording it that process was really fun and inspiring. I recorded it with my band at 13 Sound Studios in Somerset.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: My music expresses my thoughts and feelings. I think and feel that it is important to try and be positive wherever possible in a world that sometimes makes that feel harder than it should be. So, I hope even when my songs express some kind of pain or angst that there is also some hope and positivity in there. I aim to keep producing original music, growing my fanbase and progressing to more gigs and festivals that get my music out there in front of people who will hopefully enjoy it, listen to it again and come back to another gig.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: I would love to spend a couple of days writing and recording with Damon Albarn! I’m certain that our collaboration would produce something suitable for the next Gorillaz album!
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: To get as much experience in as many different situations as you can. Put yourself out of your comfort zone and try to swim rather than sinking. To develop resilience and to remember the passion that got you involved in the first place and never to let that go.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: I’d tell my younger self to not take the amazing gigs, festivals, recording sessions and stuff for granted. I’d tell him that when situations change and things aren’t going so well to dig in and keep going.
