Matt Harding – Expectation

I have seen a few too many times someone being told that they are “too old” to do something, such as learn a musical instrument. It is true that many of the great musicians of the world started playing during childhood, but that doesn’t mean that a person who is a bit older doesn’t have the potential to produce great music. I don’t know anyone who would dispute that a 22 year old is still young, but if that’s the age they are just starting to learn an instrument with intentions of being a recording musician, to some that is unfortunately an entirely different story.

Matt Harding, a musician hailing from London, did just that. He began recording his songs in 1997 at age 22. Harding states, “I had a guitar but couldn’t play, I started writing a few things and learned to play a reasonable enough standard to do the songs.” Harding seemed focused since the beginning. He didn’t try to be someone he wasn’t, or play something he couldn’t play–he based his talent on his own skills, instead of trying to use acclaimed musicians as his model. A huge source of inspiration for him is Bob Dylan. Much of Dylan’s music is made up of only a few chords, and Harding felt if he could learn basic chords like that, the rest would be up to him. Matt said, talking of Dylan, “You wouldn’t go, ‘Look at those chord sequences!’ – he’s just playing two chords and it’s everything he does on top of it.”

While his lo-fi music doesn’t sound like Dylan’s, which it’s not trying to, you can hear Harding experimenting over his chords, making quite intriguing, unique music. In the song ‘Disparate Thoughts,’ there is a beautiful violin. In other songs, there are sound variances and syncopated beats (such as that heard in ‘Signs.’) Harding recently released a new album entitled Expectation, and as of right now, the best way of buying the album in the U.S. is probably through Harding’s label, Moshi Moshi Records. This album feels really diverse, while still having a central focus, and I literally like every single song on the album. Please listen to all of the samples, because they do vary–his music really can’t be classified. Picking only several songs from his album to share with you was nearly impossible. As if his music wasn’t enough, I also admire Harding for his ability to have faith in himself, and not let others define his potential talent, just because he may have learned to play later guitar than the average musician.

Expectation:

Matt Harding – Close

Matt Harding – Disparate Thoughts

Matt Harding – Signs

Matt Harding – Coptic St

Site| Label| Myspace

One thought on “Matt Harding – Expectation

  1. Pingback: Akane soma.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *