Matthew Sal performing at the Ace Space, Newbury
Folk-singer Matthew Sal is releasing a new EP in February, the fifth since his debut in May last year.
The 22-year-old, based in Newbury, Berkshire, says the new material follows from a long line of tradition in folk singers. ‘I think there’s something quite special with musicians who really touch a chord just using their voice and their guitar’ he says, ‘that’s as pure as music can get, and something I will continue to strive for for a long time.’
Critically lauded 2011
Surfacing midway through the year, Matthew enjoyed a productive and critically lauded 2011.
Describing his style as ‘short folk tunes with a bluesy twist’ the material was met with enthusiastic reception at shows in both Newbury and Norwich. The enthusiasm prompted Matthew to record his material using only a laptop and usb microphone.
Though folk music hearkens back to before the digital age, it was the decision to take his music online that brought Matthew success.
Online music distribution
Matthew is a strong advocator of free online platforms such as SoundCloud and BandCamp, which emphasise artistic control. He describes the format as ‘very intuitive, very reliable, and the lovely thing about them is they it put the control in the hands of the musician.’ Commenting on the atmosphere they created, he added ‘it’s your own little entity, people aren’t judged on how many friends or fans they have, which is refreshing.’
That is not to say Matthew has escaped the warm welcome of listener feedback. Comments such as ‘sweet mellow and husky voice’, ‘wonderful guitarplaying’ and ‘fast, clean picking’ indicate that Matthew has hit his stride and captivated an audience of folk enthusiasts.
The song ‘Golden Hair’ was played on BBC Radio Berkshire, and his BandCamp page received over 3,000 hits in the first month alone.
His success is indicative of the way music distribution is changing. Equipped with the right tools, an aspiring artist can quickly find the means of connecting with their target audience, at no cost to the provider or consumer.
The new EP – the title of which is yet to be announced – will be available on Matthew Sal’s bandcamp page on the 20th February.
External Links
Matthew Sal on:
Bruce Sigrist 