A Quick Q&A With Mr. Matthew Fisher
Following the release of his debut single, ‘Antenna Blame’, a tongue-and-cheek critique of society’s reliant need for technology, we caught up with Manchester based Mr. Matthew Fisher, to give you a formal introduction to the man behind the music. “Reader, Mr. Matthew Fisher. Mr. Matthew Fisher, reader. We’ll leave you to get acquainted.”
Who are you?
I am Mr. Matthew Fisher, more commonly known as Matthew Fisher. I'm a solo artist, singer and music producer.
Where are you from?
I'm from the luscious north east of England, more precisely Darlington but now patrol in Manchester.
You've spent the last few years in bands such as Circus Villains & Electric Screams, what led to your solo venture?
Boredom and the presence of a loose-end. I, like many others, was out of work as of March 2020 which left me with a lot of free time. I'd been writing new songs over this period which didn't really sound like band songs, I think this was probably because I was listening to a tonne of hip hop, spoken word and R&B stuff. I started demoing these tracks to maybe rehearse with Electric Screams but then found myself beginning to produce these demos with bratty guitar, drum samples, synth and ta-da, the solo venture began.
You released your debut single, 'Antenna Blame', can you talk about the inspiration behind this record?
Antenna Blame is a song that kinda pokes fun at society becoming a little brainless. I'm just as guilty as anyone at using my phone too much and although I don't really watch TV or read the news, I'm aware of their sometimes poisonous quality whereby people begin to look at blaming their personal circumstances on subjects such as immigration, economics and the general lack of wisdom in the media. The track is written to debunk this spoon-fed culture and to encourage some more independent thought back into life. It’s been a good test of my music patience and talent, so I suppose another inspiration was to give something new a try after playing in bands; writing about things which frustrate or interest me.
The artwork for Antenna Blame is a photo of your grandparents in Blackpool from 1947 - is there any story behind the image which influenced your decision to use it?
The influence for using this picture kind of ties in with the inspiration for the track. I don't want to come across as one of those retro-maniacs that pretends that the late 1940s was better than 2020 as it most likely wasn't - certainly in terms of socioeconomics and freedoms. BUT that being said, I would've liked to experience a time where technology wasn't at the forefront and things/days were likely more treasured. The picture has a great, warming human touch to it and also those sunglasses are fantastic.
You've name-checked a number of artists as inspiration, including Baxter Dury, Talking Heads, Nadine Shah and Man & The Echo; is there anyone we've missed?
The artists above are definitely who I've been most occupied with for the past year or so but there are some broader inspirations. I was a self-proposed Punk/Mod when I was in my teens, so I've taken a tonne from The Jam and The Stranglers at the foundation. I've also always loved heavy metal and rock, so I'd be keen to tip a hat to Alice in Chains and AC/DC haha!
On the smoother side of things, Erykah Badu, Kate Bush and Scott Walker. On the meaner side, Sleaford Mods, Iggy Pop and A Tribe Called Quest.
Can you describe your sound in three words or less?
Matchbox pop-rock
What can we expect from you going forward?
I'm planning to release a new single every 2 months from now on and when we get to a decent number, I'll release an EP or album at some point next year. I'm also wishing to pull a live show together for this project and hopefully do some relentless gigging in spring/summer next year if I can. I just expect to stay pro-active and see what I can make of this music! I do also have a stripped back gig coming to Lock 91, Manchester on 20th November!
Are there any artists/bands you've been listening to of late that you can recommend?
At the moment I can't get enough of UK R&B and rap: Lianne La Havas, Arlo Parks, Little Simz and Cleo Sol. On top of that I'm really enjoying Field Music, Billy Nomates and Ghostpoet. I will also always recommend a bunch of my super talented friends: Sarah Angel, Luke Royalty, Swine Tax, Strange Sun and Flowers of Evil.
