Scott Matthews has revealed his video for Cinnamon (also our Song of the Day), the first single to be released from his forthcoming album The Great Untold which is set for release on 24 April via Shedio. The album release will be followed by an 18-date tour of the UK & Ireland (details below).
The publicity around The Great Untold marks this album out as a new era for Matthews and a new beginning on his own terms. The terminology of ‘moving on’ is hardly surprising for an artist who made his debut back in 2006 with Passing Stranger. A lot has naturally happened in the interim including marriage and fatherhood which, as many of you will know, comes with both hopes and fears when looking towards the future in these uncertain times.
Home has clearly played an important part in his life and music, something he touched on in our 2014 interview (around the release of Home Part 1) in which he revealed how he’d made an album literally at the bottom of the garden (read it here).
Then came part two of his Home duology on which he explains“After Home Part 2 was finished, I was looking to move forward by marrying harmony with my experiences since the last record. The plan to write an acoustic record has always been there. And finally, the time is right to do that.”
Talking about the new album, he admits that he has set himself quite a challenge although his return to just voice and guitar will be surely welcomed by those who have followed him over the years as he moved through solo performance to band and back again: “It takes me out of my comfort zone and has made me test myself. I’ve largely pared it down to guitar and vocals. At the beginning, there was nobody else. It’s time to surprise myself. It’s time to go back to my own world.”
Lyrically, The Great Untold is a work with poetic intent. “It’s a collection of songs that lots of people will hopefully relate to. Naturally, my starting points are from a personal perspective but most times I have to broaden the idea so it’s not so insular as a piece of music. It can be a challenge but I’m very proud of where I’ve ventured to and there’s been a lot of soul searching woven into these songs that I hope people will appreciate. When I’m writing, I’m almost hearing voices from The Masters and thinking: ‘Would they approve?’”
Matthews has always carried an emotional weight in his music that connects with listeners. His honesty which carries his innermost hopes and fears makes his music profoundly accessible and moving, so when he states “I want to move somebody with the power of moods and music” you can bet he’ll do just that. If anything, I’d say his decision to strip back his sound will make this album all the more potent.
Scott Matthews Spring Tour
April 28 – Revelation | Ashford, UK
May 1 – Norwich Arts Centre | Norwich, UK
May 3 – The Globe | Cardiff, UK
May 4 – Union Chapel | London, UK
May 5 – Philharmonic Music Room | Liverpool, UK
May 6 – Band on the Wall | Manchester, UK
May 8 – The Cluny | Newcastle, UK
May 9 – Broadcast | Glasgow, UK
May 10 – The Voodoo Rooms | Edinburgh, UK
May 11 – Brudenell Social Club | Leeds, UK
May 15 – SJE Arts | Oxford, UK
May 16 – The Lantern | Bristol, UK
May 17 – The Minack Theatre | Penzance, UK
May 20 – St Paul’s Church | Birmingham, UK
May 23 – The Sugar Club | Dublin, Ireland
May 25 – Guildhall | Winchester, UK
May 26 – Quay Arts | Isle of Wight, UK
May 31 – The Greystones | Sheffield, UK