We sit down with Matt Katsis.
Hi! Thanks for chatting with me today! Can you introduce yourself?
Hi there! My name’s Matt Katsis, I’m a singer, songwriter & guitarist based in Melbourne and I play a blend of Blues/Roots & Folk stirred music.
Tell us about your new single
My new single ‘Need You Here’ was recorded in an old hall in country Victoria, just out of Castlemaine. Over the span of several months I got stuck into recording overdubs at home in my living room.
I revisited the original live acoustic hall recording after traveling through the US southern states last year and the Americana/Alt Country influence is definitely something I brought back with me! I laid down mandolin, electric/slide guitar, backing vocals and percussive elements. There ended up been at least half a dozen layered/double-tracked electric guitars throughout, to really get some of those melodic ideas and riffs featuring amongst it all.
The film clip for the single features Go-pro footage of my travels through California, Arizona and Utah from a roadtrip back in 2014. It was edited together by good mate Graeme Passmore with additional footage filmed around Byron Bay.
How has the tour been so far?
The single tour has been great so far. I’ve just got back from playing four amazing shows at the Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival- had a blast! Plus, the added bonus of having the tour van back in working order after a recent break down is always good too! I’m looking forward to seeing the year out with around a dozen more solo shows around Victoria including Tanglewood Music & Arts Festival over New Year’s Eve and a few up in Queensland, just around the corner.
If you could share the stage with one other artist – who would it be and why?
I think I’d have to say Jimi Hendrix mainly because of his experimental and fearless approach to all aspects of his music, the guitar playing, song-writing and live shows. It’s always been something that caught my attention and have since admired after first picking up the guitar as a kid!
If you as a person was a genre, what would you be?
I would be one half Reggae and the other half Blues without a doubt! I’m a long time Bob Marley & The Wailers fan and for me as well it’s hard to go past the storytellers and influential Blues players of the early 20th century who played their part in shaping music as we know it today. Driving the old tour van or just playing tunes around the house, these tick all the boxes for me for the quest of the ultimate listening experience!
Where can we find your single/see you play?
‘Need You Here’ is now available to buy on iTunes and streaming through Spotify & Apple Music.
For more upcoming shows/tour info you can find what’s ahead at either www.mattkatsis.com and www.facebook.com/mattkatsismusic
Famous last words?
I’ll catch you on the flip side…
