Exposed catches up with Sheffield singer-songwriter Mathew J Hall to talk Full Weight – a gutsy, genre-bending new EP full of bold sounds and big emotions.
You’ve called Full Weight a bold new chapter. What feels different with this record?
I think this record is a little more experimental – there are really heavily produced tracks like ‘Weight of Love’ and ‘Lady Luck’, and really minimal pieces like ‘Creature of Comfort’. I’ve finally found a way to listen to myself when it comes to the direction of the tracks, and go with my own instincts and taste.
The press notes mention a private archive of hundreds of songs. How did you whittle that down to the six on this EP – and what was the rule for what made the cut?
The core of the writing began in lockdown – as we all know, there was little else to do. I started having fun making demos and drinking cocktails, amongst the chaos outside. A hell of a lot of material came out of that period and beyond – some great, some average, some poor. I guess it was just my job to pick out the great ones. Easy, right?
‘Weight of Love’ is a hard-hitting, driving track and lyrically deals with some difficult themes and experiences in your personal life. Could you speak a bit about how you found the process of putting pen to paper on it?
‘Weight of Love’ is a really personal song to me – something I wouldn’t want to lay out flat and give the game away. I feel like the more emotional songs should let the listener find their own story. I don’t really find it hard writing those kinds of pieces – it’s having the confidence to release them that’s the hardest part.
Conversely, ‘5:32’ has a catchy disco bassline and shimmering synths. How important was it to have that contrast of sounds on the record – the rockier cuts and the more danceable tunes?
‘5:32’ just started out as a demo of me and a collaborator trying our best to make a disco track – not bad for a first stab, eh? I wasn’t really thinking about the record as a whole, just working on it track by track. I guess that’s why I made the project an EP – so it has more chance to be a short, diverse offering. The concept album comes next!
Influence-wise, the likes of Aldous Harding and Amen Dunes get name-checked alongside Neil Young and Jeff Buckley. What specifically are you borrowing from these artists?
I’d say Aldous Harding and Amen Dunes sort of live in a world of no fear – well, that’s what I take from their records. From listening to the music and watching every interview online – I mean every interview – I guess they helped me want to be bold, and not ask whether what I’m doing is OK to friends or peers. And with Jeff Buckley and Neil Young – I’m just forever trying to be them in every way.
You say “no one is really a solo artist.” Who are the friends and trusted collaborators behind Full Weight, and what did each unlock?
I had two main collaborators on this record. One is Andy Martin (Eno Ono) – he’s my main writing partner. We shaped a lot of the demos together and have made music for over ten years now. At the time of making the record, The Beatles: Get Back doc came out – we talked for hours about that and forgot about the music we were making! I reckon I’ve watched the whole thing at least five times.
The other main collaborator is David Glover (Tecna Studios). He helped mix and produce the songs with me. He’s the ultimate vibe machine and brought laughter – and a good hug – to help me deliver some of the more delicate moments.
Having made music around these parts for years, it’s natural that this record has that Sheffield stamp on it. What corners of the city – places, people, experiences – found their way into these songs?
As I mentioned earlier, the making of the record began in lockdown – in my bedroom with a set of speakers and a computer. So it was basically me and my family for four months, all doing each other’s heads in. As time progressed, the record developed more in my studio in Kelham Island. The chippy down the road played a big part in it too, I guess – Hicks Chip Shop.
Finally, what do you hope people take away from this EP?
In a world of YouTube Shorts and limited attention spans, just someone listening to a track and feeling something – that’s more than enough for me.
Listen to Full Weight here. Mat plays the Hallamshire Hotel on 24 October and tickets (£10) are available now from fatsoma.com.
