If you could do a show anywhere, where would it be?
I can’t pick one… but doing a tour of quariums would be cool. I haven’t been to one in a really long time and do wonder about it ethically but as a kid aquariums used to really relax me. That or just anywhere ridiculously beautiful like New Zealand or Vancouver. I did a gig once by the sea, opposite a mountain. That’s the standard.
Who is the first person you like to play a new track to?
It varies…it’s usually my little sister or my friend Ryan. Sometimes it’s a songwriting club or open mic in Nottingham. The best open mics are in Newark, They used to do one where I’d be one of the very few under 60’s there. Those nights where always crazy and it was a great place to try weird songs. If it’s a recording it’s usually a lot of people at the same time. My friend Chris Boot who co-produced the double EP has great taste too, as does Scrimshire & our wider family, and also a lot of the friends I’ve made touring and playing shows. It varies…
Which artist do you admire most at the moment in the world of music?
I really like Aidan Knight at the moment, his writing and general approach to the world is beautiful. There are a bunch of artists I’m listening to a lot who seem to be doing exactly what they want and writing music that captures perfectly what they want to say. I listened to the Julie Byrne record the other day, that was one of those. Luke Sital Singh, Sivu, Fazerdaze and folks like Thundercat- those records have all been really great, recent, examples of that. I’ve been playing a lot of Feist over the last 6 months. Some of the songs on Pleasure ruined me. I mean that in the most reverent way possible. Just really powerful music. There are a few songs on The Reminder and Let It Die that draw me in like magnets. Guiltily, I listened to the Harry Styles record the other day. The last track on it is well emotional. Well played. It’s really impressive
What sort of music did you grow up listening to, has that affected your sound today?
Yeah, loads of things. The Beach Boys’ “I get around” was on in my mums car a lot in the early nineties when we used live in Scotland – I would have been about 4 or 5. My dad actually brought a guitar maybe a little bit before then and learned 3 chords (C, D & G) and used to make up songs for me my sister and brother. It was awesome. Growing up playing music in church was a factor too. Also a lot of great 90s hip hop and RnB courtesy of my big brother and cousins. Soul music and jazz were big too, Marvin Gaye, and Miles Davis made regular appearances in our household. My brother used to have loads of acoustic music compilations featuring Badly Drawn Boy, The Eels, Boa, actually Boa had this song called Duvet which was the only song of theirs I really know but it was just stunning. Also we used to get cds in golden grahams cereal as a kid – I think that’s where I heard Muse for the first time. There was a band called Antenna with a song called “come on spring”, I read The Hobbit along to that song on repeat. It was really beautiful. I remember seeing Jennifer Paige on top of the pops and that song crush just flooring me. The big ones were The Bends by Radiohead, Grace by Jeff Buckley and Shadows Collide with People by John Frusciante. I brought those three records in Fopp in Cambridge when I was ab out 15 and never really looked back. Around a similar time I discovered Ronny Jordan, acid jazz & post rock as well as percussive guitar players like Michael Hedges. I also can’t forget The Mars Volta or Death Cab, l loved everything. Sue Trucks (who does all of my artwork) in 2004 gave me a stack of acid jazz CDs too. I can’t remember giving them back.Later that year I got paid for a gig in a stack of Victor Wooten CDs too which was awesome. So it’s a right old mix of stuff.
You’ve toured with some interesting artists, what would you say the best bit about touring for you is?
I’m on tour right now! I love it. The best bit is always meeting new people and breathing new air. I turn off my phone a lot now and just enjoy it. The experiences on the road with Gogo Penguin and Portico w/Jono McCleery & Jamie Woon, were beautiful and really eye opening. Also having lots of shows close together is really helpful, there’s not really time to over think things. I’m in Edinburgh right now, it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world. The air up here is amazing. Last night I played in Helensburgh and the combination of the sea and the air is just a perfect combo for falling in love with a place.
What do think it was about music that drew you into it’s world?
Everyone and everything. I think just by speaking there is music in it. The rhythm of speech and movement in seemingly mundane daily life, there’s a Washing machine going next door that I can hear, even that has a vibe. I was really lucky I have had friends, teachers and family that have all shown me different ways to engage in a personal way and meaningful way with music. There’s nothing special about me, i just was lucky to encounter things and be encouraged in the way I have.
What are some of your favourite electro artists at the moment?
Dayum. I love Koreless, Lone, Christian Tiger School, Modified Man, The Gaslamp Killer, Gold Panda, Romare, Bonobo & Dorian Concept. I’ve loved M83 for a really long time too. I made a bunch of incredible friends at RBMA too who introduced me to s ome stunning music. My friend Luc from Christian Tiger School introduced me to Schlohmo – Bad Vibes is so beautiful! & The Haxan Cloak who I think is killer. I also sat next to some bassbins, with ear plugs in, at a a party in an empty swimming pool in Montreal watching Jacques Greene. It was like having had an outer body experience and full body massage at the same time. Flipping love Jacques Greene.
What would you like to explore further in your music?
This is the problem…I want to explore everything. Probably becoming more disciplined. That’s something worth exploring. Creatively I think just exploring emotions and feelings is what it’s all about. That’s why I like Feist so much, she has this control and awareness of rhythm and melody that makes what she does irresistible to your ears. I’ve noticed the same thing when George the Poet speaks.
What is next for Daudi Matsiko?
More fear and hopefully a record.
The EP ‘An Introduction To Failure’ is out now on Naim Records
