Ard Matthews talks to SA Lifestyle

14 Sep 2012 Comments 0

Ard Matthews is known as one of South Africa’s most prolific singers and songwriters. His amazing music has inspired people both locally and internationally. As the front man of South African band Just Jinjer,he led the band to the success of their debut album title ‘All Comes Round’, becoming one of the biggest selling albums of all time in their native country of South Africa, achieving double platinum status in its first year, with the follow up album "Something for now" reaching the same status a year later.

 

In 2010 Ard made the decision to pursue a solo career culminating in the release of his latest album entitled "First Offerings". With about ten thousand people following him on Twitter you know he's huge. SA Lifestyle was lucky enough to be able spend some time with Ard and ask him a few questions.

Hey Ard, you have just released your new album. The creative process and energy involved in getting your new album out must have been exhausting. How are you feeling?

 

I’m feeling quite relieved actually. It took a lot longer than I had wanted it to take so now that it’s done I feel much better. Energized actually. Have TONS more music I wanna get start with now!

 

What’s it like playing huge arenas in front of loads of people?

 

Always such an honour. I thank my lucky stars every time I get the opportunity and always pray there’ll be more.

 

Is it daunting going out on stage and having so many people looking up at you?

 

It’s similar to skydiving for me. Once you go that high it’s kinda hard to grasp just exactly how high it is and so, for me, the fear becomes less the more people I play in front of. Your mind sometimes just can’t grasp!

 

You have been producing some really cool music… what has the reaction been like from the fans?

 

Thankfully so far, unless everyone is just being polite, the response has been incredibly encouraging. I am please with the outcome of the record and the response it is getting.

 

Is there a certain process you go through when writing songs?

 

Not really. My biggest criterion is to not push anything. If I’m not feeling something I’ll just leave it till it rolls out of me. That’s when i know it’s meant to be a song :)

 

So if you had the chance to sing with another artist of your choosing, who would it be?

 

Stevie Wonder or Paul McCartney

 

What has been the proudest moment in your career?

 

The fact that I’ve been able to have a career for so long makes me proud.

 

What do you think is the hardest part of doing what you do?

 

The constant public scrutiny. You’re only as good as your last work. I could never complain about anything else as there are FAR worse jobs!

 

If you could go back in time and prevent a huge catastrophe, which would it be?

 

For the rest of my life I would take the National Anthem incident back any day...

 

My sister Michelle wanted to ask you - “What do you think of the idea of having a pygmie hippos as a pet and if we got you one what would you call it?

 

” I think it could be great so long as they are well looked after even when the novelty has worn out. I would let my dog Jeff come up with a name for it. Follow him on twitter @jeffreydingodog He’s hysterical and quite rude!

 

I am planning on interviewing your manager next! Can you come up with a difficult question for me to ask him?

 

Tell him to ‘Remember this day!’

 

To find out more about Ard Matthews and to keep up to date with what he is up to CLICK HERE.

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