music

Music Out Now

Ard Matthews - First Offerings

Ard Matthews' debut solo album, 'First Offerings', draws on many themes and thoughts.

It was recorded over a period of many months, with the last few penned at his beach house in Durban where he now lives with his canine companion Jeff.

In 2010 a decision was made to pursue a solo album, and so began an extensive writing process which took Ard all over the world and around South Africa – from sailing around the Mafia Islands, to visiting India on an extended trip in February 2012.

"This album has been a diary of my life in a way. It is a musical depiction of where I've been over the last couple of years, and I'm really excited to share it with you all. I hope that the public are ready to listen to raw, unpretentious, brutally honest music, because that is what this is about." says Ard of the album. "It also turns out that the general theme is love again, I guess that's just me - no point in changing that now, right? While trends and fashions come and go, love always prevails."

'First Offerings' is an independent release and will be distributed by MESH (Music & Entertainment Solutions Hub.) All tracks were written, produced, recorded and performed by Ard Matthews. Guest artists such as Tumi (and the Volume), John Ellis, Paul Hepker, Theo Crous, rugby great Alistair Hargreaves and big wave surfers Ryan Butcher and Greg Bertish are credited where they appear. The album was mixed in Los Angeles by Bryan Cook (Train, Five for Fighting) and mastered by Hans DeKline.

With brand new tracks and some formidable life experience behind him, the new album is set to introduce an exciting solo path for Ard Matthews.