Emerging from Sheffield, Mat Hook is sort of a prodigal son. After an experience with a previous band, he went into a long hiatus, eventually deciding to return ‘home’ – or at least to live performances – just after the pandemic. Now, Hook unveils the first new record in a long while, ‘Runaway Road’. Built over charming indie and rock-pop flavourings, the single is especially catchy and memorable, supercharged by Mat’s intense yet malleable vocal tone.
Lyrically, the song was conceived right at the end of a painful period, something that drenches the record in meaningful character and that will hopefully serve as inspiration to everyone who listens to it.
Intrigued by the project, we caught up with Mat Hook to find out more about his artistry and future goals… interview below!
Hey Mat, how is it going? some of our readers might not be familiar with your project, how would you describe yourself, in a few words?
I’m an Indie-rock, singer/songwriter. Anthemic sounds, singing songs of hopes and dreams and all the in-betweens!
Your current work is the result of a long journey; What first drew you to making music?
Severe disillusionment with the world probably! Anyone who’s drawn to making music is usually trying to get something off their chest, possibly anyone who’s creating anything? I’m happy when making music, it’s my own world!
If you had the opportunity to pick any artists in the world for a collaboration, who would be your first choice? (and second choice, perhaps?)
Off the top of my head, Noel Gallagher, John Power, Richard Ashcroft, Simon Fowler, John Squire, Alex Turner… There are a few, who I think it’d be interesting to so how they go about it. Not sure if I’d enjoy the process though! Collaborating with people I didn’t know personally probably wouldn’t be for me. There are plenty of my mates who are musicians though, who I think I’d really enjoy it and in fact, I have plans to collaborate with a few different people soon for standalone tracks. So watch this space!
‘Runaway Road’ is your latest effort, a track that signals your return to the live (and recorded) music scene. Before we dive into that specifically, could you tell us if you are satisfied with the end result? Stylistically, does the song represent you?
Yeah pretty much, there’s always bits and bobs I’d change, that’s the same for any record I’ve ever done and likely always will be. But I think stylistically it comes across really well. If you don’t really feel the vibe of what I’m about with this song, you probably ain’t gonna fancy the rest.
You explain how you had to take a long hiatus from music. What made you decide to come back, and how does all that reflect into ‘Runaway Road’?
It’s really as simple as, I enjoy it more than anything else. I also think I’m pretty good at it. I don’t really have that many hobbies and there’s definitely less that I’m any good at so as you start to get older, you realise time really is flying so you may as well spend it doing something that fulfils you! As far as ‘Runaway Road’ it just kinda sums up a feeling of returning, that wasn’t really planned, I didn’t sit down and think how to write this song and give it a particular feel, it just kinda came out one night and fell into place in the grand scheme of things.
Music can often have healing properties. Has your return to music helped you approach life in a more wholesome and healthy way?
Erm who knows, my story at the minute seems to be formulating the idea I was a bit down and out and now back and it’s all hunky dory, which of course will never be the case, I’m wary that of that projection, I’m conscious it could all go off course pretty easily. My life, like anyone else’s, is a constantly evolving story and some days are better than others. All I know regarding music is, it’s something I can turn to to give me a focus and an outlet. “If I hadn’t seen such riches, I could live with being poor”.
Looking back at the band you were part of years ago – ‘Kartica’ – you must have learnt something valuable about how to make a group project work. What advice would you give to any young musician in a band today?
Yeah, generally grab the bull by the horns and constantly bug the rest to do the same (haha). Ultimately Kartica, or at least my involvement with it (As far as I know they’re technically still a band) fell apart, so not sure I have any magic advice to make a group project work.
I think to have any chance you have to be ambitious, generous, driven… There’s so much hard work that you have to do while understanding it could still get you nowhere, but if you don’t do it, you have zero chance of making any impact, doesn’t matter how ‘good’ you are. Also maybe most importantly if you’re going to be part of a band you have to be able to interact properly and genuinely with each other. ‘Attitude’ might make you look impressive on a stage or in a photoshoot, but it’ll kill you in a rehearsal room or in dealing with industry people.
What are the next steps for your project? Anything exciting on the horizon?
Just to keep on recording my debut album and releasing singles along the way. I’m a bit quiet on the gig front (intentionally) at the moment. So we might put in the work to line up some decent gigs towards the end of the year!
