A few years ago, Halifax musician Mat Hughes was mainly playing covers to drunk people in bars. But eventually, this became uninspiring, prompting him to switch things up and begin writing his own tunes. His songs are upbeat yet lyrically melancholic.
“A lot of my songs are about, like, existential dread of some kind,” says Hughes.
He describes his forthcoming EP, available in May, as offering coping strategies for being afraid of the future.
“They’re all similarly tongue and cheek,” says Hughes.
Hughes describes “South Facing Dumpster,” a single from the EP out on March 21, as “trying to poke fun at the end of the world.”
“When things aren’t going your way, it’s just a dumpster on a hot day,” sings Hughes.
He wrote the first chorus while riding his bike towards Shearwater, N.S. Hughes finds that Halifax shapes his music; he often draws on the city for musical inspiration. For instance, in “South Facing Dumpster” he also sings, “Keep the skyline in your sight the whole time,” in reference to Halifax’s waterfront.
The Halifax music scene
Hughes, originally from Nova Scotia, lived in Gibsons, B.C. for five years. Now back in the Halifax music scene, he says he finds it more supportive and collaborative than the West Coast.
“It feels very special to be a part of it,” says Hughes.
Hughes organizes monthly house shows with his roommate Julia Cunningham, featuring mainly Nova Scotian musicians. Hughes hosts the sessions, coined “Allan Good Fun,” in his attic on Allan Street, where he also writes his music. He finds that artists enjoy performing for a smaller, enthusiastic audience that hangs onto every note. In the event’s early stages, Hughes and Cunningham sought out musicians to participate. Now, musicians request to perform.
Collaboration is important to Hughes, and his biggest advice to students is to embrace it.
“It’s kind of daunting to write a song with a person, but the few times I’ve done it with people it’s been really good,” says Hughes.
Unconventional themes
Hughes’s career has not been without challenges. One of the challenges he faces while making music is the cost. For musicians that don’t have a recording background, releasing music can be pricey.
He also worries his music is too “self-indulgent.”
“Sometimes I think no one wants to hear about this white guy’s problems anymore,” says Hughes.
He tries to focus his writing on the bigger picture, but he says his songs still tend to be from his own perspective. He often second guesses himself, thinking his viewpoint is not unique enough.
But some would argue his worldview is what makes his music stand out. His songs often focus on topics that a wide audience can relate to. His subject matter covers a range of issues — from climate anxiety to bad landlords to being burnt out from multiple jobs.
“Flake on all of your plans, you know you overcommit. Go ahead and take the day off, or just full on quit,” sings Hughes on his song “Sick Day.”
Unlike many artists, his songs typically stray away from the topic of love. But love is not fully off limits for Hughes, as his song “Dead Flowers and Postcards” describes a missed opportunity for love.
“It was fun, and it was refreshing, because I was like, ‘Oh I don’t write a lot of love songs,’” says Hughes in reference to the song.
Halifax’s Elton John
Hughes grew up playing the piano, which has inspired him to centre his music around the instrument.
“My go to joke is that I really hate the guitar — and I don’t — but I just like to tease guitar players,” laughs Hughes.
To him, the piano is more novel and has a bigger sound that fills up a room. A lot of people tell him that his songs sound like showtunes, which isn’t intentional. But growing up, Hughes accompanied a lot of community theatre productions, which he thinks may be the reason. The theatrical and percussive sound is an unlikely contrast to his somber lyrics.
But his gloomy lyrics haven’t stopped some from coining him “Halifax’s Elton John,” as seen on posters for past events.
Along with the EP releasing in May, Hughes also has several upcoming shows. Allan Good Fun takes place every month, and he will be performing at St. Andrew’s Church in May.
As Hughes puts it in his song “Dead Flowers and Postcards,” if you can’t make it, “It’s okay, it’s just a let down.”
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