Matt Gardiner may not be known to many local listeners, but once they get engaged in his emotion filled music they can’t stop listening. The KZN based muso is making a name for himself and recently released the single “Sea of Faces.” Potchefstroom Herald took the time to find out more about one of SA’s must know acts.

 1. Hi Matt, thank you for the interview. Give us a quick description of you as a person/musician and how that influences your musical style?

“I would describe myself as an easy going, fun, trustworthy and loyal person. As a musician, I would say I’m all about spreading happiness and support. I love people, and these traits influence my music in a way that I can only explain by saying that I love making music that draws out raw emotion.”

 2. You got your big break at 2016 Idols SA. What did you learn from that experience?

“I learned a couple of things from the entire experience while I was a contestant on SA Idols, namely the ability to be comfortable in front of cameras, and I learned a couple of techniques from the vocal coach I had. I learned that I still can’t dance despite my best efforts, and the fact that I can’t dance was reaffirmed by the roasts I saw about my rhythm on Twitter after my solo performance”

3. What would you say influences your song writing style? I listened to “Sea of Faces” and love and the emotions involved seem to play a big part in this track?

“My song writing style is based on either how I feel, or it’s influenced by the way I think I would feel in a certain situation. I draw from experience as well, and sometimes my songs are based from another’s perspective. I think most of all though, the songs I write are to share my life with everyone and share my life experience with them.”

4. Who are your musical heroes? Music you like listening to?

“My biggest musical hero is definitely Ed Sheeran. He is my biggest inspiration and I’d basically give anything to hang out with him for one day and just have fun and talk about music, and open up a show for him one day. His music really influences mine and his songs are so full of feeling. I have a couple other heroes as well, international and local. Internationally, the other people I look up to are Mumford and Sons and Shawn Mendes. Locally, two of my heroes and inspirations are Matthew Mole and Majozi. They’re just the coolest people and they have time for people like me who are trying to break into the industry.”

5. Your dream is to play music full time. What would say has been your best experiences in the music industry thus far and what has been most challenging?

“The best part about being a musician is getting to play at really cool places and getting to share my life with everyone through my music. I love getting to meet all the cool people in the industry and it’s kind of surreal sharing a stage with people I look up to. The biggest challenge I have faced is basically just trying to become known and trying to get my name out there.”

6. I heard that you currently working on a six track EP? How has this experience been and what do you aim to achieve when releasing the EP? What can fans expect?

“I ended up deciding to rather push toward a full on album. Recording so far has been great and working with Neil Breytenbach from Prime Circle has been amazing. I’m hoping to actually maybe get signed to a label to help me get more songs out because at the moment it’s difficult to come up with the funding to record and mix and master.”

 7. Greatest show you have played at?

“Ahh flip. That’s a tough one. If I had to pick one show that was my absolute favourite, I’d have to go with opening for Shortstraw at the Taaibos July at Arcade Empire in Pretoria this year. The crowd was packed and they were flippen amazing. I honestly had so much fun with my mates, a couple came onto stage with me and we just had a huge jol. I would love to come and play at an event in Potch though, I’ve seen Matthew Mole and all of them post about how much fun it is playing there and I’d really love to come there as well.”

8. You have already opened up for music heavyweights Majozi. Would you be open for collaborations with different SA artists in the future?

“I would absolutely love to collaborate with the amazing artists we have in our country. A dream of mine is to almost go on a mini tour around the country opening up shows for somebody I look up to like Matthew Mole or Majozi.”

9. Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

“I see myself at the same level as Jeremy Loops. I want to have built quite a strong name for myself here and be known enough to kind of tour internationally.”