Wenn die kältere Jahreszeit so langsam näher rückt und der Spätsommer seine letzten Züge hinter sich gebracht hat, wird es auch in der Christianskirche wieder schön gemütlich: Anspruchsvolle Popmusik findet wieder einmal Einzug in der ganz besonderen und wunderschönen Kulisse der Christianskirche Altona. Der aus Kanada stammende Songwriter Matt Andersen wird Donnerstag am 12. Oktober 2023 eine einzigartige Show im Rahmen der Pop Seasons spielen und seinen Blues in akustischem Gewand allein mit seiner Gitarre darbieten. Passend dazu haben wir Matt ein paar Fragen gestellt.
Frontstage Magazine: Matt, you come from Canada and have performed on stages all around the world. How is it for you to perform in such diverse cultural environments, and how does it influence your music?
Matt Andersen: One of the things I love most about what I do is that it has taken me to places I never thought I would see. Even though I don’t often get to spend much time in any one spot, the opportunity to take in different cultures has definitely helped me form a more broad view of the world. I can’t say how it has directly impacted my music, but every experience finds it’s way into my writing, whether it’s obvious or not.
Frontstage Magazine: Your music blends blues, rock, Americana, and folk in a unique way. Which artists or genres have inspired you the most, and how did you find your own style?
Matt Andersen:I grew up listening to all sorts of music, still do. Some of my favourites would be Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Stan Rogers, Bruce Cockburn, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, John Fogerty… and many others. My style is a mash up of everything I listen to. New influences bring new sounds that can sometimes work their way into what I’m playing.
Frontstage Magazine: You will be performing at the beautiful setting of Christianskirche Hamburg in October 2023. How does the atmosphere and energy differ for you when performing in such intimate and acoustic settings compared to larger stages?
Matt Andersen:I’m fortunate to be able to play all sorts of venues. Churches are some of my favourites. For the most part, they were designed for one person addressing the whole room. I love singing in old churches, there is something that newer buildings just can’t replicate.
Frontstage Magazine: In your live performances, you bring a lot of honesty and emotional closeness. What message do you want to convey to people through your music and lyrics?
Matt Andersen: Basically, be good to each other. We’re all facing enough challenges without creating more headache and heartache for the people around us.
Frontstage Magazine: You have collaborated with an impressive list of international artists. Is there a particular moment or experience during a collaboration that has had a significant impact on you?
Matt Andersen: Opening for people like Buddy Guy, Bo Diddley and Steve Miller was pretty inspiring. All of the guys were into their 70s when I was doing shows with them. Seeing them on stage still putting on killer shows was amazing. They have/had been on the road longer than I’ve been alive. Still sounding great and still delivering.
Frontstage Magazine: Your career has been recognized with numerous awards, including European Blues Awards and Maple Blues Awards. What does this recognition mean to you, and what are your goals for the future of your music career?
Matt Andersen: Awards are nice, but not the goal. The real reward is people in the seats and shows and listening to the music at home. I love being on the road and making music. I want to keep that up for as long as I can. I’ll be content if I can continue to find new places and people to perform for in the years to come.
Hier bekommt ihr noch Tickets für die Show
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