Matthew van der Want
Encyclopedia
Matthew van der Want is a South African singer, songwriter and recording artist.
Albums
His debut album, "Turn on You", was recorded in 1996 by Shifty Records
' Lloyd Ross, and released on the Tic Tic Bang record label in December 1996. "Turn on You" featured several well known South African Musicians, including former African National Congress
member of parliament, Jennifer Ferguson, who performed on two duets on the album, and Tananas drummer Ian Herman. Two singles from Turn on You reached the 5fm National top forty and several of the tracks from the album received airplay in South Africa.
In 1998 and 2002, van der Want collaborated with songwriter and composer Chris Letcher
(now based in London) to release two albums. 1998's "low riding" was nominated in two categories in the South African Music Awards
in the Best Rock album and Best Adult Contemporary categories. 2002's "bignity" was also nominated for Best Rock album in the 2002 South Africa Music Awards. Both albums were recorded by Lloyd Ross of Shifty Muic. The acoustic duo of van der Want and Letcher were critically acclaimed and they were repeatedly hailed as two of South Africa's top singer songwriters Bignity was listed in the Mail and Guardian's top ten albums of the decade (2000–2010)
van der Want released a further solo album in 2005, called "play my way". The single off that album reached no 6 in the 5fm South African top forty.
A best of album "the Best and Worst of Matthew van der Want" was released in 2008, containing various tracks from "Turn on You", "bignity", "low riding" and "play my way", as well as six previosuly unreleased tracks.
In 2002, van der Want produced a tribute album to SOuth African Afrikanns alternative singer Koos Kombuis
called "Kombuis Musiek". On that album, various South African singers performed songs authored by Koos Kombuis.
Performance
Van der Want performed at every Oppikoppi
music festival between 1996 and 2005 and he and Chris Letcher
recently made a return to South Africa's biggest music festival at the August 2011 Unknown Brother Festival. He performed at the Dranouter Folk music festival in Belgium in 1997 and at the WOMAD Festival in South Africa in 2001. van der Want has also performed several times at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival
, his most recent performance being in July 2009. In 2008, van der Want participated in the Old Mutual
Acoustic Encounters series at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival, collaborating with Harris Tweed (now Dear Reader) He has also played at the Splashy Fen Music Festival in 1996 and 1997. He was the support act for Lloyd Cole
for his Johannesburg
show in July 2006 at the Bassline in Newton, Johannesburg.
Van der Want's live perfomrance has been described as follows: "His cutting insights into matters of the heart, and satirical take on the music industry have probably made him a few enemies, but anyone with an ounce of self respect or taste should not be able to deny the talent behind the f*** off attitude. He says what he thinks, but he does so with such frightening beauty that you can't look away."
Van der Want's music
van der Want's music has featured in the documentary about the late James Phillips
"Famous for not being famous" and his song "Pianist" was used in the 2010 movie "the Bang Bang Club" starring Ryan Phillipe. Three of his songs also featuredf on the 1996 album "New Africa Rock"
The song "Turn on You" was featured on the album "My Generation" in 1996.
Albums
His debut album, "Turn on You", was recorded in 1996 by Shifty Records
Shifty Records
Founded by Lloyd Ross and Ivan Kadey, Shifty Records was a South African anti-apartheid record label which existed for over a decade beginning 1982...
' Lloyd Ross, and released on the Tic Tic Bang record label in December 1996. "Turn on You" featured several well known South African Musicians, including former African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
member of parliament, Jennifer Ferguson, who performed on two duets on the album, and Tananas drummer Ian Herman. Two singles from Turn on You reached the 5fm National top forty and several of the tracks from the album received airplay in South Africa.
In 1998 and 2002, van der Want collaborated with songwriter and composer Chris Letcher
Chris Letcher
Chris Letcher is a South African singer/songwriter and film composer based in London. He is currently studying towards the completion of his Doctorate in Music Composition at the Royal College of Music, London. Two of Chris's albums made South Africa's Mail & Guardian list of the 20 Best Cds of the...
(now based in London) to release two albums. 1998's "low riding" was nominated in two categories in the South African Music Awards
South African Music Awards
The South African Music Awards are an annual award ceremony, run by the Recording Industry of South Africa , where accolades are presented to members of South Africa's music industry. Winners receive a statuette is called a SAMA. The event was established in 1995...
in the Best Rock album and Best Adult Contemporary categories. 2002's "bignity" was also nominated for Best Rock album in the 2002 South Africa Music Awards. Both albums were recorded by Lloyd Ross of Shifty Muic. The acoustic duo of van der Want and Letcher were critically acclaimed and they were repeatedly hailed as two of South Africa's top singer songwriters Bignity was listed in the Mail and Guardian's top ten albums of the decade (2000–2010)
van der Want released a further solo album in 2005, called "play my way". The single off that album reached no 6 in the 5fm South African top forty.
A best of album "the Best and Worst of Matthew van der Want" was released in 2008, containing various tracks from "Turn on You", "bignity", "low riding" and "play my way", as well as six previosuly unreleased tracks.
In 2002, van der Want produced a tribute album to SOuth African Afrikanns alternative singer Koos Kombuis
Koos Kombuis
Koos Kombuis is a South African musician, singer, songwriter and writer who became famous as part of a group of anti-establishment maverick Afrikaans musicians, who, under the collective name of Voëlvry , toured campuses...
called "Kombuis Musiek". On that album, various South African singers performed songs authored by Koos Kombuis.
Performance
Van der Want performed at every Oppikoppi
Oppikoppi
Oppikoppi is the name of a music festival held in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, near the mining town of Northam. The festival started off focusing mostly on rock music, but gradually added more genres and now plays host to a complete mixed bag of genres...
music festival between 1996 and 2005 and he and Chris Letcher
Chris Letcher
Chris Letcher is a South African singer/songwriter and film composer based in London. He is currently studying towards the completion of his Doctorate in Music Composition at the Royal College of Music, London. Two of Chris's albums made South Africa's Mail & Guardian list of the 20 Best Cds of the...
recently made a return to South Africa's biggest music festival at the August 2011 Unknown Brother Festival. He performed at the Dranouter Folk music festival in Belgium in 1997 and at the WOMAD Festival in South Africa in 2001. van der Want has also performed several times at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival
National Arts Festival
The National Arts Festival is one of the most important events on the South African cultural calendar, and the biggest annual celebration of the arts on the African continent....
, his most recent performance being in July 2009. In 2008, van der Want participated in the Old Mutual
Old Mutual
Old Mutual plc is an international long-term savings group. Established in 1845 in South Africa, it is now a FTSE100 listed company operating in 33 countries.-History:...
Acoustic Encounters series at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival, collaborating with Harris Tweed (now Dear Reader) He has also played at the Splashy Fen Music Festival in 1996 and 1997. He was the support act for Lloyd Cole
Lloyd Cole
Lloyd Cole is an English singer and songwriter, known for his role as lead singer of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions from 1984 to 1989, and for his subsequent solo work.-Early life:...
for his Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
show in July 2006 at the Bassline in Newton, Johannesburg.
Van der Want's live perfomrance has been described as follows: "His cutting insights into matters of the heart, and satirical take on the music industry have probably made him a few enemies, but anyone with an ounce of self respect or taste should not be able to deny the talent behind the f*** off attitude. He says what he thinks, but he does so with such frightening beauty that you can't look away."
Van der Want's music
van der Want's music has featured in the documentary about the late James Phillips
James Phillips
James Madhlope Phillips was a South African artist....
"Famous for not being famous" and his song "Pianist" was used in the 2010 movie "the Bang Bang Club" starring Ryan Phillipe. Three of his songs also featuredf on the 1996 album "New Africa Rock"
The song "Turn on You" was featured on the album "My Generation" in 1996.