Matisse
Interview 14 April 2004
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For all inquires contact:
Charles Ketchabaw
44 (0) 790-409-2614
416-895-7825
Where you from, where do you live, how old are you, what's
your background, what do you play. Are you full time in music?
I was originally born
and raised in London, Canada, and moved to Toronto where I am living now. I am 23 years old and was brought up under
a Trinidadian influence. My main
instrument is of course the piano.
But I also play the trumpet and am learning to play the guitar. Yes this music is my
life!
How did music evolve in your life, leading up to 'Five
frames'. Did you play, did you have a band, did you cut anything.
I’ve always been playing
the piano from as long as I can remember.
I started really taking it seriously in high school. I was writing and producing music for
different friends of mine and was singing in a quartet group that were mainly
influenced by Boyz to men. After that I began mainly producing local hip hop
acts and was part of a singer/mc duo called Division One. We used to perform around the city. I started doing my solo gigs after when
I became interested in songwriting.
I then put out single and sold it to all the high schools in the area. This was all leading up to the eventual
process of finally doing my first EP.
And what music inspired you growing up.
I listened to a lot of BabyFace, a
lot of Teddy Riley, I really admired how those guys were just pounding out hits
and great songs for everyone. And
my Dad put me onto Motown the way they stayed in a groove. On the other side of course was Hip
Hop, Dr. Dre and the way the
west was blending that funk into
those hard beats. They were making
hip hop that a band could cover live and I thought that was ill. As I got older
it became more James Brown, Prince, and outside influences like the Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, and Bruce
Springstein. I loved the way all
these artist’s stretched the form of songwriting and how they made it an
experience for the listener.
And how did the five frames project begin – 'The little
things' was the first wasn't it. And we're about 2002 right? Do you write all
your stuff, and what about the people you work with.
The ep was mostly reflections from a
relationship I was in and girls I would meet that inspired me to write about
them. After it was completed it
kinda took it’s own course and radio stations were calling us up telling me
they were adding the Little Things to their rotation. We didn’t really plan that which was why it was cool. Same thing happened with The Weekends
here. One day a friend called me
up and told me they had heard it on the radio. Next thing they were playing it 4 times a day.
How did this track go down, it had local airplay, anything
else.
Was it at this point you hitched up with Charles and
Blackwood?
No, I met Charles and Adam (Charles
partner) we were all attending a music school. The 3 of us decided to do this and make this happen and
never looked back.
Though only five tracks at this point they are quite varied,
they are all strong and well produced, tell me about how you put it all
together. Do they showcase accurately what you’re about and where you want to
be headed.
Yes and no, when I first put it
together at the time I was heavily into D’angelo and Maxwell. I was also in a
relationship. So I wanted to make
a smooth cd that had those influences and would be something other couples would
appreciate and listen to together.
The next album will defiantly have a different feel to it.
Frankly I kinda like them all (which is pretty unusual!)
from the smooth tones of Little Things, Cooked Food is maybe a bit more neo (in
a Musiq kinda mould), U were right is a great ballad, Weekends more upbeat and
traditional soul, Lady being a ballad also in a more traditional style.
Are you trying to fuse together a bit of the old and the
new.
For myself I was just trying to be
the next chain in the link. I
didn’t want to re-create whats already been created. But I did want people to be able to hear the influences that
helped forge my sound.
The production is clean, fresh and professional. Is that
you. How do you write your songs and do you see the final product from the
start and aim to get to that point right from an early stage, or does it just
build. You happy with the final product?
There’s no exact formula. Sometimes I see the whole song in my
head and then it’s just a matter of working backwards. Other times I just have and idea and
have to play with it a bit before the inspiration hits me.
Who out there right now are you feeling.
Hmmm, I’m always feeling Outkast,
Common, Alicia Keys,
Jamiroquai, They all are on
that same idea of being the next chain on the link.
And what's happened since 2002, you still promoing these
tracks, or is there anything new. Are we looking at a full album. What can we
expect to see.
I’m heading to England to tour for
the Ep, but I’m always still writing new songs. As for new music you can expect
to hear an album that will be completely different from the first but will
still be Matisse. I’m not
sure if it will be an Ep or a full
length. I won’t force anything.
How's it gone down locally, nationally, US and
internationally. Any interest from the majors anything. How do you want to
build your career. How do you see it going.
I would like to have a long career
just like anyone else. More
importantly I want to have a career that people can see grow and mature over
time. I love having people hear
about me from word of mouth. For
someone to tell their friend about your music, that’s how you really know your
music is touching people.
've seen that live clip on the website, very upbeat, old
skool, motownesque, how you cut that.
Very quick and raw. Charles just taped me one day singing
in their basement. And then we put
it up on the website.
Good luck and thanks for your time.
Mike
www.lifeandsoulpromotions.co.uk.
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