‘Mattafix means problem solved. It is a saying that originated in the Caribbean.’
Marlon Roudette and Preetesh Hirji first met in Eastcote Studios, Kensal Rd, London UK back in 1998. It was a chance encounter in the hallways of a musically historic building. Over the years the studio has played host to Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Depeche Mode, Neneh Cherry, All Saints and the Arctic Monkeys to name but a few. The musical connection was instantaneous and when Marlon moved to London permanently from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a few years later, the pair began crafting the sounds that would eventually see them riding atop the charts of Europe.
They signed to Buddhist Punk records in 2005 and quickly released their first few singles in the UK. ‘Big City Life’ was the first single off their debut album entitled ‘Signs of a Struggle’. The song was written at a time of real uncertainty and tribulation as the realities of making a living in the music business began to take their toll on the duo. In many ways the lyrics are a cry for company on a lonely journey. The chorus was written and sung in the local dialect of St. Vincent. The song entered the UK charts at number 15 after which it caught the attention of major record label EMI who quickly signed the act to a licensing deal for the rest of the world. In 2006 ‘Big City Life’ went to number one in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, New Zealand and Poland. It peaked at number two on the European Airplay charts and was kept from the top spot only by Robbie Williams. It capped an extraordinary couple of years, which saw Mattafix tour the world and play for huge audiences in both hemispheres.
The second album entitled ‘Rhythm & Hymns’ was released in 2007. The first single, ‘Living Darfur’, was part of the Save Darfur Campaign and the band worked closely with the humanitarian agencies operating in the region. Marlon flew to the refugee camps in Chad on the border with Darfur to shoot the music video. To date it is the only video by an international group to be filmed in a war zone. It has become extremely popular on youtube (www.youtube.com/mattafix) and different versions of the clip feature intros by Matt Damon, John Legend, the Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Black Eyed Peas.
Marlon says; “We’ve always made strong socio-political statements in our music so it was time for us be part of a wider campaign for our brothers and sisters. Especially this close to the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade”
The release of the second album was not without it’s difficulties however. Some radio stations refused to play the song because of its political involvement and EMI went through a take-over around the same time, which saw many of the staff that the duo worked with leave the company.
Never shaken or discouraged from their creative path, Mattafix have carried on creating and writing about anything that moves them.
Also Check out;
www.youtube.com/mattafix
www.mattafix.com
To purchase 'Living Darfur' & new album 'Rhythm & Hymns' (CD & digital), click on the covers below :
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