Q&A with Mat Elliott

Mat Elliott (Photo: Meghan Tansey Whitton).

Mat Elliott's debut EP, "South Endings," released on May 24, 2024, blends indie soul and alternative vibes with deeply personal themes of heartache and moving on. Influenced by Tom Misch and Still Woozy, the EP features mixing by Future Dad (John Mullane) and mastering by Kristian Montano. A fixture in Nova Scotia's music scene, Mat often collaborates with local artists like Daniel James McFadyen, Wayne Bedecki and Terra Spencer. We caught up with Mat to chat about the journey behind the release.

Congratulations on the release of 'South Endings'! It’s been a year in the making. How does it feel to have it out in the world?

Thank you! It feels a little scary and a lot exciting. 

This is your solo debut, but you're no stranger to the local music scene. Could you share more about your background/experience and how it influenced your journey?

I’ve had the opportunity to be a supporting musician for some really incredible artists over the last few years; Daniel James McFadyen, Wayne Bedecki, Terra Spencer, to name a few. Seeing how they approach their careers, from making music, to promoting and everything in between, has had a big impact on me. Being around people who are successful and doing it right, it’s inspiring!

How would you describe the album to someone who hasn’t heard your singles? 

They have a little something for everyone. ‘South Endings’ is a blend of indie pop and neo-soul with touches of trippiness here and there. If you’re a fan of Tom Misch or Still Woozy, chances are you’ll enjoy the EP.

What inspired you to write the songs on 'South Endings'?

The tracks roughly follow a breakup- the first two songs, ‘Two Years’ and ‘Ten’, are about reflection and reliving the hard, immediate emotions. ‘South Endings’ and ‘happy4u’ focus on reconciliation with the self, identifying what led to the end, and the internal struggle of seeing someone move on. ‘Church Street’ was inspired by meeting my now wife after all of the healing, reflection, and work. 

You collaborated with some talented folks on the EP. Can you tell us about these collaborations and how they influenced the finished product?

I was lucky to play in a band with Ashton Wisener. Not only is he a great guy, but he’s an extremely talented keys player, you can hear his work on the synth solos of ‘Two Years’ and the organ work on ‘Ten’. He really helped give the songs a shine. I’m a sucker for fast playing!

Kendall Jones, my wife, is a music therapist and brilliant vocalist. Her harmonies and commitment to providing advice as I was recording and writing were instrumental in making the songs what they are today.

I met Future Dad at one of his coffee chats. I think he saw something in my songs and pushed me to take a chance and put them out. His mentorship and mixing are the reason ‘South Endings’ exists. 

Krystal Penney was someone I initially hired on Fiverr- I quickly discovered they are a phenomenal artist, and I trusted them with all of the art for the EP. We have great communication and they were able to flesh out exactly what I wanted for each of the songs.

You mentioned on Instagram that ‘Church Street’ is your favourite track on the EP. What makes it stand out for you?

‘Church Street’ was a late write. I wrote it in January, and it was finished by early February. It was one of those songs that fell into place so quickly in so many ways, much like my relationship with Kendall. I think I like it so much because to me, it feels like 3 mini-songs in one, like a 3 for 1 deal!

With 11.8k monthly listeners on Spotify, how does it feel to know that your music is resonating with so many people?

It wasn’t something I was expecting. I set out to make these songs for myself as a creative outlet and because I just love music so much—listening, playing, performing. It’s a cool feeling to know people are listening and that they might have heard a song and thought, ‘That fits the vibe of this playlist I have; I’m going to add it.’

What were some of your favourite parts of the creative process while making the EP?

I had a lot of fun experimenting with different sounds, manipulating them, putting them together and getting them sitting right- things like vocal harmonies, nickels sliding on a ride cymbal, or the raindrop sound you make by flicking your cheek, that kind of thing. There’s something about finding a pitch, a rhythm, or an odd texture that scratched an internal itch. 

What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from the collection of songs?

If people hear these songs and think, “That was fun to listen to, and I want to hear that again,” I’ll be a happy camper!

Are there any upcoming projects or performances we should look forward to?

I’m putting together a band with some incredibly talented musicians and am planning a late summer show, location and date TBA. I’m also in the process of recording a full-length album and will be releasing a new single ‘Talk Like That’ on July 12th! 

Where is the best place to stay up-to-date with your latest releases and performances?

The best place to keep up with me is on Instagram, @matelliptt

South Endings is out everywhere now.

Listen to the EP today on your favourite streaming platform.