Matt McGuinness:
“I’ve suffered from mental health problems for a number of years but I’m embarrassed to say that until I got it I didn’t realise how life threatening it can be. It’s essential that we all talk about Mental Health so much more and make it much easier for men in particular to open up and get help....
The suicide rates in this country are going down but it's still the biggest killer of males under 45 and the film we’ve made will hopefully, if only in a small way, help to highlight that in the lead up to World Mental Health Day.”
Derbyshire’s Matt McGuinness performs solo or with a select group of musicians, collectively known as the MLC and currently including:
Dan Byrne - bassist with an overtly understated exterior.
Eileen Wright - saxophonist and long-term collaborator of Matt's
Jo May - spoons expert and all round percussion virtuoso
Greg Rawson - drummer and percussionist extraordinaire
“MLC” can mean multiple things - for example Midlife Crisis or if Matt is playing on his own: Mean Lonesome Crooner!
Balladeering indie rock 'n' roll with a hint of motown - here comes a comeback without the baggage of any former success or notoriety the first time around.
If 50 is the new 30 then there's a good few years left to step out and confront living rooms, festivals and the world in general with "exquisitely melodic pop”.
Success, bailiffs, political shenanigans and a stronger-than-ever-before marriage provide the backdrop to dirty, tuneful, upbeat and anthemic tunes performed solo or with a variety of musicians.
"We play songs that resonate with our own genuine experience, fuelled by a positive outlook but underpinned by the environment of distrust in mainstream politics, wariness of the changes to the country’s support networks and the ongoing crises that loom around the world.
With that sort of subject matter, humour also plays an essential part in the tunes, along with a healthy dose of sarcasm." - Matt McGuinness
Matt gives some background on the double A Sided release:
“Frock & Bonnet” started formulating itself during my second meeting with a psychiatrist and developed, on reflection, as I realised how valuable the sessions had been despite my shallow approach and low expectations. “We Are What We Overcome” is about living positively with depression.
“At every concert where I talk about mental health, I always get audience members coming to chat with me after the gig and in particular middle-aged men. With this in mind I am intending to finish each event earlier than normal to allow space for individuals to chat and find some empathy”.
Links to Matt McGuiness and the MLC
Facebook - www.facebook.com/MLCMattMcGuinness
Instagram - www.instagram.com/MattMcGuinnessMLC
Twitter - www.twitter.com/McGuinnessMLC