Matilda

Matilda came from Jamaica, as a member of the Windrush generation – the group of people whotravelled from the Caribbean to make their home in the UK all those decades ago. She is an
incredible woman. She spoke of arriving in Gloucester for the first time and, upon seeing the
chimneys on houses as the train pulled into the station, she imagined them to be lots of little
factories. Then, as the British winter took hold, she realised that people had coal fires in their
homes. She has four sons and I'm friends with two of them, Charlie and Phil. They are amazing
musicians, born and brought up in Gloucester by Matilda and their late father, so they absolutely
had to play on her song!
     

Charlie invited me to meet Matilda at The Hope Cafe in Tredworth. It’s part of the church whereCharlie is the pastor, and Matilda attends. I took my friend Chris, a film-maker, and he captured
the game of dominoes I played with the elders there. We recorded audio of my chat with Matilda
and her friend Iris. At the end of the conversation Iris asked me if I went to church. My reply?
“Not lately.” So she berated me with kindness and good humour – which is where the lyrics of the
final chorus come from. Matilda’s faith is at the centre of everything in her life so it’s a fitting way
to end the song. I asked Charlie if he knew anyone with the right voice for the lead vocal, to
represent Matilda as young woman – and he suggested Mića. So I sent her the demo with Shane’s
vocal on it and invited her to visit me at my home studio – on the first occasion to learn the song
and make an initial draft recording, and the second occasion after the FFG studio sessions, to sing
the final vocal. She also happens to be a distant relative of Matilda’s family.
     

The three piece horn section you can hear on “Matilda” was scored by Andy. He used to playtrumpet in a band with Shane and me. He’s now part of ‘Dub Catalyst’ a dub reggae hip hop band
that my recording studio partner in Gloucester, Sam Fryer leads. Sam recorded Andy, Alex and Caz
playing the parts in our studio; Room 11 Records in the city centre.
     

Finally; Jaelee, who I met and befriended on a Facebook group provided the backing vocals. Iasked her to create the sound of a gospel choir and I was so happy when I first heard her parts and
added them to the arrangement. Her backing vocals raise the track to a higher level. I feel like
every individual contribution to this track is brilliant. It was a joy to mix!