Singer songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, musical collaborator, session musician, covers artist, and purveyor of textural improvisational soundscapes!
In a music career spanning three decades, many continents, numerous collaborations and multiple musical styles, Bec Matthews has travelled a diverse and cosmopolitan musical path resulting in the development of a unique, eclectic, thought-provoking & engaging repertoire.
As an artist who crosses musical and stylistic boundaries, Bec’s original compositions infuse influences reflecting her extensive global travels and diverse musical collaborations. Her original songs allude to Bec’s personal journey and worldview, echoing her extensive studies with West African musical masters and travels through remote Australia and beyond.
From her early beginnings as a classical pianist, Bec’s musical repertoire has expanded to include the Kora (21 string West African Harp), Kamelngoni (West African hunter’s harp) and Bolong (African gourd bass) along with a range of brass (Trumpet, Sousaphone, French Horn), Guitar, Ukulele and assorted percussion and voice. The application of these instruments has lent itself to a wide range of musical collaborations including (but not limited to) big bands and small ensembles from Afro-beat to Latin, cabaret/burlesque to operatic accompaniment, immersive live soundtracks for theatre and digital projections, session musician, covers artist, and textural improvisational soundscapes for ceremonies, gallery spaces and significant life events!
Forays into burlesque include her character Brassy Razoo, a brass blowing, strip teasing, gender bending single person marching band extravaganza!
Bec has performed both solo and as a founding member of the powerhouse Afrobeat outfit Afro Mandinko at numerous Australian festivals including Woodford Folk Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, AWME, WOMADelaide, Brisbane International Festival, Perth International Festival, Meredith Music Festival, Falls Festival, St Kilda Festival and the Warrnambool Children’s Festival to name a few. No stranger to international stages, Bec has performed and conducted workshops in Canada and the UK, and has also enjoyed numerous musical residencies in West Africa where she both studied and played trumpet with local band Lolo Lulu.
Swinging from stomping swamp blues to classical West African folk songs and a myriad of styles in between, Bec Matthews is an artist of diverse talent. With her stories of travel misadventure to songs speaking of our own stark inequalities, Bec will take you on a journey to far flung corners of the globe and back.
Prepare to be captivated!
Bec Matthews 