Mama Dance: Meet the Composer - Matt Gair

The Mama Dance! Music Library not only offers high-quality production music to our clients, but is also an important source of income for a lot of South African composers. With his latest album, Feel Good Folk, just released, we caught up with the 2013 top earning composer, Matthew Gair, to find out more about him and his music.

MD: You have been contributing to the Mama Dance ! Music Library for quite a few years now, what are some of your favourite tracks from the 5 albums you have on the library?

MG: Some of my favourite tracks are: Savanna Children (it gave me such peace when I recorded it), Unyumbaza, My Wife, The First Baobab (when it all kicks in) and on the new album Im really proud of Breathe, Gentle Hearts and Bluebell. Id had the banjo two weeks when I did Breathe and Bluebell so it was enormously satisfying to write new stuff with the Banjo.

MD:You were the highest earning Mama Dance production music composer in 2013, what has the extra income meant for you and your compositional work?

MG: The extra income has meant that I could build my own home studio so I can work whenever I get inspiration.

MD: Which music synchronisations are you most proud of and which are you least proud of?

MG: To be honest Im so thrilled every time something of mine gets used I swell up with pride. The 21 Icons campaign was very rewarding and to hear my stuff on CNN or being used in Australia has been great. The local uses are the best though because I get to see them and I always stop and always want to do a slow-mo air-punch when they play!! Its always a dream come true when I hear stuff play in a show or in an ad. Im not in this for fame or anything. I just want to write music and every time I get a sync its a step closer to full-filling my dream of waking up everyday and playing my guitar and actually getting paid to do it!

MD: Tell us a little bit about yourself: where you were born, where did you grow up and what career did you dream of having?

MG: I was born in Bethlehem (the one in SA where there are no virgins) and I grew up in Harare. I wanted to be a singer-songwriter like David Gray. I was in a bunch of bands too but none of them really worked out.

MD: What instruments do you play currently and which instrument would you still like to learn?

MG: I play the guitar pretty well, the bass, the uke, the mbira (thumbs like ostrich feet!), marimba (slightly....ever so slightly), Ive hit a key on a piano before (does that count?) and I just bought a banjo so Im plucking away at that like a red-neck with no teeth! Next up I want to get a mandolin.

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Read the full interview at http://www.mamadance.com/latest-news/

Listen to Matts album here: http://www.mamadancemusic.co.za?collectionid=e3e2f1b65442689f

Contact Craig, Dale or Jeff at info@mamadance.com or on +27 21 424 0314 to find out how to contribute your music to the library

LINK:	http://www.filmcontact.com/africa/south-africa/mama-dance-meet-compose...
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