Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Siobhan Mazzei

Ever-present in Leicester City, Siobhan Mazzei - pronounced "Matt Say" as "Matt says she's pretty good" - has garnered a reputation as one of the very best. The first guest we invited on to Tea and Toast with Matt Henshaw & Stu Crown, she was described by our third guest, photographer Rob Gurney, as "spell-binding", and he isn't far wrong, you'll be drawn in, be mellowed out and have your melon twisted all at once.

I find it most important when recommending other artists you should go out and listen to, that they should care about what they do. And if you're lucky enough to meet Siobhan, or affectionately "Shed" to her friends, you'll find this instantly, she's a passionate, talented and wonderful young lady. And if you hold her debut album 'Waiting Awake' in your hand you can feel the bundles and bags of effort that has gone into every aspect of it's production.

And luckily Miss. Siobhan Mazzei will be performing with me on Friday night, opening up my Rhythm & Gospel Cavalcade at The Cookie, as we launch and toast the 'Always in the Way' EP into the world. It's gonna be one cracking little night. Myself, Siobhan, Abandon Her, Georgie Rose, and special guest doing a bit of compering and what he does, Mr Motormouf too !

Get yourself down !! Peace, Love & Tea, MHx

Georgie Rose
Tapestry
The De Montfort University Gospel Choir
By The Rivers
Martin Luke Brown
Joy Mumford
Three Girl Rhumba
MotorMouf
Samuel Idwal
Abandon Her
Stef Baker
Emily Carr
Becky Edwards
Mahalia
Mia & The Moon
Rosa-Leigh
AJA
Kate Rendell
Esther Van Leuven
East Midlands Girls
Ones to Watch for 2014
The Bobcats
Savanna Bones
Mattayoux
Matt Zara
The Simpletones
Charlotte Carpenter
Leah Sinead
Matt Henshaw Recommends ...

---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
DOWNLOAD & STREAM 'ALWAYS IN THE WAY' NOW !!
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/always-in-the-way-ep/id875188981
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/always-in-the-way-ep
https://play.spotify.com/user/ilsonowl/playlist/2tHGjyz7EpEZpvgc8HpuRm
DEBUT 'IT AIN'T EASY/MY LIFE - EP' !!!
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/id814589358
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aint-Easy-My-Life-EP/dp/B00I8ZDJZC/
https://play.spotify.com/album/733AAcf7c2KcZ75SUFlpi3
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.emusic.com/album/matt-henshaw/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/14753983/
http://www.7digital.com/artist/matt-henshaw/release/it-aint-easy-my-life
http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.napster.co.uk/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep

Matt Henshaw Recommends ... AJA

Ok, so who doesn't like a bit of crazy in their ladies? No one, that's who. I had the sincere pleasure and privilege to play with our AJA on my second show of the year. Nottingham's own electro wizardess. Unassuming, unpredictable and unbound or chained by musical genre, stereotype or prejudice. AJA weaves in and around the music like a free ethereal being. She's got soul in her bones and it's amazing she can generate it from the cold digital mechanics of a laptop, loop and effects pedal.

Before returning to my comfort zone of an acoustic guitar and vocals I made my own musical expedition, an esoteric voyage through the world of alternative beats and flavours, and I'm glad I did. Listening to AJA is so much more rewarding if you've school yourself in the intricacies of Bjork's, Beck's and Moby's back catalogue. Don't worry though if you haven't, there's still entry for all into AJA's world of positive psychedelic vibrations.

An accomplished DJ and songstress the room is filled nigh on all night with colour, sounds and shapes. An modern 24 hour technicolour dream beckons, so if I was to throw a party, after-party or hire a boat for some close friends, sail out to international waters and be as debauched as a libertine after lent I'd give AJA a call and get her behind the decks.

Have a listen, liven up your weekend ...



But, don't you ... forget about me ...

Matt Henshaw Recommends ... East Midlands Girls

Well, here we are in a new year and I'm going to continue my recommendations, we had a bluesy Christmas with The Bobcats and Savanna Bones, but I'm going to go back to my first two Recommendations and feature some more Est Midlands ladies.



I have had the pleasure of playing with some great artists throughout the East Midlands, amassing a series of shows and plenty more to come, and I have found that playing with the girls is the most enjoyable. I don't know if it's a lack of a testosterone clash or no battle to be conceived as the alpha male in the room but there's a sweetness, a modesty and a genuine love for music, writing and singing in some of the female artist that I've come across.

So far I have showered Charlotte Carpenter and Leah Sinead in glory, and they're two of the nicest girls I've payed with, hung out with and listened to. I suggest you do the same and keep your eyes and ears peeled as through the next few weeks I bring you the best of the best of those with the double X chromosome in Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and Northampton.

Peace, Love & Tea,
Matt Henshaw x