Matt Blick is a seasoned singer/songwriter from Nottingham. A multi-instrumentalist, Matt has been playing, writing and teaching music for over three decades. Over the years, his style has been shaped by influences both musical and cinematic. From the politically charged works of Billy Bragg and the eccentric styles of Tom Waits, to the self-destructive comedy of the Marx Brothers, Matt's music is full of meaning and energy. Anyone listening to Matt's work will hear echoes of his upbringing in rock. However, on closer inspection, the lyrics reflect a spiritual journey; one which started at the age of 20 when he realised his life needed to take a different path. Even though Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott had just called Matt to say how impressed he was by one of his demos, Matt quit performing to become a pastor and start a family, keeping his passion for music alive by teaching others. Those years in the wilderness were like trying holding back a river. Matt resumed his music career with a creative flood, writing several hundred new songs in a few years. The abundant songwriting continues ensuring that Matt is constantly working on forthcoming releases. 'Everything In The World Is Fighting Everything In The Sky' Continuing the journey he began on Let's Build An Airport, Matt strives to be brutally honest about his failings, doubts and struggles.
Unlike the previous release, this EP displays the artist's shift towards blues and blues-influenced sounds. The lyrics focus on both the fight against good and the fight to do the right thing in the face of temptation. It illustrates a period in the musician's life that involved a lot of self-evaluation and growth whilst refraining from shamelessly painting himself as the hero. Matt attributes this to his love of anarchic 1930's comedians the Marx Brothers who were never afraid to be cast in a bad light. The major theme on the EP is conflict. Everything implies that mankind is constantly damaging it's connection to a higher consciousness. There are internal conflicts about right and wrong throughout the release as well as a sense of unknowing and the fear that can instil in a person; reflecting the unsettling nature of taking a leap of faith into music that Matt felt renouncing life as a pastor. The deep, southern blues twang on the riffs in Fingernails accentuate the pain of having one's faith shaken and questioning the life choices that leads a person to where they are now. The lyrics convey a feeling of abandonment and uncertainty. It brings up the question of whether, regardless of what we believe in, our shaken faith is wilfully self-inflicted or accidental. Is there a way back to where we used to be or are we too far gone? Me and the Devil provides a tongue-in-cheek perspective on shifting the blame from oneself and renouncing responsibility for any wrongdoing. The bluesy folk story of temptation into poor choices is a defeatist, yet humorous take on original sin. Matt's music is relatable whether the listener is religious or not. The themes are universal and timeless. The sense of futility conveyed by the lyrics is contrasted subtly by the sense of hope present in the music. Such genuine emotion and passion is evidence enough that Matt's songwriting is more than a pastime, it's a necessity.