MATT HILL

I'm Matt Hill and I love songwriting. As an artist I'm someone who uses creativity to express feelings about myself and the world around me. All my life, songs have moved me and inspired the way I look at the world. I grew up on classic rock n roll and country music – Elvis, The Beatles, Johnny Cash - but for me a good song will transcend genre and labels. 

Where am I from? 
I grew up in a coal mining town back in the times when we had coal mines. It’s called Eastwood on the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire borders.  I'm working class with a comprehensive school education, but no doubt someone will say I’m posh because I went to University and sometimes eat vegan sushi. I've lived in Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Bath, Essex & London. I'm now settled on the edge of the Derbyshire Peak District. 

My music 
I'm in my mid-fifties now, but I began playing in bands and writing songs as a teenager in the 1980s. I didn’t have much confidence back then and it wasn’t until I was in my mid-thirties that I released my first album. I’ve since made a few albums and I’ve played gigs at some amazing venues and festivals across Great Britain, Germany and the Netherlands. I've played Glastonbury, I've been on the radio and on the telly. I’ve had some minor success within the niche of  ‘Americana’ music but my music never made enough money for me to live on. 

Career and activism 
Along the way I made my living as a campaigner working in the charity sector. I mostly worked around issues affecting disabled people and their families. I loved that work and learned a lot about real life.  I'm disabled as I have a super rare condition (SCDS) that affects my balance and cognitive processing. I had a heart attack when I was 32 and now have heart problems and like most people I’ve had my fair share of mental health challenges.  Throughout all those challenges I’ve learned firsthand how art and music can help us when life is tough. 

I’ve always been someone who believes we can create change. Depending on who you ask, that means I'm a campaigner, an activist or a nuisance. In 2015 I was involved in creating something called We Shall Overcome  - a musicians response to the austerity crisis. Over the past 10 years this small but powerful movement has raised hundreds of thousands in both cash and supplies for those in need. But more important than money it has created hope and community. 

Community Artist 
These days I make my living as a Community Songwriter. That means I work with people who are pushed to the edges of society – people experiencing homelessness for example – and help them to write songs.  I've written songs with school kids, people with dementia, asylum seekers, people in prison. I work with arts organisations, museums, galleries, charities – anyone who recognises the value creativity can bring to empower people and give them voice and confidence. 

As an artist I'm always trying to find new ways to connect with audiences. As much as I love traditional ways like making albums, I've also written and performed several more ‘theatrical’ type themed shows over the years.  In my spare time I'm a self-styled ‘expert’ on the life and career of Elvis Presley. At one point I owned a library of over 300 books about Elvis. 

You can find my Community Songwriting Work on this page 
You can find my albums and songs on this page
You can read about my special theatrical projects on this page