MATON soundtrack

Rebecca Varidel
6th Oct 2020

Founded in 1946, Australia's Maton Guitars influence on the music scene has transcended genres. So when the Powerhouse Museum commissioned a unique new album of guitar tracks played exclusively on Maton guitars to celebrate the current exhibition, it was more than fitting for it to cross genres - of Jazz, Hawaiian, Country, Ambient, Not Noisy Rock, Lap steel, Electric guitar, Folk and Ukulele.

Award winning composer, musician, producer Nick Wales and Stereogamous AKA the legendary dance club DJs and re-mix masters Paul Mac and Jonny Seymour teamed up to collaborate for these defining reflections of guitar.

"This was a beautiful soundtrack to make and I am so proud of it" exclaimed Sydney based composer Nick Wales.

"I’m not sure why it feels so special... maybe it was a first in depth exploration of working with guitars, but also, perhaps, the music we made in June was a bit of a reflection from our NSW covid lock down" Wales further confided.

Yet there is a core of ethereal hope and playful dreams that underpin the wistful tendrils of this collective. While lock down was containing for many of us, elongated rhythms stretch our imagination into possibilities. The selection may have been composed for a specific purpose, but holds not only as a time capsule of 2020 but expands as a flowing universe into visions of our new future.

MANON melds musical genres and colloaborators in one artistry to create a new magical and uplifting voice.

The soundtrack is a reimagining of the guitar in a sonic ambient journey and covers a number of different guitar styles Maton could have used. The collaborators worked with recording engineer Phil Punch (Slim Dusty) and some of Australia’s best Jazz and Classical players to realise the score.

MATON is available on digital distribution by DITTO >> ditto.fm/maton

Maton: Australia’s Guitar, the largest retrospective of Australia’s leading guitar manufacturer shows at the Powerhouse Museum until 11 October >> maas.museum/event/maton-australias-guitar