Ard Matthews

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Over the course of the last decade and a half, well-known singer and songwriter, Ard Matthews, has been honing his craft and moving people the world over. As the front man of South African band Just Jinjer, he led the way to the incredible success of their debut album All Comes Round, which achieved double platinum status in its first year. The follow-up album, Something For Now reached the same status a year later.
ARD has now moved on to focus on his solo career and writes and records all his original music from Empire Avenue Studios in Hout Bay, Cape Town. This high-tech studio is housed in the converted dungeon of a historic castle, which he recently bought and made his home.
His new solo album, Impossible Machines, features a string of melodic, yet edgy songs that clearly demonstrate how he has come into his own, both as a singer and a song-writer. A cross-genre offering, the album incorporates elements of Pop, Indie and Dance, while retaining the authentic voice and indelible lyrics for which he is known.
The eponymously named first single from the album, Impossible Machines, was released on 11 May 2020 to much acclaim. A haunting and moving account of our dependency on gadgets and devices in this technologically-enhanced world, the track is reminiscent of U2 or Cold Play, with an uplifting message that has caught the attention of radio stations, fans and new listeners alike.