Tags: Sheffield, Mat Hook, Sheffield United, Britpop, Oasis, Blur, Ocean Colour Scene
By Joseph Gainsford
Rewind to the start of March, where relegation favourites Sheffield United hosted title challengers Arsenal at Bramall Lane on a bleak Monday night. The script was followed too well in S2 that evening with The Gunners being four nil up after just 25 minutes, making the rainy and cold conditions somewhat of pathetic fallacy for the home side. Even the true optimists’ hopes were demolished in the 39th minute as Declan Rice decided to chip in with a goal of his own making it Arsenal five, Sheffield United nil. Half time was finally reached to the relief of all Blades fans in the ground.
Well, except one.
“I heard general chit-chat that they may play my song again at half time because they had already done it a couple of times earlier in the season. When it went four and then five, I was thinking, I don’t know if this is a good time to play it.”
These were the thoughts of Sheffield’s up and coming singer-songwriter Mat Hook. “They did play my song and it was funny but then it was also poetic. The songs chorus is just a simple, ‘it’s alright’, which I wrote in a really tough time in my life where I was trying to convince myself things would be okay.” Those words from his song ‘Alone you go’ were weirdly comforting to the remaining Blades fans.
Mat’s music is a common occurrence down at Bramall Lane, so best to hit the brakes and dive into the man behind the voice.
Mat Hook is an English singer-songwriter, “that’s Mat with one ‘T’ for some bizarre reason, don’t ask me why” he said. He re-entered the music scene in Robbie Williams-like fashion after previously being the frontman of Sheffield indie rock band ‘Kartica’ between 2008 and 2014.
Mat grew up in Sheffield, living with his mum, dad and nan. His dad was from Bristol, but his Mum’s side was from Liverpool. Before a passion for music came his passion for football. Mat remembers being introduced to Liverpool football club before he even knew how to speak. “I was given a sticker book with Ian Rush and John Aldridge in and was told that was my team, my mum obviously got in there first before my dad had the chance.”
On the music front, Mat was not influenced in the same manor. “I wasn’t a kid growing up who was always well up on my music.” His music taste branched as far as the songs from his dad’s radio on long car journeys.
Secondary school influenced Mat’s music passion however not immediately. “One of the icebreaker questions was who your favourite group is. I had no idea what to put so I wrote ‘East 17’ believe it or not, only because they were one of very few, I actually knew the name of.” East 17 was not quite the street Mat wanted to go down music wise, however secondary school was pivotal in his love for music.
“Whilst I was at secondary school there was a programme called ‘The Chart Show’ and I remember seeing Oasis on that and it always stuck in my head.” When their massive hit, Wonderwall, came out Mat recognises that this is when he began to keep “checking them out” and before he knew it, he had become obsessed with Oasis.
Groups like Oasis revolutionised music in England around the 90’s and soon they had the whole nation in a chokehold not only with their music but with their image and the culture that went with it. Two young trendy northern lads had created a whole identity, alongside other pioneers of this genre like ‘The Stone Roses’, that millions of people bought in to.
Mat’s cousin was a role model to him in terms of a musical ear. Mat said, “He was older, so he was well versed on what was cool. He’d give me tips here and there about what was hot and what was not.” This is how Mat fell into the whole Britpop scene and reflects on these years of his life with soundtracks from the likes of Oasis, Cast, Ocean Colour Scene, The Stone Roses and so on.
Both Mat’s passions were already conveniently intertwined. “It was all very much reflective of the people you saw. You’d go to the football, and everyone was dressed the same. It all went very much together and was a cultural thing, very northern and very British. The culture was right on my doorstep.” It has become more common these days for the younger generation to look to America for culture and music whereas the very British vibe that he is now based off was such a natural process then.
All this influence led Mat to be part of a band named ‘Kartica’. “We were five lads who liked the same style of music, so we threw ourselves together and gave it a go.” Kartica was not quite Premier League size like Mat’s singles these days, but they were still no rookies. They performed at big venues including Liverpool’s O2, The Cavern Club in Liverpool and The 100 Club in London. Recognition was further than the venues with Mat recalling the Gary Neville tweeting about one of their records. “We were making good inroads but then it fell apart but no matter what, I have these moments where I reflect on Kartica, and even myself now, and realise it is such a special thing regardless of how far it gets.”
“To be in a football ground with 30,000 people and have your voice blaring over the tannoy is something very few people will ever experience which make it so special and its such a thrill.”
One of Mat’s close associates and fan Matt Lever said, “I’m loving Mat’s journey back into music. It takes a lot of balls to look at your life, decide to make a change and go back to doing what you love. Hearing his music on national radio and at the footy has been a source of both inspiration and pride for me. It couldn’t happen to a nicer bloke either.”
Mat’s two songs that are featured at Bramall Lane are his singles ‘Alone You Go’ and his debut piece ‘Runaway Road.’ Mat’s music is not necessarily consciously thought-out things. “It’s all quite personal to me but I try to bring the lyrics out in a vague way so others can relate to them.”
“Sport and music, if done right, should hit the same spots for me. They should bring out emotions like jubilation and ecstasy that you can’t really tap into off the cuff.”
Mat Hook
How can this all be so special to someone who has breathed Liverpool football club since being able to walk? Well, growing up in Sheffield meant the majority of Mat’s mates were Blades fans and his best mate in particular was in their academy playing in the reserves. “I started to go watch them with much more interest around the age of 16, so they quickly became my second team.” From this period onwards, Mat has always been affiliated with Sheffield United and even dabbled in away games too. He reckons that over the space of a couple years he saw United play roughly 60 times.
Mat’s bond with Sheffield United is very strong, as in his Kartica days he recognised that portions of his fanbase were as a result of the football. “My boyfriend was a huge Kartica fan back in the day and we used to go to all the gigs. We’ve since been married seven years and we’re loving that there’s new stuff out. We always look at each other when we’re at a United match and ‘Runaway Road’ comes on”, said Lucy Turner one of Mat’s longtime followers and Sheffield United fan.
This arrangement has become common amongst teams in the UK with Leicester having their very own Kasabian playing before and after games and examples lower down in the football pyramid like Reading who use music from club supporters The Amazons.
Mat says, “I have a genuine connection to Sheffield United and love the idea of being a homegrown prospect. I think its healthy and good for football fans to feel represented and a great way to do that is through music as this is how I first felt represented myself.”
One of Mat’s good mates, Josh Davison said: “Every time me and my mates are at the match and hear Mat blasting through the PA system, we can feel a swell of pride in our city. We will be back on top in no time.”
Mat’s love for both football and music go well into his spare time also as he runs a 7-a-side league where he edits clips and goals to music. “Sport and music, if done right, should hit the same spots for me. They should bring out emotions like jubilation and ecstasy that you can’t really tap into off the cuff.” He believes that small things such as adding music to a goal can “bring it to life”. Mat is a prime example and genuinely believes that “music as a combination with sport, is always massive for everyone.”
Looking forward for Mat’s career there will be plans of growing out of Sheffield as he slowly conquers cities gig by gig. Mat is staying local this summer as he is headlining the Hallamshire Hotel and has been added to the bill to the Rock n Roll circus event at Don Valley in August.
