9+1 Q&A with The Easter Parade

What inspired you to first start making music? And how did you come to be in your current incarnation? Or if you prefer, a brief bio about you.

Hi, I’m Matt Steven, a musician, producer, and songwriter from the Midlands, UK. My project is called The
Easter Parade, and I work out of my recording studio, Indigo Scala, based in Northamptonshire. Although
I haven’t released any original music in about ten years, I’m currently working on The Easter Parade’supcoming EP Raindrops on the Lens, with the first single, Sing Our Kids to Sleep, out on 1st November. The inspiration for this project came from going back to basics, focusing on songs in their most traditional sense rather than starting with production. This approach has allowed me to reconnect with thefundamental elements of songwriting and rediscover a voice that feels like it has something unique to say.

Provide us with some info about your latest release…

Sing Our Kids to Sleep was recorded mostly in the summer of 2024 at Indigo Scala Studio in the
Midlands, UK. The track features the esteemed Betania Hernández String Quartet and was mastered by
the renowned Pete Maher (known for his work with artists like Katy Perry and U2). I think this release
marks an exciting new chapter for the project. As the first single under The Easter Parade moniker, it
kicks off a busy schedule of releases planned for 2025.

Which ones would you consider your main influences both music-wise & non-music-wise?

For this project, some of my most significant musical influences include Salvador Sobral, Ron Sexsmith,
Ed Harcourt, and Tom Waits. I’ve also drawn a lot of inspiration from old black-and-white movies like
Roman Holiday and It Happened One Night. Perhaps my biggest influence came from Ennio Morricone’s
score for Once Upon a Time in America – an emotional masterpiece. My goal with The Easter Parade has
been to capture as much of that nostalgic, cinematic atmosphere as possible.

In what way does your sound differ from the rest genre-related artists/bands and why should we listen to your music? In other words, how would you describe your sound?

The music for this project was written very humbly on a piano, so it’s mainly piano-based – unsurprisingly
given some of my biggest influences are masters of this approach. The songs also feature a lot of strings;
Sing Our Kids to Sleep includes a string quartet, and some of my later releases will also feature a
chamber-sized orchestra. While the production isn’t groundbreaking in an experimental sense, I hope it
serves the songs rather than distracts from them. The music is written with a nostalgic, reflective
approach that I hope some people resonate with. However, I’m aware it won’t appeal to everyone – and
I’m okay with that. The project has become an important creative outlet for me.

Please name your 3 desert islands albums, movies & books…

Albums
● Tom Waits – Heartattack and Vine (Waits captures something just magical)
● The Blue Nile – Hats (One of the most beautiful records ever made)
● Ennio Morricone – Once Upon a Time in America (Soundtrack)

Films
● Once Upon a Time in America
● This is England
● Sideways

Books
● Charles Bukowski – The Last Night of the Earth (Poems)
● Voltaire – Candide
● Charles Dickens – Great Expectations? (I’d be happy with any tbf)

Do you prefer studio or performing live and why?

It’s hard to choose one over the other because I enjoy both for different reasons. Over the years, I’ve
become more accustomed to the studio than being on stage, but that doesn’t mean it’s more fulfilling. Ask any musician, and they’ll tell you nothing beats the feeling after finishing a good gig – I think that’s
because of the human connection, which is such a big part of music and live performance.

Is there any funny-unique story you would like to share with us, always in relation to your music ‘career’?

Haha, lots of “had to be there” moments – music should be fun, after all.

Which track of your own would you point out as the most unique and why?

Sing Our Kids to Sleep, without a doubt – it’s my only release so far, so it’s quite literally unlike any other!

Would you like to share with our readers your future plans?

Absolutely! My first single, Sing Our Kids to Sleep, will be out on 1st November on all streaming
platforms. I’ll be releasing a second single, Yesterday’s Grace, around winter, and then my debut EP will
be out in the first quarter of 2025. I also hope to play a few live shows next year. Ultimately, I’d love to
explore multimedia opportunities, perhaps working on a short film or TV project. Other than that, my main goal is to release as much music as I can and hope people enjoy it.

Free question!!! (Ask yourself a question) you wish to answer and haven’t been given the opportunity…

“So, you haven’t released any music for almost a decade, which, forgive me for asking, is quite a
long period of time to be unproductive. What on earth have you been doing? Did you take a
sabbatical to master the art of staring at the wall? If so, were you successful? And why has it
taken so long for you to finally release something that doesn’t sound like it was recorded on a
potato in the early hours of the morning?”

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Curated by: Christos Doukakis

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