Issue 143

Interview with Matt Costa

31st August 2006

Matt Costa just flew into London from LA in February and then onto Dublin to begin the first leg of his European tour supporting Jack Johnson. He sounds impressively upbeat and cheerful considering he's "still a bit jet-lagged" and says it's his first proper visit to the UK, though he visited London with his parents, as a kid. "I've never been to Wales before," he admits. But aside from playing Cardiff on March 2nd, this 23-year-old from Orange County, California, is about to do a whole lot more travelling, doing shows in Paris, Berlin, Milan and Barcelona, to name but a few.

A few years ago, however, this was not where he pictured himself. "I devoted my life to skating," Costa explains. But things took a cruel turn when he shattered his leg in a skateboarding accident just as he was about to turn pro. During his 18-month rehabilitation period, Costa turned to his guitar, and to writing music, and discovered he possessed a whole new talent. Costa claims he just started writing songs in his room and then, when it seemed that people liked his music, he began passing around recordings - which eventually fell into the hands of Jack Johnson. Jack liked his music so much he invited Costa to join him on his US tour. Then, after a month, he offered to put Costa's record out on his own label, Brushfire Records. Once Costa was signed to Brushfire, Jack suggested he join himself and ALO on their European tour, and Costa readily agreed. As he talks, you get the feeling that it hasn't all quite kicked in for him yet - part of him is still back in his bedroom, casually strumming on his guitar.

He confesses that he does sometimes get nervous before he performs on stage but that his confidence grew throughout the US tour; "you get this nervous energy, and you've just got to use it to your advantage". On the first night of the tour, he played to 5000 people - his largest audience yet. He had a couple of drinks to calm his nerves but once he was out there, realised he was fine. By the time it came to the biggest show, in front of 20,000 fans, he was confident enough to walk on stage "totally sober." Costa says his band is great but that the upside of being a solo artist is that he gets to "call the shots and go with the vision".

Matt Costa just flew into London from LA in February and then onto Dublin to begin the first leg of his European tour supporting Jack Johnson. He sounds impressively upbeat and cheerful considering he's "still a bit jet-lagged" and says it's his first proper visit to the UK, though he visited London with his parents, as a kid. "I've never been to Wales before," he admits. But aside from playing Cardiff on March 2nd, this 23-year-old from Orange County, California, is about to do a whole lot more travelling, doing shows in Paris, Berlin, Milan and Barcelona, to name but a few.

A few years ago, however, this was not where he pictured himself. "I devoted my life to skating," Costa explains. But things took a cruel turn when he shattered his leg in a skateboarding accident just as he was about to turn pro. During his 18-month rehabilitation period, Costa turned to his guitar, and to writing music, and discovered he possessed a whole new talent. Costa claims he just started writing songs in his room and then, when it seemed that people liked his music, he began passing around recordings - which eventually fell into the hands of Jack Johnson. Jack liked his music so much he invited Costa to join him on his US tour. Then, after a month, he offered to put Costa's record out on his own label, Brushfire Records. Once Costa was signed to Brushfire, Jack suggested he join himself and ALO on their European tour, and Costa readily agreed. As he talks, you get the feeling that it hasn't all quite kicked in for him yet - part of him is still back in his bedroom, casually strumming on his guitar.

He confesses that he does sometimes get nervous before he performs on stage but that his confidence grew throughout the US tour; "you get this nervous energy, and you've just got to use it to your advantage". On the first night of the tour, he played to 5000 people - his largest audience yet. He had a couple of drinks to calm his nerves but once he was out there, realised he was fine. By the time it came to the biggest show, in front of 20,000 fans, he was confident enough to walk on stage "totally sober." Costa says his band is great but that the upside of being a solo artist is that he gets to "call the shots and go with the vision".

"Songs we Sing" is out now on Brushfire records.

Kate Fletcher