The Beautiful Girls - a blended evolution of reggae, folk, dancehall, and funk. It's a combination of sitting down and relaxing with the compulsion to groove across a room. Mat McHugh is the 'man behind the curtain' so-to-speak. He's the front man and songwriter of The Beautiful Girls while his alter egos include Mat McHugh and the Blackbird, Mat McHugh and the Seperatista Soundsystem, as well as his most recent moniker, Ras Mateo. He says, "I'm just a creative person and like creating things. Names, songs, pictures, drawings..."
This Australian surfer is not only a gifted artist but is a fiercely independent one at that. "From the start I chose to go down the path of letting the music speak for itself. In that way, nobody was tricked into liking it but has formed an honest connection. I think those kind of connections last longer and are far more real. Mostly nowadays we just try and let people know via social media or word of mouth."
No gimmicks, nothing hidden - just an abundance of love and appreciation that pours out in his music. His music influenced by none other than his family. "Everything integrates," he says. "There is no separation between the songs I write and the life I live. They are my priority and my reason for living." His own mother contributed to the making of his solo album "Love Come Save Me." On his Instagram feed he explained, "I had to borrow a whole bunch of money against my mum's house. And then, she was totally cool with me giving the album away." That's right! He borrowed money to make an album to give away for free!
Figuratively, in the same breath he continues, "My stance is, if you can't afford it you should pirate it. If you can afford it, you should buy it. Making albums costs money and for music to continue musicians have to eat, but there might be a kid out there who can't afford music who, if given access, might one day change the world with theirs... Hopefully I can continue to make music as a way of supporting (my family) but if I have to do something else to make sure they're comfortable, I will."
This Aussie has released 5 full length albums, 3 Extended Plays (EPs), several singles and compilations - including a remix of Mat McHugh solo and Beautiful Girls songs he gave away to pledgers in the assist of making of the newest "Dancehall Days" album. The best part is that there's even MORE to his arsenal/ discography! Mat's solo material really strips him back into a personal space. In 2008 he recorded "Seperatista" as a collection of ideas and it lead to the previously mentioned "Love Come Save Me" free download in 2010. He also has singles with extra tracks on the "Go, Don't Stop" and "More Money" releases as well as a live recording, "Live at Random Hall." All of which range from an intimate, acoustic relaxation to an upbeat, heart-pumping rhythm that really hits.
Being from Australia he tours internationally when he can. He explained, "Being an independent business means having to work out the financial details of potential touring. If it costs too much money to play a show (after I've paid for the band, accommodations, etc), then no matter how much I would love to play there I just can't do it." Having a large surfer audience he has a loyal following in Brazil. He says, "I think people had heard of my songs there through friends that had traveled (to Australia) and from surf movies which are, obviously, watched by surfers everywhere."
On the band's Facebook he announced over the next couple months he is working on a FREE follow up to "Love Come Save Me," touring to support its release, and even some overseas shows & festivals. Per Mat, describing several soldout shows on his most recent Australian tour have been "absolutely some of the best we've ever experienced." It goes to show that even with minimal radio play, social media advertising, and word of mouth their audience is expanding. People are catching on and becoming amazingly passionate for independent, original music.
