Get to Know Matt Davies, the Durban-Born DJ and Singer Taking Over One Set and One Song At a Time
Hailing all the way from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal’s musical hotbed and arguably the epicenter of the east side of South Africa, burgeoning DJ and singer-songwriter Matt Davies is the city’s latest bidder to stake his claim in the afrohouse industry. After only two years in the entertainment circle, the multi-talented musician has already inked his signature on an enviable Universal Music contract, rubbed shoulders with some of the greats such as DJ Clock and Zakes Bantwini, and made his mark dropping music from own mind and playing sets around the country.
Although things developed at breakneck speed, Davies spoke about the importance of keeping himself grounded in the simplicity of his life. With the lights, the shows, and the speed, the deckmaster has not, thus far, neglected his life outside music, making sure that his priority was his immediate connections with family and friends, whom he considered stalwarts in his journey.
“Outside of music, Matt Davies is a very relaxed guy who’s into exercising and wellness. In the industry, there’s a lot of partying, so I try my best to stay as healthy as possible. I also try to maintain my relationships with my friends and family, who, to me, are very important. They are pillars of strength to me at all times and I never want to make work take away the relationships I consider important to my life,” he said.
Matt Davies | SUPPLIED
The DJ credited his late paternal grandmother with bequeathing on him the ear and the mind for music, as well as his mother for watering the seed since he was a little child.
“My mom, my dad, and my sister aren’t necessarily musical. The person I believe I got my ability from is my grandmother from my dad’s side. I inherited her piano when she passed away, and she had a huge past in the space of musical theatre. Every time I visited her back in the day in Cape Town, she’d play all these classical music things. When it comes to how I came to pursue music, my mom was always the one who pushed my music and she got me involved in piano lessons from the age of six. And when I got to high school, I learned to play the acoustic guitar and started teaching myself how to sing. My genres have changed so much throughout my life. I started with the acoustic guitar, then I joined a band, and then most recently – around two years back – I started learning how to deejay and incorporating vocals into my sets. So these days, you’ll find me playing more afrohouse music than blues and where I started with acoustic stuff,” he said.
Teaming up with record producer Masuda, Matt Davies recently dropped his latest single “Stay With Me”, an afrohouse offering set atop graceful piano loops, soothing vocals, and earnest songwriting which searches for affirmation and recognition. With the music video for the single already done, dusted, and on the way, Matt Davies spoke about the inspiration behind the song and what went on in his mind when crafting music in general.
“I feel like “Stay With Me” is relatable in a way that whatever industry you’re in you still find yourself feeling like you’re not enough and aren’t really reaching your potential. That is the core of the song. The song doesn’t come from a personal perspective, which is something I get asked about a lot when it comes to it. My main aim is to create music that people can relate to and that’s what this song is.
“There was a time outside the music where I wasn’t necessarily focused and didn’t have an idea. People always talk about a five-year plan, and I wasn’t that person. To be honest, I never thought music would be my path. I only recently started taking music seriously. Before that I was teaching overseas in China, working odd jobs, and it never hit me that I would be here right now. So, for me, the song is a statement of belief that I can do this. Validation for myself,” he said.
Listen to “Stay With Me”:
Humbled by new doors opening thanks to the release of “Stay With Me” and the opportunity to work with some of the best in the business, Davies revealed that he had some exciting collabos coming up in 2025.
“I’ve been really busy in studio since signing with Universal. I’ve been afforded the chance to work with some of the most incredible artists. It’s insane to think what one song can do for you, and while I won’t say “Stay With Me” has put me on the map, it has allowed me to open up conversations with artists such as Zakes Bantwini and DJ Clock, who I’ve been in studio with in the last two to three months. So, I’ve got some cool collaborations coming up in the new year,” he said.
Davies elaborated on the perks of signing to UMG, how it has evolved his artistry, and the experience of working with seasoned minds across all departments.
“I never expected a contract from UMG. That’s one of the many blessings that “Stay With Me” brought – they offered me a contract and we had a meeting, and I signed to the urban sector of the label. This was a huge win for me since UMG is one of the biggest labels in the world, and they have a certain standard. We have a WhatsApp group and email addresses where I send everything I make to people in A&R, and there’s a reason why they are there. They have a good ear for music, and they know what works. So, the standard works well for the work I put out, and they give me constructive feedback.
“Signing to the label has also helped me by putting me in contact with a lot of big names. The first person I got into studio with after signing was DJ Clock, an incredible producer. You can only imagine how nervous I was. I’ve been meeting with these big guys at the top, and yet they are humble, supportive, and want to see young talent flourish,” he said.
Matt Davies | SUPPLIED
Diligence and discipline were two things Matt Davies put at the top of the list of what he wanted people to remember him for as an artist.
“As a musician, you just want to make music that’s good and that people can listen to and enjoy. So, for me, I’d like to be known and remembered as someone who worked really hard for what they got. Work ethic and discipline matters way more than just having talent. Putting in the time when it comes to recording and the live performances is important,” he said.
In the timeless words of Zig Zaglar: “Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation.” The singer-songwriter touched on the vitality of consistently honing one’s artistry, even if that meant doing something small in a day and putting one brick on top of another till a wall stood.
“It’s crucial to do something every single day, no matter how frustrating it can be and how many times you draw a blank. You will at least be better than what you were yesterday. If you practise something, even if it means just setting aside twenty minutes a day, you will find yourself getting better at it overtime, no matter what it is. For example, I’ve always struggled with afrohouse music because you always need to stay on top of writing catchy hooks. That’s something I had to work on – my songwriting. I’ve invested a lot of time into it. And this goes hand-in-hand with preparation. Investing time and doing something every day.” he said.
As with most love stories coming around full circle, Davies expressed a desire to return to his acoustic roots sometime in the future.
“While I’m focused on afrohouse and electronic music for the time being, I would like to do like a five-track EP of nothing but raw acoustic and grand piano. I always imagine what a ballad with Ami Faku would sound like. That would be insane,” he said.