Daudi Matsiko Shares New Single ‘I Am Grateful For My Friends‘
Daudi Matsiko | Credit: Felix Mackenzie-Barrow
“A real, thrillingly direct connection”
- Adam Buxton
“Amazing, really interesting folk music”
- Ghostpoet
"Really stunning track... one of those artists that everybody is talking about and loving and wanting to share"
– Jamz Supernova, BBC Radio 6 Music
“Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! I’m so glad that you've got new records coming out, Daudi”
- Gilles Peterson, BBC Radio 6 Music
“Very much my sweet spot”
- Lauren Laverne, BBC Radio 6 Music
“This is lovely isn't it”
- John Kennedy, Radio X
Today, Nottingham based, British-Ugandan singer-songwriter Daudi Matsiko returns with details of his new album ‘The King Of Misery’ – due out 19th January via Really Good. The announcement is accompanied by a new single titled ‘I Am Grateful For My Friends’, a poignant track that confronts anxiety and bipolar affective disorder with the power of community.
The album and single news follows closely on the heels of Daudi’s recent tracks ‘oMo (Man)’ and ‘Fool Me As Many Times As You Like’ which have received high praise from the likes of Gilles Peterson on Worldwide FM and BBC 6 Music as well as Lauren Laverne, and have been featured in several Spotify editorial playlists including The Most Beautiful Songs in the World, The Other list, The Listening Post, and Fresh Finds. Having released just two independent EPs – ‘A Brief Introduction to Failure’ and ‘The Lingering Effects of Disconnection’ – to date, Daudi has toured with GoGo Penguin, Keaton Henson, and Portico Quartet, whilst also being a participant of the Red Bull Music Academy in Montreal 2016. He also received a standing ovation at this years The Great Escape Festival, and plays as a member of Do Nothing’s live band, who he is currently on tour with.
Through his unique brand of modern albeit reverent folk, Daudi continues to offer his listeners a space for understanding and introspection. Deft, melancholic picking reminiscent of Nick Drake is tempered by contemporary percussion and instrumentation. Matsiko’s vocals derive their strength from their seeming fragility. With every song, his confessional lyrics cut to the marrow.
The new single is a perfect example of this balance. ‘I Am Grateful For My Friends’ unambiguously delves into the role of friendship and community while grappling with mental health struggles, specifically depression and bipolar affective disorder. Lyrics like "Not much fun these days, I guess. Humour, well I used to have it" reveal the emotional turmoil that comes with mental health struggles. Yet the song also emphasises the uplifting power of friendship, a lifeline in difficult times. Daudi’s honest portrayal serves as both an acknowledgment of hardship and a heartfelt thank-you to supportive friends.
Listen / share the new single here
These stark candid themes are evident across the album and Daudi’s work. Tracks such as ‘OmO (Man)’ capture the internal struggle of self-doubt, addressing the challenges of navigating a world that's often at odds with our own emotions. Whereas ‘Derby’s Dose’ serves as a cathartic expression of his own emotions upon learning about a dark chapter of Britain's history, Matsiko exposes the harrowing story of Derby, an enslaved man subjected to unspeakable torture. Other tracks, such as the recent single ‘Fool Me As Many Times As You Like’, centre around self-deception and self-suppression. Hiding who you really are, even from yourself, maybe out of fear or shame, in order to survive.
Musically the album is a raw yet beautiful listen, with evocative and fragile guitar work those ebbs and flows around Daudi’s gentle vocals, permeated by saxophone, harmonium, cello, pocket pianos, bass synthesisers, and more. The album also features guest appearances from the likes of close friend Keaton Henson who appears on and co-wrote, ‘King Of Misery’, alongside his wife Danielle Frick who features on backing vocals. Elsewhere, Divorce’s Felix Mackenzie-Barrow appears on ‘Hymn’, ‘Annihilation’, and ‘I Need You To Stop Calling My Phone’, which also features Nick Blacka of GoGo Penguin on double bass. Various members of Daudi’s family also appear on backing vocals, adding both vulnerability and strength to the moving subject matter of the tracks.
Speaking on the album, Daudi continues, “‘The King Of Misery’ is essentially me wrestling with and finding hope along my journey with bipolar affective disorder. It is a bit of an existential diary entry. Exploring personal themes of racial trauma was something that I felt compelled to do whilst making the record too. The album is a snapshot of who and where I was while I was making it. Moving from guilt to gratitude. I hope I have made something genuinely life affirming.”
In addition to releasing new music, Daudi is currently set play a number of shows across the remainder of the year. He will play the following dates:
20/10/2023 - Black Lives In Music Showcase, English Folk Expo, Manchester
21/10/2023 - Un-Convention Conference (panelist), Manchester
22/10/2023 - Hockley Hustle, Nottingham
23/11/2023 - The Wight Bear, Southbourne
14/12/2023 - A L P H A B E T, Brighton
16/12/2023 – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
Tickets available here
‘The King Of Misery’ is out 19th January via Really Good – Pre-order here
Tracklisting:
1. Guilt
2. oMo (Man)
3. Falling
4. Fool Me As Many Times As You Like
5. Derby’s Dose
6. I Need You To Stop Calling My Phone
7. Annihilation
8. King Of Misery
9. Hymn
10. I Am Grateful For My Friends
