Matt Corby Doesn't Think He'll Ever Do His 'Best Work'

Django the faithful dog barks, black cockatoos mournfully screech as they streak across a clearing overhead and the quiet but striking charm of the Northern Rivers region is heavy and tangible down the other end of the phone line.

When Matt Corby calls in, these are the sounds and sights that surround him. In a sense he has all the cares in the world, and none at all; he’s a new dad to a ten-month-old boy – and admits that he’s not immune to the highs and lows of new parenthood – but he’s also reached a point in his musical career where he’s caring less, if at all, about what people think of his music. 

At home at his property Rainbow Valley, which is also the namesake of his latest album, Corby explains how a fresh, carefree perspective shaped this new collection of songs, all while juggling his fatherly duties. His first step was to put Rainbow Valley into action as soon as he found out he was going to be a dad.

“I spend a lot of time finessing things and I overthink everything, so yeah, it’s hard to do like a 9-5 day then head home and be like, ‘Sweet.’ It doesn’t really work like that,” he laughs. 

“Well that’s what I thought anyway, but since Hugh has been around I take him down into my home studio and he’s quite happy listening to tunes. He chills out when any music goes on. He loves playing the piano, loves playing the drums. I was like, ‘Yes, we’re gonna be jamming in no time.’"

Corby says part of making the decision to start work on his second album also came with a conscious effort to get the writing off the ground and get it recorded in his home and nearby studio The Music Farm in Mullumbimby with producer Dann Hume (Amy Shark, Courtney Barnett, Client Liaison) at the helm.

“I was testing the waters a bit: 'How much of my old selfish life can I integrate into being a dad?'” he says. “And in some moments it’s clear, but in other moments I was like, 'No, I have time to make some music.’ I had to remind myself that this is my work, this is my living.

“It’s hard not to lose yourself in your kid’s life. You don’t want to be one of those people that ends up losing their passion because they can’t devote the same time to it. Which is easier said than done.”

"Yes, we’re gonna be jamming in no time."

The soul/indie/folk sound that launched the young troubadour into the spotlight with much-loved singles Brother, Souls A’Fire and Resolution underlined the raw talent that Corby possessed. It put him in good stead with the release of his debut Telluric in 2016. While those rugged bluesy vocals still dominate on Rainbow Valley, it’s also awash with psychedelic rock and softer tones, courtesy of some offbeat listening choices in the form of a “fucking clever band called Dirty Art Club”.

“I’d been listening to their album Basement Seance, which is weird but beautifully arranged samples and really nice beats,” Corby explains.

“There was just something about it that was so in line with what I do and it really helped me to get that pallet of sounds together. I think it does inform my music but in very minuscule ways. I try to incorporate elements of songs or genres of music into something more ambiguous. 

“All the elements go into your subconscious and when it does come time to write something it’s all there waiting, and if there’s an opportunity for me to wink at one of those nice elements I’ll try to incorporate it into my music.”

Corby’s surroundings also played a key role in the inspiration behind some of the songs. In fact, he credits the anxiety he felt in preparation for becoming a new dad with giving life to single All Fired Up. 

“There were definitely days where it was a strain on my partner and myself,” he admits. “I’d come into the studio so depleted of energy because I was probably having a bad day and thinking, ‘What’s going to happen? What’s it going to be like?’ From that, a few of the ballads became those songs. All Fired Up has something interesting in it for me; it felt almost spiritual or had some kind of joyful despair that I superimposed into the song.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever do my best work - I think that’s the way I’ve always been."

The interesting journey that led Corby to be one of the finest songwriters in Australia has had its moments. Starting his performing life in the Australian Idol spotlight then proving his skill and self-awareness to shrug off its undesirable taint with a killer voice and musical nous has only served the man and his career well. It’s a development that Corby simply puts down to being able to get out of one’s own way. 

“I think the best musicians around aren’t the ones getting interviewed, they’re people that are way beyond what the general public would be able to consume,” he laughs. 

“I write songs that sit on the line of being interesting while being somewhat newish and exciting, but they’re not too far away that people can’t understand what’s happening.

“I’m getting better at caring less at the things that aren’t important when creating something. When I was younger I would be really shut off to a lot of ideas because I thought, ‘I can’t do that.’ Now when I’m in the studio I’m like, ‘Fuck it, let’s run with it.’ If it doesn’t sound good then I can be brutal about it and bin it. 

“I don’t think I’ll ever do my best work - I think that’s the way I’ve always been - but that’s fine because that’s what I should be doing if I want to keep doing a good job for myself.”

Rainbow Valley (Island/Universal) is out this month.