Matthew Mole

Matthew Mole (born 28 October 1991) is a South African singer-songwriter from Cape Town, South Africa. He is the winner of the South African Music Awards record of the year 2021.[1][2][3]

Matthew Mole
Mole performing live at Huawei Kday
Mole performing live at Huawei Kday
Background information
Birth nameMatthew Joseph Mole
Born (1991-10-28) 28 October 1991
Cape Town, South Africa
OriginEmpangeni, South Africa
GenresPop
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, singer
Instrument(s)Vocal, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, banjolele, piano, ukulele, drums
Years active2011–present
LabelsUniversal Music Group
Spouse(s)Jessica Anne Mole (m. 2015)
Websitehttps://www.matthewmole.com

Early life and education

Matthew Mole is from Fish Hoek in Cape Town.[4]

Mole's father taught him how to play the guitar.[1] He later learned how to play ukulele, banjo, piano, organ, and drums.[1] He started writing his own music at the end of high school. According to Mole, his approach to writing music involves starting with a lyrical idea, a rhythm or a melody, and then recording different instruments and switching back and forth between them to build a finished song.[2]

Mole studied music production in Cape Town in 2010.[1]

Career

His independent EP You Did Well, Kid was released online in 2011.[5] He also opened his other singles for free on the Internet. In August 2012, he won Converse's Get Out of the Garage competition, which awarded him a gig in London's 100 Club and a recording session at Converse's studio in New York.[6][7] After winning the competition, he signed to Just Music and released his second EP, Same Parts, Same Heart, in December 2012.[8] His song from the EP, "Same Parts, Same Heart," was included in the soundtrack of the film Leading Lady.[4]

Mole recorded and released his debut studio album, The Home We Built, in 2013.[1] The album was produced by Matthew Fink.[1] Mole became the first South African artist to enter the iTunes SA chart at #1 on the first day of releasing his debut album.[9] The album received nominations for Male Artist of the Year, Best Pop Album, and Best Engineer of the Year (Matthew Fink). Mole also received a nomination for Best New Comer in the MK Awards.[9]

His second album, Run, was released in 2016, followed by Ghost, released in November 2019.[10][11] Run was ranked number 1 on South Africa's iTunes within three months of release, and the single "Run" achieved Gold Status within three months of release. At the 23rd Annual South African Music Awards, the album was nominated for Best Pop Album, Best Produced Album, and Record of the Year.[9]

Mole describes his musical style as folk with an electronica influence.[1][12] In live performances, Mole can be seen playing guitar, synth, kick drum, and triggered beats at the same time.[2] He has performed at festivals such as 5FM's Cape Town Live Loud, 947's Joburg Day, East Coast Radio's Durban Day, Oppikoppi, Rocking the Daisies, K Day, the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concert, and the Seattle International Film Festival. He has performed in South Africa, the UK, the US, Thailand, and Russia.[9]

In 2020, Mole campaigned with Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and NPO, WILDTRUST to raise awareness for ocean protection. He and his wife Jess are featured in a video highlighting the importance of oceans to the environment.[13]

Matthew Mole performing at Huawei Joburg Day

Discography
YearAlbumComments
2013The Home We BuiltReleased 29 July 2013[14]
2016Run[15]Album
2019GhostAlbum
2020Ghost LiveLive versions of songs from previous album
YearEP / SingleComments
2011You did Well, KidEP[4]
2012Same Parts, Same HeartEP
2020PennsylvaniaSingle
2020Keep It TogetherEP
2020Honey, I'm HomeEP
2020FallEP
2020Silent NightSingle (Cover)
2021I'm With YouSingle

Awards

References
  1. DeRosa, Nicole (12 May 2014). "Q&A with South African singer/songwriter Matthew Mole". All Access Music. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  2. "Matthew Mole". New Release Today. 21 March 2014. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  3. "WATCH: Matthew Mole answers 5 random questions at Superbalist is Rocking the Daisies". channel24.co.za. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  4. "Matthew Mole". Exppresso. 18 November 2014. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  5. Plaatjie, Poliswa (5 June 2017). "Big support for Matthew Mole magic". DispatchLIVE. Archived from the original on 14 July 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  6. Johnson, Chris (15 August 2012). "CT singer Matthew Mole wins the 2012 Converse #Play100Club contest". Life is Savage. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  7. "Matthew Mole walks away as the winner of Converse's Get Out of the Garage competition". Media Update. 16 August 2012. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  8. "Matthew Mole". Bimba. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  9. "Matthew Mole". Filter Music Group. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  10. Herimbi, Helen (24 August 2016). "The Mole truth". IOL. Independent Online. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  11. Edwardes, Racine (19 November 2019). "Matthew Mole to share new music with fans at Parklife". News24. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  12. "Matthew Mole". Rolling Stone South Africa. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  13. Vivier, Tyler Leigh (26 November 2020). "South African Musician Uses His Voice to Help Save the Oceans". Good Things Guy. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  14. "The Home We Built by Matthew Mole". Apple Music. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  15. "Run by Matthew Mole". B Sharp Entertainment. 4 July 2016. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  16. "Profile: Matthew Mole". What's on in Cape Town. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
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