The recent album Signs of Struggle (Virgin) by London duo Mattafix was slated in The Guardian. Reviewer Dorian Lynskey called their lyrics “woolly social commentary” and “brow-furrowing self-regard wrapped in ominous, dub electronics”. Lynskey would probably have issues too with a lot of what’s passed off as meaningful music made in South Africa.
The sound of Mattafix is pleasant enough, toe-tapping and pretty — just like the blokes themselves. On the cover of the album, they’re poised on antique chairs in a well-decorated apartment, decked out in fashion gear. On the back of the booklet, the same room is wrecked. Yet, the struggle in the title is not a domestic war. The album is about “international turmoil”, they tell us on their site.
Preetesh Hirji was born in London to Indian parents, and Marlon Roudette moved from the United Kingdom to the West Indies, with his mother, as a child. The Mail & Guardian spoke to Hirji, who was in Switzerland in the throes of a highly successful European tour.
Do you and your partner come from the same echelon of society?
In a sense, yeah. In London there were times when it was very segregated in a sense, but we’ve all moved on from that. Now it’s very multicultural and diverse. I’ve got friends from all walks of life who I’ve met and grown up with. I live in West London where there’s a massive community of black, Indian, Portuguese, Brazilian and Irish people.
When you were growing up were you a spoiled brat or a poor kid?
I wish I was a spoilt brat but, no, we were very poor. My family still doesn’t have a lot of money. I’m not rich — I’m still the same geezer, know what I mean?
Is ethnic difference something that is discussed in your social group?
I think it would be good to say it doesn’t exist, you know, but no matter where you go in the world there’s always going to be that. With the terrorism and all that, there is a lot of racism towards the Asian and Indian communities, which is sad. I’m Indian and I felt the ignorance when the bombings happened.
The Guardian was pretty harsh about Signs of Struggle. How did you feel about it?
We’re trying to write music we’re comfortable with. We can’t write music about something we don’t know about. It’s a sad day when people say you’re trying to write music that doesn’t come from your heart, which is just bollocks. But if you don’t like my music, you’re welcome to say that. It was hard, though.
Do you really think, as you say on the album, that smoking spliff is better than doing coke?
Definitely.
When you say coke, do you mean that or do you mean social drug taking?
As a social drug it’s become widely available. A lot of my friends have become addicted to it and I’ve seen them change. With weed, the thing I smoke, it’s not bad.
What’s it like touring Europe?
Well, it’s the first time I’ve been on tour and it’s quite hectic. You don’t really get much sleep when you’re on a bus. Once you get to do the shows, that’s what it’s really for. That’s when you get the true rush, if you know what I mean.
How has your life changed?
It’s all the same. London is still the same. People think we’ve struck it rich, but we haven’t. In the music industry now, you don’t make money like you used to. Because of the downloading thing — which I’m not against — people can get to our music, which is great. But we don’t get the same sales and stuff.
Still got the same old friends?
Yeah, still hang around with my mates. They’re still the same people.
Where do you stand on deriding other people’s religions versus freedom of the media. The world is in turmoil around the cartoons of the Prophet.
I have never played a role in that stuff. I haven’t seen the images. All I’ve seen, on television, is people going nuts. I’m a Hindu and people make fun of us all the time. But I think freedom of the press is very important. I don’t really understand what this argument is, because I haven’t seen the images; so I really can’t talk about it.