Matt Berry in Conversation with Eddie Piller
Rough Trade Liverpool, 29 January 2025
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I first saw Matt Berry on House of Fools with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, and instantly fell in love with this large man with a larger voice and a… unique way of pronouncing certain words.
Since then, I’ve followed his acting career doggedly and then I discovered his music, so when the chance to see him in person came up, I almost bankrupt myself buying a ticket.
Matt-in-person is quieter than Matt-on-screen, but no less inventive when it comes to swearing. It’s interesting to note that he used to refuse this sort of thing but seems to have mellowed a little.
Or at least got slightly more used to the public side of fame.
However, while the later Q&A did touch on his acting career, what brought him (and me) to Liverpool was his long career in music, specifically the release of his 11th studio album, Heard Noises. He was “in conversation” with Eddie Piller, founder of Acid Jazz – the record label that Matt’s signed with. Eddie told a rather funny story of the first time he and Matt met, at the studios, where Matt came clomping down the stair in cowboys boots. Matt explained that a GQ article has listed them at the top of a list of things men should never wear, which meant he had to go and buy a pair. Be still my contrary heart!
Matt talked about how – and why – he performs almost everything on every album. It’s not just him being a control freak, though he did admit to a touch of that, but rather that he struggles to convey what’s in his head. You and me both, honey. The only instrument he doesn’t play on the album is drums. He can play, but not “well enough”, but that does mean every guitar, piano and keyboard, and assorted other musical do-dat heard is done by Matt.
There are several guests on the album, though. This includes his mum and her choir, his niece*, as well as singer-songwriter Kitty Liv and actress Natasha Lyonne. (*A Q&A question was about “Song for Rosie” and the way his face got all soft when talking about his sister’s children exploded an ovary.)
Matt also talked about the artwork on the album. He studied at Nottingham Trent’s art college, gaining a 2-2, and his artwork has been seen on covers throughout his career. Eagle-eyed fans will also have spotted it on the wall of Stephen Toast’s agent in Toast of London. There is a painting on the back of the album sleeve, with a photo collage spread across the interior, displaying several items from Matt’s life, including his teeth from What We Do In The Shadows and an effects pedal gifted by Jean-Michel Jarre.
Hilariously, Matt went against his photographer’s choice for the front, going with a selfie he took while on a Facetime call because of the way the light was hitting the back of his head. Matt chooses album titles from the theme that runs through the tracks. That the way it’s stacked reads “Matt Berry Heard Noises” amuses him greatly. Heh.
