As the van gets loaded and the gas tank is filled, the beginning of another tour for Matt Goud's Northcote begins.
Matt Goud, who was born in Arcola and grew up in Carlyle, is on his way to becoming a recognized Canadian musician.
"My fondest memories from Carlyle are drive-in movies, days at Kenosee, school band trips," says Matt. "I remember hanging and working at CMP and biking to the Krazy Canuck for freezies."
He attended post-secondary education in Theology, but put that on hold to play in his former band, Means.
"In that group I learned what it takes to be a touring musician at a roots level. Driving long hours, playing for small crowds and large crowds alike," explained Goud. "Now-a-days I am taking what I learned writing, and touring punk and metal music, and trying to expand into a more mainstream genre where I can grow into more true Canadian singer/songwriter. "
After several years of constant touring, the band began to accumulate a large fan base. In 2007, the band began to appear in major publications, such as Alternative Press. Means disbanded a year later, following a series of farewell shows.
"In Means, we were seeing people starting to get tattoos with lyrics from the band," he laughs.
When the band came undone, Matt decided to pursue a solo career. To his fan's surprise, he made a switch from the loud hardcore scene, to the quiet and gentle folk genre. This transformation began with his first solo act, The Emerson Letters. He recorded his first full-length album, See This Through, in an old farmhouse on the prairies of Saskatchewan. It was released in 2008 on Tourque records.
While touring and making records, Matt has done work in construction, retail and now as a line cook at a restaurant in Victoria.
"I have considered returning to school to study, my grades weren't that bad," he jokes.
Later Goud decided to make a switch to his music projects name, calling it Northcote. This is the act in which you can now see him touring under.
An EP entitled Borrowed Chords, Tired Eyes, was released under Black Box label in 2009. Later he released his current record, Gather No Dust.
When asked what his favourite song was on the album, Goud replied, "At the moment, probably the song NOT A HOME."
Not A Home is the sixth track on Gather No Dust, and a music video for the song has just been completed with Matt's friend, Mike Dawson who is a member of the Regina group Library Voices.
"We recorded the song for the album live in the loading bay of the studio with the door to the big room open. We also had mikes in the big live room so it feels like I am singing from down the hall," he chimed. "The lyrics are a reflection on the last few years of my life moving around between Regina, Yellowknife, Vancouver and now living in Victoria. The song to me is saying that home is not about a place but more about the people you are with and where you feel right as a person."
As a musical artist Matt has an extremely bright future ahead of him, but music isn't the only thing on his mind.
"I am engaged to be married in the late summer and am very excited about that! Musically, I'd like to have my best record ever recorded and ready to release in early 2013. "
As a small town guy, Matt is very humble about his success. Sitting down to talk to him, he makes you feel like you've known him forever. He also had some advice for small town musicians who feel like they can't make anything come from their music.
"Let the insight you have from being a small town person inspire your musical endeavours. Listen and practice hard, take your chances."
You can catch the current Northcote cross Canada tour, anywhere from Vancouver to Quebec City. There are around 25 shows in 28 days, including two Saskatchewan dates.
