Barker in the driver's seat
IT HAS been a long road from busking with a saxophone outside the Bourbong St Commonwealth Bank to releasing his debut EP - The Direction of this Path.
But for former Kepnock High School student Matthew Barker, every step has been worth it.
Now living in Brisbane, Barker, 28, plays in a number of bands picking up work where he can, but his current priority is his solo project, the Bucketseats.
"With the EP, I have recorded it myself under the house," he said.
"All the songs have been written by me and I play almost all the instruments."
The EP will be officially released at the Joint in Brisbane on Thursday, with a Bundaberg launch at the Old Bundy Tavern the following Sunday.
"I still come up to Bundaberg quite a lot and play at places like the OBT and the Club, and I also do a lot of weddings," he said.
Barker started simply, playing saxophone in high school, before studying music at university in Mackay and branching out to more instruments. Now he makes his living playing in places around Brisbane and travelling to different venues across the state.
"It's a lot harder down in Brisbane (than Bundaberg)," he said.
"The pay is not great and sometimes you can't find work, but it's what I love."
Barker said he made a conscious decision not to use his name on his debut albums, instead using the Bucketseats pseudonym.
"I didn't want to put my name on anything yet," he said.
"I'm still proud of it, but I think I'm still developing as an artist and have a long way to go."
Barker said the name Bucketseats came from a lyric in a much-loved Cake song, as well as alluding to the fact it was Barker in the driver's seat for the EP.
Barker said the EP would be available on iTunes.
ALBUM LAUNCH
- What: Matt Barker launches debut EP, The Direction of this Path
- Where: Customs Bar, the Old Bundy Tavern
- When: Sunday, June 3 from 2pm
- Cost: $5 cover charge
