Indigenous
Then, after two more studio albums and a live set, life interceded again. Indigenous unexpectedly broke up. “There’s always some sort of conflict in every band in the world,” says Mato. “With us, we grew up together in this band, and we were still learning about ourselves and what we were capable of as musicians. After being together for so long, everyone was eager to try new directions.” Following the split, each of Mato’s siblings, with the exception of bassist Pte who played on the new disc, had the opportunity to explore their own musical potential outside the already defined stylistic approach of the band.
All of which means that today, despite the changes, Mato is forging his own way as the face of Indigenous, still and again one of blues-rock’s most exciting talents. “I feel really good about moving forward,” he says. “There� almost a sense of liberation. And I also feel good that my brother and sister will have a chance to express themselves, too.”
The new Indigenous album, Chasing the Sun, finds Mato expressing himself as never before. His songs and his instrumental skill were always critical to the band� success and this album thrusts his abilities to center stage. Tunes like the opening “Runaway” and “The Way You Shake,” co-written with his sister Wanbdi, have all the trademarks of classic Indigenous: explosive guitar hooks, inventive solos, and an inexorable sense of rhythm ala Jimmy Reed. The six-minute “Leaving” simmers with the passion of Hendrix’s slow blues, while “Come On Home” finds Mato’s ardent vocals cushioned by acoustic guitar and spicy electric punctuations. “Fool Me Again,” one of the disc’s pivotal moments, finds Mato in Robert Cray mode, with a gorgeous guitar motif, some inspired solos, and the record’s most memorable chorus.
