Mattafix Biography

Mattafix are a UK duo, made up of Marlon Roudette and Preetesh Hirji. Their sound is a fusion of hip hop/rap, R&B, reggae, dancehall, blues, jazz, soul and world. They won the Sopot International Song Festival in 2006.

Marlon Roudette was born in London and grew up on the Caribbean multi-island nation of St. Vincent & the Grenadines with his mother and sister after moving there with them as a young child. Preetesh Hirji was born in London of dual-Indian parentage and grow up in the heart of West London, where he started at Eastcote Studios on Kensal Road.

Signs of a Struggle (2005-2006)

Mattafix released their first single "11.30 (Dirtiest Trick in Town)" as a limited edition on Buddhist Punk Records on January 13, 2005. However, the song never charted.

Their second single, "Big City Life", was released by EMI on August 8, 2005. It was a considerable hit, managing a number 15 in the United Kingdom and a number 1 in Germany, Poland, Austria, Italy, Switzerland and New Zealand. It also had considerable success in other European countries where it reached the top 20. It can also be heard on the soundtrack to the hit video game FIFA World Cup Germany 2006, designed by EA Sports.

Signs of a Struggle received positive reviews and had success in Europe where the band toured extensively through out 2006-2008. Signs of a Struggle was a Triple J feature album in April, 2006.

The duo toured with the likes of Jem and Joss Stone on their UK tours to promote the album, and have also opened for Sting, in Milan, before a crowd of more than 100,000 people.

Their fourth single, "To & Fro", was released on March 13, 2006. The single was released as a download only in the United Kingdom.

Rhythm & Hymns (2007-present)

On September 7, 2007, Mattafix released the first single, "Living Darfur", taken from their second album Rhythm & Hymns. It was available as a download only. The single was released physically on October 22, 2007. The video features Matt Damon in the intro. The track was featured as part of the Save Darfur Campaign. Working alongside humanitarian agencies operating in the region, the band filmed a video for the song in the refugee camps in the region. The video became extremely popular on youtube and to date is the only music video by an international group to be filmed in a war zone.

Speaking in June 2008 to noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning Blues & Soul, Roudette explained the musical background to 'Rhythms & Hymns': "With this album I wanted to bring through more aspects of the live show, which is something maybe the first album lacked. You know, we do go out with a seven or eight-piece band, and that has become a big part of the Mattafix sound. So, in addition to keeping the hardcore element and programmed beats from last time round, with 'Rhythms & Hymns' we've also used a lot of live drums. Also, we've added quite a lot of influences that we got from the road. Particularly in places like Johannesburg, where we played a couple of great shows."

The album was released on November 23, 2007 in most European countries. In Australia, it was released on November 17, 2007.

Mattafix remixed Lady Gaga's song "Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)". Their remix appears on her iTunes Remix EP.

Mattafix are currently working on a new album.