When you see Matt Walker play live he's no struttin' peacock. There's not one rock move in his repertoire or any overt reaching out to the audience. Maybe fifteen words all up between songs. But his stage presence is strangely beguiling. He's not shy but there's a humbleness and awkwardness that can draw you in. Clean cut, straight up and pretty wholesome for a man unafraid to throw his voice and guitars around with complete abandon.

In person Walker is very similar - kind of quiet but confident at the same time. Indeed, Walker's latest outing Navigational Skills is his most confident yet - very different from the last two previous efforts (1997's I Listen to the Night and 2000's Soul Witness) - the musical outlook shifting from blues-based music to a more rock and soul feel.

The background to this album has been a turbulent one. The ARIA-award winning guitarist split with long time drummer Ashley Davies, made an ugly exit from the W. Minc record label, formed a new band dubbed the Necessary Few and decided to back himself financially on his own Spaghetti label.

You grew up in the Dandenong mountains outside of Melbourne - a place that's known as a hotbed for blues music. Are you a product of your surrounds?
Yeah. It only dawned on me recently. It's also the reason I never rode a skateboard (BMX only) and I never wore runners (desert boots only).

You spent some time at an alternative high school (Sherbrooke Community School) where there's an emphasis on initiative and taking control of your own path. Do you think that experience has contributed to your decision making of the past couple of years?
I think going to a community school definitely showed me the initiative to carve out my own way of life. I mean I probably wouldn't have lasted as long as I did at school if I hadn't gone there for a while. I wasn't very academic and wasn't getting anywhere at my previous school. I felt really at home there because everyone was open minded and in a way you were a little detached from what the majority of other kids your age were experiencing at school. You felt like you weren't part of 'the system'.

I've seen that Navigational Skills has been described as 'blooze' as opposed to 'the blues'. How do you feel about that?
I mean what is 'the blues'? That's the question. Lightning Hopkins once said that 'it's a cross between the greens and the yella's' and that definition's probably as good as you're going to get from me but I'll try. The blues is a feeling, you know. It's got soul. It's about emotion being created through the singing and the music. It's just what comes out. I don't fight it. Yeah, I'm happy with the blues tag. It's better than being known for your dance music.

Most of the songs could be described as 'workouts' - did the songs come from jamming or were they extended after you showed the band members how they went?
I like to write lyrics first and let them dictate the music. If I have a lyric that has a funny timing to it I write music to support it, not to iron it out. Once I have the song then I take it to the band. Sometimes I have a specific feel for them to start with, particularly if I've demo'd it myself but once they get the general vibe I like to enjoy what they do. It took me while to learn that. I was used to the way I'd play guitar with Ashley - having to fill out the sound a bit more.

What changes did you consciously make from the 'Soul Witness' LP?
Until this album I'd always recorded live to tape. Vocals, solos, the whole lot. I wanted a change this time so I recorded the 3 piece live at the ABC Southbank studios, then took the bass and drum tracks home to the '8 - track shack' and spent about 3 weeks overdubbing guitars, vocals and other bits. I found this to be a great experience. To be able to live with them for a few weeks, changing them slightly if I felt the need to - learning to mix everything together. Turning hi hats up real loud, experimenting with different effects. I probably wouldn't have played organ and banjo if I was in a studio with the rest of the band in the control room crackin' jokes and eating pizza.

How do you think you've moved away from the sound you had with Ashley Davies?
Ashley and I lock in totally. Even if we invite guests to play with us like with 'Soul Witness' they actually work around what Ash and I have got going. Doesn't matter who's joining us I'll still be tuned to what ash's doing and he'll be waiting for my signals, rhythm and mood changes.

Are people still asking you why you 'fucked with the duo'?
Some people seem unable to comprehend that as a musician you want to evolve and challenge yourself. Ashley and I decided to follow our own paths for a while. Curiosity is a powerful thing - it's not always the easiest either but you have no choice. Ash and I realise the unique quality of the duo - probably more now than we ever did. We're talking about recording together again in future. It'll happen for sure.

You've basically put this record out yourself...paid a lot of money to record and produce it. Are you stretching yourself financially?
Well it is expensive but I don't have to sell an unrealistic amount of records to make it back so it's worth the risk, you know.

What's the story with Spaghetti Records?
Well, my son Terry came up with the name and the logo design so in a way he' s my label manager. He's 13 years old. He's already asked me what I'm doing about a video clip. Spaghetti Records will be the home of my music now and we have a distribution deal with MGM who are great at what they do.

What happened with your old record label W. Minc? You won an ARIA award whilst you were with them but the relationship had an ugly end?
Sometimes things fall apart. It's fucked but it does happen.

Are you scared that without a record company push people might not get to hear this record?
No. There are no guarantees of airplay with or with out major label backing. Anyway I feel more comfortable with things finding their own level. I don't know - it's like throwing pasta at the wall and seeing if it sticks.

How come all of your special guests (Mick Harvey, Dave Graney, Ken Gormly) are older musicians?
I don't know. I guess most of my friends are older. I've always been a bit like that. It might have something to do with having kids at a really young age - we were only 16 and 17 years old when we became parents so we kinda grew up quick. The next album may feature my kids, Terry and Rosie so that' ll even things out.

How did being a parent at an early age affect your career path and doing what you wanted to do with music?
It's hard to know because, to be honest I can hardly remember life before having a family. It's what I know.

'Just Add Wine' your collaboration with Dave Graney has been around a long time. You played it at your last record launch. When you first started playing it sounded very Stonesy. The recorded version has evolved into something else...
We wrote this one around the same time as 'You put a spell on me' but I didn 't put it on 'Soul Witness'. I'm glad I saved it because it suites the Necessary Few better.

Was an album like the Rolling Stones Exile on Main St.a conscious reference point?
I'm not being a smart ass but I've never heard 'Exile on Main St' but I'm sure I must know some of the songs. I do love the Stones but I don't know all their stuff. I'm ignorant when it comes to 'classic albums'. It can be quite embarrassing at times.

_{'I'm not being a smart ass but I've never heard Exile on Main St.}

Your blues influence gets mentioned a lot. What are some of the other influences that you can hear on Navigational Skills?
Well, I don't know if you can hear them but these folks crossed my mind sometime or other during the making of this album - Link wray. Al Green. Beck. The Stones. Kim Salmon. Toots & the Maytells, Nina Simone, Stephen Malkmus, Ross Hannaford and Tom Waits.

You toured with the Blues Explosion's Judah Bauer throughout the United States. How much influence did he have on the record?
I'd already recorded it. He said I should get it mastered at some place in New York that was gonna cost me like 10 grand. I didn't take his advice on that one - a little bit out of Spaghetti's budget. He's really supportive - I mean to take me over to the States to tour with him and all. We did a tour down the west coast. I played solo support and then joined them for a few songs on lap steel and harmonica. I hope to record something with Judah down the track. We have pretty different styles but there's a common thread in what we do.

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