Newcastle-based songwriter Mat Hunsley makes a striking entrance with his debut album, ‘The Things We Need’, with support from the PRS’ Open Fund. Blending folk intimacy with subtle alternative textures, the album reflects years of lived experience, balancing Hunsley’s medical training with an unwavering commitment to songwriting.
The title track opens with delicate acoustic guitar and Hunsley’s breathy vocals before expanding into a textured, cinematic arrangement of layered guitars, piano, and subtle synths. Self-produced in his home studio, the song highlights his instinct for space, emotional pacing, and restraint.
Elsewhere, ‘There’s Been A Death’ draws directly from Hunsley’s NHS experience, offering an unflinching yet poetic portrayal of overworked hospitals and exhausted staff, demonstrating his ability to translate personal insight into resonant storytelling.
Collaborators, including drummer Matt Hardy (Lanterns on the Lake, Lovely Assistant) and string arranger Joseph Lawrenson (Dancing Years), enrich the album without overshadowing Hunsley’s central vision. Across ‘The Things We Need’, minimalism and subtle detail carry the greatest impact, with stripped-back moments resonating most profoundly, establishing a voice both intimate and assured.
With this debut, Mat Hunsley positions himself as a thoughtful and authentic new presence in the UK’s contemporary folk and alternative scene, offering music that pairs vulnerability with conviction, and introspection with emotional depth.
