
Matt Hsu is a 2020 QLD Music Awards winning musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist based in Meanjin.
Plays over 20 instruments incuding accordion, double bass, trumpet, drums, saw, banjo and shakuhachi.
Taking creative paths less travelled to create evocative intricately-crafted music, rather than 'samey' sounds.
Drawing from a diverse upbringing immersed in world music, his work explores spaces between cultures.
Played on Triple J, ABC's Rage, and toured internationally as part of The Mouldy Lovers and Virginia Sook.
An ethical and organic wearable music release
The LOOPY! x Obscure Orchestra shirt accompanies the release of 'Welcome To The Neighbourhood' — a song addressing refugee rights, black lives and systemic racism in a collaboration with artists and activists of First Nations, refugee, immigrant and gender diverse backgrounds.
Artwork by Taiwanese art duo LOOPY! who create cheeky whimsical art in Taipei.
Forgoing CDs that become waste, Matt chose Earth Positive and Stanley/Stella apparel who aim for the highest social, ethical and environmental standards.
Made from 100% certified organic cotton with eco-friendly water-based screen printing inks that don't leach bad crap onto you or the world.
Ethical labour practices at every stage of production, ensuring fair wages and improving labour condititions for garment workers.
Made in carbon neutral facilities that use only clean renewable green electricity from wind and solar – verified by the Carbon Trust.
Unisex sizing from XS to XXL. View size guide for Mango Yellow and Leaf Green and Roasted Orange shirts.
Eclectic music. Ethical release.
Music can be an act of defiance. This album is one of them, taking an unbeaten path with release of Matt's debut album on an organic ethical shirt.
Following Matt's offbeat DIY sensibilities, shirt artwork is hand designed by himself with an album download code on the collar.
Forgoing CDs that become waste, Matt chose Earth Positive clothing who aim for the highest social, ethical and environmental standards.
Made from 100% certified organic cotton with eco-friendly water-based screen printing inks that don't leach bad crap onto you or the world.
Ethical labour practices at every stage of production, ensuring fair wages and improving labour condititions for garment workers.
Made in carbon neutral facilities that use only clean renewable green electricity from wind and solar – verified by the Carbon Trust.
Sizes range from women’s S with rolled sleeves through to unisex XXL. View size guide for women's and unisex shirts.
Steeped in world music since childhood, Matt creates multilayered compositions that explore the grey areas between cultures, with an eclectic mix of instruments.
Every composition created naturally with acoustic instruments and field recordings rather than eletronically.
QLD Music Awards winning music, as well as recognised by international film festivals, including being awarded Finalist at Los Angeles CineFest.
Evoking a dramatic span of moods. From dark to whimsical, grandiose to primal, ethereal to exuberant.
Music that resonates through daring creativity, rather than replicating trends and clichés.
Matt crafts aural environments that perfectly marry with visuals, and creates sound effects and foley.
Works with a range of projects from film, TV, digital media, advertising, animation, theatre to video games.
In 2020, Matt won a Queensland Music Award for World Music for the song Make Everything, a collaboration with Taiwanese art duo LOOPY! and lo-fi dream pop musician apadalia. Make Everything celebrates creating things for the love if it rather than for fame, and features bilingual lyrics in English and Taiwanese.
Queensland Music Awards acceptance speech by Matt Hsu's Obscure Orchestra and apadalia, speaking about the importance diversity and representation in the Australian music industry.
'Make Everything’ celebrates creating things for the love if it, rather than for fame or gain. Featuring art duo LOOPY! and apadalia.
In a collaboration with animator, illustrator and performance maker Ashleigh Djokic, the experimental short/music video Birdnest Hair is a celebration of scrappy optimism and womanhood. As of 2018, it has received recognition from 16 international film festivals.
Interviews, articles, exclusives and editorials by and about Matt Hsu's Obscure Orchestra.
On stage, Matt Hsu's Obscure Orchestra transmutes into a stand-up comedy music act, leaning into the ridiculousness of playing dozens of instruments aided by a loop pedal with no 'undo' function, and peppered with witty misadventures and sharp anecdotes.
Perfomed at TEDxQUT as one person orchestra in Meanjin, September 2018.
Peformances at BIGSOUND 2017, Angry Mime (Backbone Arts) and DIY Festival.
Sweeping soundscapes from scratch with twenty instruments and a loop pedal.
Working with an ever growing circle of collaborators including internationally-renown icon Tenzin Choegyal, Kenta Hayashi, Ben Ely of Regurgitator, Leanne Day-Simpson of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, circus performer Ellen Grow, mandolin player and vocalist Hannah Ryder and multi-instrumentalist Andre Bonetti.
Tibetan artist, composer, activist and festival director. Tenzin has collaborated with the acclaimed Philip Glass.
Tibet
Japanese singer-songwriter and 'loop pedal ninja' creating sound by layering vocals, guitar, effects and percussion.
Japan
Violinist for the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. Leanne has toured Europe twice as a soloist.
United States
Queensland harpist and chamber musician. Appeared with prominent artists Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli.
Australia
In Matt's travels, he makes field recordings to capture the spirit of these places, combining the sounds of nature, pastoral life and urban eclectica into a pastiche of soundscapes.
Scoring bespoke music for feature film, short film, telelvision, games, theatre productions, advertising, digital media, dance, events and cross-disciplinary projects.
Composer for Imaginary Theatre's 2020 Brisbane Festival theatre installation A Curious Arcade, at Brisbane Powerhouse.
Live-scoring and co-composing for The Neighbourhood, exploring migrant, refugee and Indigenous experiences.
Composer for MELT Queer Festival 2020 interactive media installation Brood at Brisbane Powerhouse by Sophie Reid-Singer/Clunkk.
Composer for digital narrative project by Dr Freya Wright-Brough and authors of refugee backgrounds.
Worked with composer Hayden Riley providing trumpet, clarinet and percussion performances for an animated film.
Composed music for six 30 second adverts Queensland Government Office of Fair Trading national campaign.
Provided music for the Cracks in the Concrete oral histories project by Meanjin-based politics and philosophy talk show.
Engaged to perfom at TEDxQUT as a 'one person orchestra', creating a multi-layered composition with 20 instruments live.
Provided a library of music for Gabba Ward Greens Councillor Jonathan Sri in creating digital media resources.
Matt is a founding member of QMusic Award nominated folk-punk troupe.
In 2017, The Mouldy Lovers toured across Japan with indie luminaries OreskaBand, Bloodest Saxophone, Cavemans, Gaka and Walkings.
From summer festivals to charity grassroots events, we have played Falls Festival, Woodford Folk Festival and QLD Music Festival.
Supported international icons such as The Original Wailers, The Skatalites, Neville Staple, Kenta Hayashi and Babylon Circus.
In 2017, The Mouldy Lovers were nominated for a Queensland Music Award in the World Music category.
Side projects, guest musician contributions and partnerships.
Recorded with internationally acclaimed Australian artist Gabriella Cohen for her 2018 album Pink is the Colour of Unconditional Love.
Matt joined French-Australian folk group Virginia Sook as a multi-instrumentalist and arranger in 2017. Now based in Europe.
Joined Indigenous Australian band Apakatjah to perform at Woodfold Folk Festival 2017/2018, forming strong and lasting bonds.
Matt has recorded and performed with Bosnian-Australian singer-songwriter Amela on her singles Better Off and Uniforms.