Matthew and the Atlas is an English alternative folk outfit centered around… Read Full Bio ↴Matthew and the Atlas is an English alternative folk outfit centered around musician Matthew Hegarty, who hails from Aldershot near London. The project initially began as a five-piece band but has since evolved to focus on Matthew Hegarty with supporting musicians. Hegarty also performs with a stripped-back setup during live shows.

At the age of 15, Hegarty taught himself to play the guitar and later joined a band playing heavy alternative rock, drawing inspiration from bands like System of a Down and The Smashing Pumpkins. However, his musical direction shifted when he discovered the works of singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Nick Drake, Jeff Buckley, as well as contemporary acts like Iron & Wine and Sufjan Stevens. This newfound interest in folk music led Hegarty to pick up the acoustic guitar and the banjo, paving the way for him to perform solo acoustic gigs.

During a performance in Woking, Hegarty met pianist Lindsay West and multi-instrumentalist Dave Millar, with whom he formed the initial lineup of Matthew and the Atlas. The band gained recognition as part of the emerging folk movement in the United Kingdom and became regulars at London's Notting Hill Arts Club.

In 2009, Matthew and the Atlas released their first EP on Communion Records, a label co-founded by Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons. Their EP "To the North" was Communion's second release and helped establish the band's following, further bolstered by touring as the opening act for Mumford & Sons. Subsequent EPs like "Kingdom of Your Own" followed.

In 2014, Matthew and the Atlas released their debut full-length album, "Other Rivers," showcasing polished production and the incorporation of keyboards and electronic percussion. For the album "Temple" (2016), the band recorded with members of Foreign Fields and also released an acoustic version of the same songs titled "Temple (Unplugged)."

Over time, the band's lineup solidified, with members like Alex Roberts (guitar), Tommy Heap (bass and keyboards), James Drohan (drums), and Emma Gatrill (harp) joining Hegarty.

Matthew and the Atlas has built a devoted live following in London and has embarked on tours, including a UK tour with Mumford & Sons. The band's musical journey has seen them explore various styles, from classic acoustic folk to electronica and alt-rock, all the while maintaining Hegarty's distinctive vocal style and emotive songwriting.

In 2011, after a band member's departure, Matthew Hegarty decided to return to performing "solo" under the Matthew and the Atlas moniker.

Currently, Matthew Hegarty is preparing to release his new album, "This Place We Live," on Communion Records in November 2023. For the first time, he takes on recording and producing duties, crafting a collection of deeply personal songs that reflect on past experiences, family, parenthood, love, and loss. To support the album's release, Matthew Hegarty will embark on a solo tour throughout the UK and Europe in the fall of 2023.

Mirrors
Matthew and the Atlas Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴

All alone one dreary night
Images of fear and fright
Excite me as I'm viewing them
But then they scare me once again
I put together in a hurry
Images that come to me blurry
I fix the puzzled mess in my mind
To see things that are far behind

Mirror, mirror, on the wall
What have you to show us all?
Suddenly I start to gasp
I'm staring straight into my past
No I, don't wanna see this
But its burned into my mind
Into my mind
Burned into my mind
I open eyes that I left closed
To hide what the mirror showed
But now that scene has been erased
By a new one that replaced
The previous views of my past
I thought would forever last
Now a view that I know well
But not the story the mirror tells
Mirror, mirror, on the wall
What have you to tell us all?
Suddenly I start to see,
The present view the mirror shows me
No I, don't wanna see this
But its burned into my mind
No I, don't wanna see this
But its burned into my mind
No I, don't wanna see this
But its burned into my mind
Into my mind
Burned into my mind
Now that I have seen the two
Things the mirror's shown to me
The third I eagerly wish to see
The mirror holds this view from me
Mirror, mirror, on the wall
What have you to hide from us all?
Suddenly I realize
The future the mirror shields from my eyes
No I, don't wanna see this
But its burned into my mind
No I, don't wanna see this
No I, don't wanna see this
No I, don't wanna see this
But its burned into my mind

No I, don't wanna see this
But its burned into my mind

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Matthew and the Atlas's song "Mirrors" paint a vivid picture of a haunting experience with self-reflection and facing one's past, present, and future through the metaphor of a mirror. In the first verse, the singer describes a moment of solitude and vulnerability, where images of fear and uncertainty emerge, both captivating and frightening them. The rapid succession of blurry images and the effort to piece them together reflect the confusion and emotional turmoil that come with confronting troubling memories.

As the song progresses, the focus shifts to the mirror as a mirror on the wall, symbolizing self-examination and introspection. The singer is confronted with glimpses of their past, which they are hesitant to confront but find themselves unable to look away from. The line "No I, don't wanna see this, but it's burned into my mind" encapsulates the overwhelming intensity of revisiting painful or difficult experiences that leave a lasting imprint on one's thoughts and emotions.

The theme of transformation and growth emerges as the singer acknowledges the changes in their perception brought about by new reflections in the mirror. The contrast between the past and present views highlights the evolution of the self and the shifting nature of identity. The repetition of the line "No I, don't wanna see this, but it's burned into my mind" underscores the emotional weight and inevitability of facing truths about oneself.

In the final verse, there is a yearning to uncover the future, which the mirror seemingly conceals. The apprehension and reluctance to confront what lies ahead are palpable, as the singer grapples with the unknown and the uncertainty of what the mirror holds. The repetition of the closing lines emphasizes the haunting and inescapable nature of self-reflection and the profound impact it can have on one's psyche. Overall, "Mirrors" delves into the complexities of introspection, memory, and self-discovery, capturing the internal struggle and profound revelations that come with looking deeply into one's own reflection.

Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Matthew Gonsiorek

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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