Matt’s main instrument is violin and he is entirely self-taught. The story goes that, at 18, he was given a friend’s grandfather’s violin and then alienated friends and family over a two year period, finally unleashing himself upon an unsuspecting public in the streets of Newark, Lincoln and Grantham. He moved to Sheffield in 1986 and was part of the vibrant music scene in Sheffield playing in The Glass Hammers, Pigsix 4, Yonni, and Stiki.
Sieben exists because of the classic Chinese text I Ching. Matt was given a reading by a friend which told him to make music he wanted to, not the music he thought people would like. This led to Matt throwing himself into a fully solo career, which indulged and channelled his fantasy and passion into violin and voice.
The premise and spirit of Sieben is layers – layers of instrument and voice that hypnotically draws you into a world of emotion. Lyrically, the themes shift and change from album to album, but are linked by the same sense of dissonance – the smooth, superficially melodious voice belies the dark, quick, twisted stories. Intelligent, quirky use of metaphor and archaic language is set against a backdrop of texture rich music.
The first Sieben album is ‘Forbid The Sun's Escape' (1999) on Tony Wakeford's label Tursa and distributed by World Serpent. The second album was 'The Line And The Hook' (2001) on Matt's own label Redroom. Sieben then signed to Trisol and released on their sublabel Iceflower the albums 'Our Solitary Confinement' (2002), which was Album Of The Month in Germany's Orkus magazine, ‘Sex And Wildflowers’ (2003), ‘Ogham Inside The Night' (2005), ‘High Broad Field’ (2006) and ‘Desire Rites’ (2007). Then Matt Howden returned Sieben to his own label Redroom and there released 'As They Should Sound' (2009), 'Star Wood Brick Firmament' (2010) and 'No Less Than All' (2012).
As alluded to within album credits and lyrics Matt has a deep love of Burnley F.C., curry, kebabs and cider from Wilkes Farm, Somerset.
The central place of the violin and Howden's unusual way of playing it give's Sieben a distinct sound which makes comparison difficult. Whilst, Sieben is frequently classified as neofolk, gothic & experimental and could be as well described as alternative, indie, melancholy freak folk ....the list goes on. Definitively Sieben, and Matt Howden, are best described as unique.
Sieben's Home Page is located at: http://www.matthowden.com/
The Sun
Sieben Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lines of power withdrawn, the night page white
to notch what we are in dot to dot of star.
Facing to the sun, end where we’ve begun,
the light stone white we ogham score ratchet the returning sun.
The sun divine sprang a single word, the sun divine to light our way.
From gort the rays down to the suckle ailm leaf,
from the fern sail root dair the rising shoot.
from the belly to the voice to the sky we implore.
The sun divine sprang a single word, the sun divine to light our way.
Sieben's song, The Sun, is a bewitching ode to the power of the sun and its significance in our lives. The opening lines, "the lines of power withdrawn, the night page white, to notch what we are in dot to dot of star," describe the fading of the stars as the sun begins to rise, illuminating the world around us. The lines of power refer to the energetic lines that connect us to the natural world, which become more visible during the night. However, with the sun's rise, these lines are withdrawn, and the world is bathed in white light, erasing the night page.
The verses that follow describe the different aspects of nature that are touched by the sun's rays, from the suckle of the ailm leaf to the rising shoot of the dair root. The use of the Ogham, an ancient Irish script, adds to the sense of mysticism and magic that permeates the song. The chorus, "the sun divine sprang a single word, the sun divine to light our way," refers to the idea that the sun, as a deity, has the power to bring light to our lives, both literally and metaphorically. The sun is a symbol of hope, illumination, and prosperity, and its return brings with it the promise of new beginnings.
Sieben's The Sun is a beautiful and haunting piece of music that celebrates the power of the sun in our lives. The lyrics, with their allusions to ancient Celtic mythology and the Ogham script, add a layer of mysticism to the song, making it even more enchanting. The use of traditional instruments, such as the violin and the acoustic guitar, creates a sense of warmth and familiarity, underscoring the comforting power of the sun.
Line by Line Meaning
The lines of power withdrawn, the night page white
The darkness of night gives way to the blankness of a new day, as power recedes and leaves us with a clean slate.
to notch what we are in dot to dot of star.
Our place in the universe is mapped out, and we each have a unique position amongst the stars.
Facing to the sun, end where we’ve begun,
We look toward the sun, the source of our existence, to find our ultimate purpose and meaning.
the light stone white we ogham score ratchet the returning sun.
The sun's return brings with it the brightness of a new dawn, as we mark the occasion with ancient symbols and rituals.
The sun divine sprang a single word, the sun divine to light our way.
The power and majesty of the sun is beyond our understanding, yet it guides us on our journey through life.
From gort the rays down to the suckle ailm leaf,
The sun's light reaches all aspects of nature, from the fields of crops to the leaves of the trees.
from the fern sail root dair the rising shoot.
Even the smallest and most insignificant plants receive the sun's life-giving energy, enabling them to grow and flourish.
From saile grazed beast to colled for the feast,
The sun's impact extends to the animals, sustaining them and providing for us in return.
from the belly to the voice to the sky we implore.
We turn our hearts and minds upward, imploring the sun to continue shining and nurturing us.
The sun divine sprang a single word, the sun divine to light our way.
The sun is more than just a physical force, it is a divine and guiding presence in our lives.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MATT HOWDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Zoozverres13
This is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard :) <3
@psypunk66
never heard that before, very nice! thanx 4 uploading :)
@SigurdCaroff
Amazing!
@LuisFernandoKhaf-re
<3
@kit6143
seieben
@clabauxchristophe7789
<3