Matt Bridge

Matt Mujegu

"I am one of the forgotten generation of multicultural Irish citizens", says the engaging Dublin-born musician and producer Matt Mujegu. His family are from Crumlin, Phil Lynott's home territory. Matt spent half his life in Kenya and Uganda and also lived for eight years in Sweden.

A musician with years of experience, Matt's first public performance was singing on stage in Kenya when he was just eight years old. As a producer he has worked with a string of companies in Sweden, including Stockholm Records, who recorded The Cardigans.

Now he has set up his own recording company, Bridgestone Records, which he operates from his Tralee town centre studio. He is lucky enough to have contacts with premier Irish labels like Claddagh Records and Gael Linn, retailers HMV and Road Records and international distribution companies and radio markets in Europe, South America and the developing world.

"Bridgestone Records is a multi-cultural record company", says Matt. "There are so many really talented people living here from all nationalities, with rich and diverse influences and musical styles. At present I am working with people from different countries including Zimbabwe and Ethiopia and incorporating hip-hop, rap, gospel and gypsy music."

Matt also has connections with many trad musicians in Kerry. He is particularly associated with the regular Friday night trad sessions in the Abbey Inn in Ardfert. One of these musicians, tin whistle player Kieran Kelly, recorded a solo album with Bridgestone Records, called "A Whistle-Stop Tour", which was awarded a 3 star rating by the Irish Times.

Matt's own music sounds interesting too. His latest single is called "Los Guisantes" (The Peas!), a Latino number.

"Well, guisantes, or peas, that's like another expression for marbles," he tells me, "as in losing your marbles. The song is all about the way we think."

"Los Guisantes" will be go out to the Latin FM radio market worldwide - such as Canary Islands, San Diego, Florida and Brazil Records. It will be followed by "This Is Not a Love Song", a political hard core techno song which mixes the original John Lydon lyric and ends with a bugle sample of the "The Last Post".

Matt Mujegu is one of the most multi-faceted people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He has sung tenor with the Kerry Choral Union, he boxes, he's a member of the Civil Defence... his marbles are not in any danger of being lost.

If you would like more information on Bridgestone Records (or, indeed, if you would like to work with Bridgestone Records, and let's face it who wouldn't?) please contact Matt on mujegu@gmail.com