Matt Henshaw

Matt Henshaw (born Matthew Henshaw; 10 September 1987) is an English singer-songwriter and musician from Ilkeston between Nottingham and Derby. He was a founding member of the midlands indie/blues band Censored as lead singer, songwriter and guitarist. The band split in 2008 and he would re-emerge in 2010 as a solo artist collaborating with numerous artists and musicians, namely Birmingham-born hip-hop MC ReggiiMental.

Early life
Henshaw was born in Nottingham City Hospital in 1987. He attended schools in Kirk Hallam and Heanor in Derbyshire before attending Ilkeston Arts College where he met the other founding members of Censored.

According to Henshaw, he was influenced by music from a very young age, listening to artists such as Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye and early Motown records. He was also heavily influenced by the songwriters of the sixties, Lennon & McCartney (The Beatles), Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane (The Small Faces) and Ray Davies (The Kinks). Alex Turner, Damon Albarn Ian Brown and Syd Barret have also been cited as influences in interviews over the years.

Matt has stated in the past that every decision he makes is "governed by how it would affect the ones I love ... and my mod ethics"

Censored (2004-2008)
After forming Censored with Chris Goring and Nathan Clarke in the early noughties their early sound was often described being "ensconced in the classic British 'mod' sound" in part due to their cover of Sam Cooke's 'Shake' and "straight up punk-rock."

The band were selected in 2005 by Lee Jeans to play their stage at the Carling Weekend: Leeds and Reading Festivals and again in 2006 by TopMan.

Signing with Electric Toaster Entertainment at the beginning of 2008 with new bassist Christopher Owen they released the single "Play The Game" which received limited national radio airplay, most notably Tom Robinson on BBC Radio 6 Music.

The band disbanded in 2008 as they were "on the way to becoming the biggest band in the East Midlands thanks to a combination of infectious tunes, classic songwriting and sheer hard graft." They played their final show at Rescue Rooms in Nottingham on the 19th December.

Whilst with the band Matt would play many solo acoustic shows, occasionally accompanied by other members of the band. In the years with Censored band he played with Simon Fowler and Oscar Harrison of Ocean Colour Scene, Rick Buckler of The Jam (performing with The Gift), Chris Helme formerly of John Squire's The Seahorses and Jonny Brown of Twisted Wheel. He also played the benefit show Clough Aid, a fundraiser to erect a statue of ex-Nottingham Forest and Derby County manager Brian Clough in Nottingham.

Henshaw also regularly played at the annual Small Faces convention at the Carling Academy Islington  and featured in the Darlings of Wapping Wharf Launderette fanzine.

In addition he played headline slots at Nottingham's Dot to Dot Festival in 2006 and Derbyshire's Y-Not Festival in 2008.

Throughout 2009 there is no trace of any activities from Matt Henshaw although a literary work did surface in November at a gig in Derby at The Victoria Inn. The show was put on by Nottingham band The Jet Boys and featured guest readers reading extracts from the work under the title of Bon Nuit Madame (Goodnight My Lady). Henshaw was not in attendance.

The Deepest Cellar (2010)
In early 2010 it was announced that Matt Henshaw was working on an album collaborating with Hip Hop MC ReggiiMental under the working title of The Deepest Cellar. The 11 track album The Deepest Cellar was released on May 1st. The records features MCs the lost generation, Ras Supa, Rukus, Devas and a remix from the Unfriendly Neighbours (recently signed to the Banana Klan record label belonging to Mr.Roots Manuva).

Reviews of Henshaw's solo material so far have been positive. Online German fanzine RapOhneLizenz described the album as a "Nice package with everything you need for a successful hip-hop - Barbecue."

LoveBox Festival 2010
In July 2010 Matt Henshaw was shortlisted and subsequently selected by a panel including NME editor Krissi Murison, Dizzee Rascal and Groove Armada's Tom Findlay to open the 2010 Lovebox Festival.

Coming Around (2013)
On May 1st 2013 Henshaw released a second album with ReggiiMental which he toured throughout the Summer notably following Neville Staples of The Specials at Godiva Festival.

Satsuma Elephants
Henshaw formed Psychedelic Blues Rock band Satsuma Elephants with former Censored drummer Chris Goring in 2013.

Personal life
Henshaw is a big fan of cinema and attended the University of Leicester to study Film & The Visual Arts. In an interview in 2008 he stated that his three 'Desert Island Discs' would be The Beatles' Rubber Soul, Revolver and Abbey Road. And "if invited to a glitzy showbiz do" he would invite Queen Boudicca as a guest.

Albums
With Censored:
 * Censored 2004-2008 (2010) Free Downloads made available through Last.FM and MySpace

With ReggiiMental:
 * The Deepest Cellar (2010) Released on May 1
 * Coming Around (2013) Released on May 1

Singles
With Censored:
 * "Mr. Bishop" (2004)
 * "Get It On" (2005)
 * "Johnny Boy" (2006)
 * "L.I.F.E (Blow It Out My Mind)" - 23 April 2007
 * "Play The Game" - 9 June 2008

With ReggiiMental:
 * "The Deepest Cellar" - 20 April 2010
 * "Adidas Trainers" - May 2010
 * "Far Away" - June 2010
 * "Can't Hold Back" - September 2010
 * "Stand By The Window" - December 2010
 * "Gimme Some More" - June 2013