Camden homeless hostel celebrates launch of a resident's first album
15 March 2010
Hugh Mattan has recorded his first album - a real achievement made possible through a recording studio based in a St Mungo's hostel for homeless people in Camden.
Hugh, aged 54, is a resident at the Endell Street hostel in Covent Garden, which is funded by Camden Council's Supporting People programme. Having the studio on site at the hostel has meant Hugh's been able to achieve his long-held musical ambitions.
Now his album 'Love for the World' - a collection of reggae songs he's written himself - is on CD Baby - and he's being asked to sing at gigs in Camden and across London.
He's proved such a success that he and other St Mungo's residents are forming a band, and working on a follow up album.
Originally from Clarendon, Jamaica, Hugh grew up loving reggae music. He came to England aged eight and, after school, worked as an electronics engineer for four years before being made redundant. He also drove London buses for six years.
"I always loved music and taught myself to play the piano and the guitar but it wasn't something I was encouraged to do as a child. As a young man I made an audio cassette of songs I'd written but never took it further than that," he said.
Then Hugh's life started to go downhill, with redundancy and relationship problems. He ended up in prison serving a sentence for burglary. When he came out of jail he found himself homeless. He moved into St Mungo's Endell Street hostel about 18 months ago.
"When I found out they had a recording studio in the basement I took my old audio cassette down and asked the music production trainer what he thought of it. He came back straight away and we started recording the whole album. It's taken about six months. I can't believe I've got my own CD out," he said.
Matt Catlow, the music production trainer, added: "As our working relationship developed it was evident that working towards his album was having a positive effect on all aspects of Hugh's life. From those early sessions where we would sit and listen to old cassettes of his original material we have now reached the stage where Hugh has a professionally produced CD available to buy online."
Hugh is now performing regular gigs with the band he formed with other St Mungo's residents with the backing of Camden Calling, a social enterprise, that aims to help vulnerable people access both the arts and music scene.
"We've been rehearsing four evenings a week for three months. It's a great feeling to be on stage and see an audience enjoying the music so much," he said.
His aim now is to move into his own place, keep playing and enjoying his music, and see where it takes him. "I'd love to make a living from music in the future. At the moment, though, I can't believe how far we've come in the last six months."
St Mungo's Endell Street hostel was officially re-opened after refurbishment in December 2008 by former Homelessness Minister Ian Wright. The recording studio was part of the transformation of the hostel, which was funded through the Government Places of Change programme. The hostel is a key part of Camden Council's 'pathways' approach, which provides tailored support to single homeless people with support needs to help them move on to independent living.
The recording studio is one of the on-site activities offered through the Pathways to Employment scheme at Endell Street, which not only gives residents access to music as a therapeutic activity but also trains people in sound recording skills training. Developed in partnership with Camden Council and the Department for Work and Pensions, the studio is also now being used as a resource by other Camden-based organisations.
Alpheous Little, St Mungo's social enterprise and vocational training manager, said: "We have some very musically talented residents at Endell Street, and in other St Mungo's hostels. This is the first CD by one artist but we're working on other compilations at present. We wish Hugh every success in his music, and hope this is a real boost for him for the next step in his life."
Councillor Chris Naylor, Executive Member for Homes and Housing Strategy, Camden Council, said: "This is a fantastic achievement for Hugh. It just goes to show how important it is that we not only provide hostel accommodation for those who need it, but also support hostel residents to achieve success so they can go on to independent living."
To hear and download his album Love For the World, go to http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/HughMattan
ENDS
Notes to editor
- For more information please contact Judith Higgin on 020 8762 5645 or judith.higgin@mungos.org
- Hannah Paten, Camden Council's Press Office, on: 020 7974 6021 Hannah.Paten@camden.gov.uk
- St Mungo's opens doors for homeless people, providing emergency accommodation, support towards recovery and helping to prevent rough sleeping.
- St Mungo's worked in partnership with Camden Council to refurbish the hostel with a £3.2 million grant from the Government's Places of Change Programme. Formerly home to 98 residents, many in shared rooms, the hostel now has accommodation for 53 homeless men and women.
- Camden Council's pathways approach is a partnership between the Council and voluntary sector providers of hostels and supported housing for rough sleepers, people with substance use problems, people with mental health problems, offenders, and young people at risk/leaving care. The pathway involves people moving through a number of stages on their journey to independent living, and at each stage receiving tailored packages of housing support.
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