For more than two decades, Ottawa singer, guitarist and keyboardist Matthew Chaffey has been steadily carving out a place in Canada’s soul, blues and roots music scene. Alongside his brother Curtis, he helped establish The Split as one of Ottawa’s most respected soul-and-groove outfits, while his work with musicians from Ottawa to Austin has put him on stages and in studios with some remarkable names. He has also co-written material appearing on JUNO-winning and nominated recordings and spent years learning the craft by backing some of the great American rhythm-and-blues artists who have passed through Ottawa.

But there is another chapter to the Chaffey story.

His solo work has allowed Matthew to move from being the guy inside the band to becoming the guy telling his own story. His 2023 album Unknown Legend brought together soul, pop, funk and groove, while Hotel Texas, recorded in Austin with producer Kaz Kazanoff and an amazing cast of players including the Texas Horns, gave his music an even deeper connection to the American soul and blues tradition. The EP went all the way to number one on the Roots Music Report charts in 2024. Come check them out as The Chaffey Brothers Soul Revue at The Cove Inn on Saturday, September 5 from 5-8pm! Details and reservations here.

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Seamus Cowan: You grew up in Ottawa, but a lot of your musical DNA seems to come from somewhere south of the border. When did you first realize, “This is my music - this is the stuff that makes me want to get up and play”? Was there a particular record, singer, guitarist or live performance that flipped the switch for you? And when you look back now, can you hear exactly where those early influences ended and your own voice began?

Matthew Chaffey: Our father had a great record collection when we were growing up and two artists that stand as major influences would be Ray Charles and Waylon Jennings.

Seamus: You and your brother Curtis have spent a huge part of your lives making music together. Brothers working together can either be a beautiful musical shorthand - or a recipe for somebody eventually saying, “I swear to God, if you play that chord one more time…” What is the secret to making music with your brother for this long? And, more importantly, who wins the arguments?

Matthew: We’ve never had an argument… bahahaha  Gotta keep it light and breezy. 

Seamus: You’ve had the opportunity to play and record with some extraordinary American musicians, including members of the Texas Horns and players who have worked with artists such as Bonnie Raitt and Gary Clark Jr. What is it like for a Canadian musician to walk into a room in Austin with people who have essentially lived inside the music you grew up listening to? Is there an intimidation factor or does that disappear about 30 seconds after somebody counts off the first song?

Matthew: There’s no real intimidation. We’re all friends and have been working together for years now. 

Seamus: Hotel Texas feels like an important record because you weren’t simply interpreting somebody else’s music, you were putting your own experiences and observations into the songs. Take “Paper Shoes,” for example. There’s some pretty serious philosophy hiding inside that song. What was going on in Matthew Chaffey’s life when that song came out of him? And have you ever written something that was so personal that you initially wondered whether you really wanted other people hearing it?

Matthew: Next question… it’s personal 

Seamus: After more than 20 years of playing, touring, collaborating and watching the music business change around you, what still gives you that feeling of  “I can’t believe I get to do this for a living”? And if you could go back and sit across the table from your 20-year-old self, before all of your musical stages, what would you tell him that he absolutely would not believe?

Matthew: “Money makes the world go round”(paper shoes) and I would tell my former self that you need to make more money if you wanna make it in this business. 

Posted: Aug 31, 2026