Folk/rocker Matt Costa is a singer/songwriter from California, he is currently on a successful world tour. Matt's homemade demo CD found its way to No Doubt's guitarist Tom Dumont who has since produced Matt's music. Matt went on to sign with Jack Johnson's, Brushfire label. Matt spent the summer of 2005 supporting Johnson on his world tour and on Johnson's European tour in 2006. Matt is set to release his new album, Unfamiliar Faces, on the 22nd January. Liz Griffiths got chance to get to know a bit more about him... Q. Hows the tour going? A. Its going all right you know, its going good.Q. You were originally a professional skate boarder, what made you change to music?
A. Well I broke my leg and I was laid up for like a year and a half and I'd always played music my whole life. I just started writing songs. That's kind of how it happened. Q. Your home made demo tape landed in the hands of Tom Dumont, what was it like recording with him?
A. Well we became really good friends and we realised we had a lot in common, it was a pleasant experience. Q. Why did you sign with Jack Johnson's Bushfire label?
A. Originally I wanted to release everything independently. But they had the same idea of what I wanted to do independently. There was more of a family there, a more creative family. Q. Do you think you benefitted more from being on an independent label?
A. Yeah of course. Q. How did it differ recording your second album, Unfamiliar Faces, to your first album?
A. Well every song came about as a surprise. I hadn't planned to make the first album but the second album I knew how to shape it more to something that kind of flowed. I had more experience from the first.Q. Who are your inspirations and idols?
A. John Steinbeck. John Lennon. John Harley. John Henry.

Q. How would you describe your style of music?
A. I would describe it as tall (laughs).

Q. You have played at lots of fesitvals, what has been your favourite to perform at?
A. My favourite festival is probably Bonnaroo in Tennessee.

Q. Have you ever played at Glastonbury or any other British festivals?
A. No I haven't actually, this year I think we're talking about doing some of those.

Q. Who would you most like to collaborate with musically?
A. Let's see, how about .... Who do you think I should collaborate with? Joni Mitchell? That'd be a good one. The feeling's mutual, I like Joni Mitchell. She's great, she harmonises well.

Q. Do you think you have benefitted from having a Myspace page?
A. Yeah I benefitted from having a Myspace page cause I didn't have any friends before (laughs).

Q. What has been your favourite place to perform at?
A. I like New Orleans. I like London, it's good here. I like a lot of British music, so it's good to be here.

Q. Is there anywhere you'd like to play that you're yet to perform at?
A. I'd like to visit the islands where Darwin did all his research, the Galapagos Islands. Also, Chile.

Q. What do you think of all the reality TV programmes like X Factor and American Idol?
A. I think they probably show people what good music really is.

Q. Where are you playing tonight?
A. Tonight I'm not playing anywhere, I'm just going to be here in the hotel.

Q. You're in London, do you like the city?
A. I like this city a lot. I wanna go to the Tate. I went there the last time I was here but I wanna go back as there's only so much you can take in. There's a lot of places in England I would like to revisit.

Matt's new album, Unfamiliar Faces, is available from the 22nd January.