VideoMatt Epp brings his love songs home to Winnipeg

Musically, it's stripped down. The whole theme of it -- and why it's called the "Careful Abandon" tour -- is wanting to get musically back to the very spirit of the song when it comes to me.

—Matt Epp, singer-songwriter

After months of living in Spain, working with incredible musicians, touring Europe and recording in Los Angeles, Winnipeg troubadour Matt Epp returns to Canada for a solo tour.

He's released a new album, Never Have I Loved Like This, and his Winnipeg concert will be at the West End Cultural Centre on October 18.

Epp was convinced to make a solo album by Peter Finger, a producer in Germany and he just happened to have a handful of songs ready to go. The recording is currently available only in Germany, but Epp is bringing a stash that he'll be selling at the concert.

"I've sometimes been known for my love songs, and there's a lot more of this intimacy of love and relationship in this record," says Epp. "Musically, it's stripped down. The whole theme of it -- and why it's called the "Careful Abandon" tour -- is wanting to get musically back to the very spirit of the song when it comes to me."

Epp created two compelling videos connected to the album. In "Love is Forever," he collaborated with two dancers. "When we came down to actually shooting it there was a vulnerability in the song and an imperfection in it that told us that we needed younger dancers," he says. "Like they were building a relationship for the first time."



In his video "Sputnik" he is performing with a German-born visual artist, Sabine Putlitz. Epp stays in Putlitz's studio whenever he is in Kelowna, where she now lives. He enjoys working and writing there and has always wanted to collaborate with her.

"Sputnik is the Russian word for travelling companion," he says. "So this is his chance to travel with her." The video was done in one continual shot and Epp says the idea is that "no matter what happens in the shot, it's like life. You get one try."



Matt Epp performs a solo show at the West End Cultural Centre on October 18 at 8 p.m.