iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I hear this place is a shadow of its former self...

Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I've climbed the 343 steps to the top of the south tower of St Stephen's Cathedral, and now I am enjoying some gelato and a latte (sorry, dentists!) at Zanoni & Zanoni. Yum!

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Heilige Scheiße, Wien ist wunderschön! I'm walking around today in my @portobelloexpress.bsky.social t-shirt, listening to Portobello Express, before I go to see (and join) Portobello Express live tonight!

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

It's #BandcampFriday again and you know what there's not a lot of? Rock music. There's hard rock, grunge rock, country rock etc, but not a lot of...just rock. So that's why my CD is 12 guitarry rock tracks and if you buy it, all the money goes to charity! mattkik.bandcamp.com/album/eponym...

mattkik.bandcamp.com

Eponymous, by Matt Kik

12 track album

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Well, I should probably remove this as my pinned post, but my Eponymous album is one year old today! I am working on the second, but it's probably quite a while away yet, so you're just stuck with this one for now. Still have a pile of CDs left, too...

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

My last blog post about creating the tracks on my Eponymous album is finally out (two weeks late, like anyone noticed or cared!) Read about how I came up with the newest song on the album, how it changed as it evolved, and what new instrument I bought! mattkikmusic.wixsite.com/matt-kik/pos...

mattkikmusic.wixsite.com

Creating Alone While Coasting

Date Conceived - 15th April 2025 So now we arrive at the last song of the album, and also the newest song on the album. I actually had quite a list of contenders for this slot. I imagine most songwrit...

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Every month I've been sending out a track from my album to all the indie radio stations I know of. Today I just sent out the last one. It'll be a while until I can do it again as I'm just less than half way through album number two. I'd better get cracking!

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

My penultimate blog post. Well, at least when it comes to posts about songs from the album. Find out how I came to write What I Need, which turned out to be the oldest song on the album. mattkikmusic.wixsite.com/matt-kik/pos...

mattkikmusic.wixsite.com

Creating What I Need

Date Conceived - 6th November 2001These last two songs are very interesting. Coincidentally, they are the oldest and newest songs I have ever written (at the time). As I've said in a previous post, I ...

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Me: (Sigh) At least one or two people usually read my blog post... Then I realise, I never posted about it! I'm almost out of songs to post about now, just two left after this one. This month, find out how I came to write Your Place in Time: mattkikmusic.wixsite.com/matt-kik/pos...

mattkikmusic.wixsite.com

Creating Your Place in Time

Your Place in Time - 10th December 2024Your Place in Time is another song from the album where its origin can be traced back over two decades (thinking about it, I'll be slightly screwed when that wel...

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

You may have noticed I have a CD on my face. But it's not just any CD, it's the new album from @portobelloexpress.bsky.social A collection of some of their best songs from the last 11 years. A lot of these songs are singles or from other releases so it's great to have them all together.

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Reposted by Matt Kik

GetMusic @getmusic.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Matt Kik - Eponymous @mattkik.bsky.social "Eponymous is an album of twelve original tracks of guitar driven rock." #rock #music getmusic.fm/l/giABoa

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

FREE MUSIC! No-one likes paying for it so what the hell, I'm giving away two albums of awesome, guitar-driven rock music! Twenty-Five Years by Storm of Crows, and Eponymous by me. Check them out now, the downloads are limited! getmusic.fm/r/storm-of-c... getmusic.fm/r/matt-kik-e...

getmusic.fm

Storm of Crows - Twenty-Five Years | Free Bandcamp Codes

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

NEW BLOG POST! We're on the last few of these now. One for each song on the album and this is number nine (in creation order). I really need to get cracking with album number two, I guess! Anyway, here is the story of how I wrote Set The World Alight. mattkikmusic.wixsite.com/matt-kik/pos...

mattkikmusic.wixsite.com

Creating Set the World Alight

Set the World Alight - 28th November 2024 I would consider that I have had two significant stints in the music world. My formative musical years, from 1996 to 2002, and from 2020 onwards. The eighteen...

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Sorry, I gave up and went to bed at about 2:35am. Now I'm playing catch-up!

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

While three of the Artemis II crew have flown in space, only one of them, Victor Glover, has landed back from space like this before. Christna Koch and Reid Wiseman both flew Soyuz, so landed back on solid ground as opposed to an ocean landing.

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Artemis II is now travelling at nearly three miles per second, and they're just under 16,000 miles away from home. NASA coverage begins in about five minutes, at 11:30pm BST.

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

In a few moments Artemis II will be travelling at two miles per second. That's only 93,101 times slower than the speed of light!

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Here are the UK times for the Artemis II landing tonight.

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Another newly released photo from Artemis II. The HD version of the crappy screenshot I posted yesterday. Pretty nice, huh?

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Four of the best shots from last night's journey around the Moon by Artemis II.

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

The Artemis II astronauts are about to flyby the Moon, the livestream starts in just a moment. Watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3kR...

youtube.com

NASA's Artemis II Live Mission Coverage (Official Broadcast)

YouTube video by NASA

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

This is the night time side of the Earth, taken from Artemis II, lit by the sun's light being reflected off the moon (behind us in this photo). The sun is behind the Earth, and we can see its light creeping around the side at the bottom right edge. And the bright dot is Venus!

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Just a quick post to say thank you to both @untidyradio.com and @kb-radio.bsky.social for playing my songs on their stations. As a small independent musician (as in not much reach, not that I'm really teeny. I'm about 5'10) it really is appreciated that you help us indie musicians out like this!

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

I have just doubled the value of my Gear4Music twelve string guitar by supergluing seventy-four guitar picks to it. Included are two sixpences, three metal picks, two wooden ones, and one made of stone.

A left handed Gear4Music twelve string telecaster with seventy-four guitar picks in all different colours glued to it.

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

I just broke the G string on my guitar! I've not done that before but then again, it's the high G on my electric 12 string, and that's around a 0.09-0.10, about the same as a high E, so I have a few spares kicking around. That's a happy coincidence.

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

New blog post - Creating Down 'n' Dirty (The Song I Hate!) This track...was an ordeal. So much of one that even now, years later, I still don't particularly enjoy listening to it. I don't think it's bad, it just really wasn't fun to make. Read why here: mattkikmusic.wixsite.com/matt-kik/pos...

mattkikmusic.wixsite.com

Creating Down 'n' Dirty (The Song I Hate!)

Date conceived - 6th February 2022This song took a while to get beyond its conception. It was another one I wrote with the idea that we'd do it in Storm of Crows. But let's do the title first. The "br...

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

It's new blog post time! How I created what is probably the silliest and also guitariest song my my album. The track Short Song, Few Lyrics, Lotsa Guitar! It's short song with only a few lyrics, and lots of guitar. Find out how I did it...here! mattkikmusic.wixsite.com/matt-kik/pos...

mattkikmusic.wixsite.com

Creating Short Song, Few Lyrics, Lotsa Guitar!

Date conceived - 10th August 2024 The idea for this song was incredibly simple: make a song that has more guitar solo than singing. The whole idea came to me very quickly, to use an up-tempo twelve ba...

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

It's #BandcampFriday and I kinda forgot. So...please buy my album! Whether you buy the CD or digital download, 100% of the money raised (not profits, but literally every penny of it) goes to @cancerresearchuk.org. Also, if you buy the CD you get free goodies! mattkik.bandcamp.com/album/eponym...

mattkik.bandcamp.com

Eponymous, by Matt Kik

12 track album

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

My latest blog post is now out! Find out how I wrote and recorded my hit(?) song Masquerade. It's fun and interesting! (If you like that sort of thing. If you don't, it's sucky and boring!) mattkikmusic.wixsite.com/matt-kik/pos...

mattkikmusic.wixsite.com

Creating Masquerade

Date conceived - 25th June 2024 Masquerade was another song that I wrote thanks to an audio note I'd previously recorded. It's also a song that came about as I wanted to try a certain "trick"; writin...

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Version 8.0! I've downsized MIDI but kept it for tap tempo MIDI clock (MIDI Baby), I've added two drive pedals (first time ever, and one is space themed!) and the board is now set up for the four cable method with my new Orange OR15 and PPC112. No more tinkering until July!

Matt's guitar pedalboard. It has (in signal chain order) Petersone Strobe LE Tuner, The Nothing (Matt's custom build, does nothing), Walrus Audio Mira Compressor, Source Audio EQ2, The Fart Pedal 2, Digitech FreqOut, Xotic XQ-1 Wah, Boss SY-1, Walrus Audio Voyager, JHS Notadümblë, HX Stomp (out to amp and back here), and the Boss SL-2. Phew!

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

My latest blog post is now online, this one about the creation of the song Nah. Nah is the fourth track on my Eponymous album, and I think it's probably my favourite song so far. It's simple, but pretty catchy, and has a guitar solo I'm very proud of! mattkikmusic.wixsite.com/matt-kik/pos...

mattkikmusic.wixsite.com

Creating Nah

Date Conceived - 16th June 2024This song was born from different parts of two songs which eventually came together. The lyrics, the beginning of which were written in 2022, came from the song that end...

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Who made the case?🤔 @portobelloexpress.bsky.social @gozergoodspeed.bsky.social @feralman.bsky.social Walrus Audio, @nasaartemis.bsky.social Dr Pepper Museum, Van Tastik, Fart Pedal, War Gods of the Deep, Lights and Lines, Andertons, @nicholasburgess.bsky.social. There's room for more though!

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

I have (finally!) been working on new music this week!

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

It's the last #BandcampFriday of the year! I still have loads of CDs left, and they come with a hand-written letter, an envelope full of "free shit", and all of the money raised from sales goes to Cancer Research @cancerresearchuk.org Get shopping, folks! mattkik.bandcamp.com/album/eponym...

mattkik.bandcamp.com

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

I've just received the sad news that a dear friend, Rob Carroll, died this morning. He was my Dad's best friend and band mate, and the greatest guitarist I knew in real life. He was kind, incredibly intelligent, funny, and talented. I'm heartbroken at his loss.

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

It's time for my next blog post; the story of how I wrote and recorded the song Timeflies! Thanks to the lead guitar, this was one of the most challenging songs on the album, so have a read why! mattkikmusic.wixsite.com/matt-kik/pos...

mattkikmusic.wixsite.com

Creating Timeflies!

Conceived - 28th May 2023This was one of those night time miracles, when your head hits the pillow and an idea zips through your brain. You know if you go to sleep thinking "I'll try to remember that ...

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Holy crap! Gear4Music sell a 12 string lefty guitar for £99! I almost bought it as soon as I saw it. I'm glad I didn't though. It just went down in the sale for £80. I know, budget guitar + 12 string guitar possibly = a huge headache but sod it, I'll take the risk. Yoink!

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

I did indeed say that. Sage advice from my Dad many years ago.

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

I'm a couple of days late posting this (I'm sure no-one noticed!), but here is the next blog post on my wesbite. This one is about the third song I wrote for my Eponymous album, Smarter Than This. The first slower acoustic song. See how I cheated! mattkikmusic.wixsite.com/matt-kik/pos...

mattkikmusic.wixsite.com

Creating Smarter Than This

Date Conceived: 9th April 2023 Some of the songs on the album have a certain "thing" about them that stands out to me, usually something I was trying to do. For this song it was trying to have a repea...

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

I'm really getting into using AI. It's an amazingly useful tool that absolutely isn't terrifying, or a creative drain. I'm going to use it to write my next album, perform my next album, and create the art for my next album. Hell, I'll even get it to stream my next album! Yay for AI!

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

Okay, it might have been a while since I played this guitar. It was...out of tune! 😱 Must be the temperature shift as this guitar NEVER goes out of tune. It's just one of the many wonderful things I love about it. Oh well, back in tune now and sounding as lovely as ever.

An old Fylde Falstaff acoustic guitar with an equally old leather strap which has a floral motif on it.

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

It's #BandcampFriday but I'm in for a long day at work so I'll post about my purchases later when I get a chance to actually purchase them. In the meantime, here's what I'm hawking, if you're at all inclined... bsky.app/profile/matt...

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Reposted by Matt Kik

Untidy Radio @untidyradio.com · 09/09/2025

Submit your lovely music to: forms.gle/ANThEuCvupmH... Please tag your MP3s - it helps the playlist goblins sort your music. All music accepted. All Genre. All Styles. No gatekeeping. You will be played. #musicsky #diy #independent #bandcamp #ampwall

forms.gle

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John Reed Music 🎼 and Radio 📻 @johnreed.bandcamp.com · 30/09/2025

The Compendium airs at 8pm (UK) on Wednesday 1st October, and brings you an eclectic mix of progressive folk music from all over the place. Join me. www.folkfridayradio.com

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Matt Kik @mattkik.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

This Friday is #BandcampFriday and I have a problem. I'm running out of shelf space because no-one has bought all these CDs yet, both by myself and my band @StormCrowsBand. If you're a fan of rock, keep reading! If you aren't a fan of rock, it might be time to seek help...🤔

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