LARRIKIN LARK – The voice that is Matt Kark!
- etshamrock2
- 16 hours ago
- 7 min read
LARRIKIN LARK
The voice that is
Matt Kark!
Matty Kark with Shamrock
A big voice, a big heart, one that has taken his groove all the way to the USA in recent times, there are reasons why I’ve had my reservations about covering a story with this man! But it’s not because he doesn’t ooze talent, that, he surely does, but for more serious matters. While in my second last year at school, Matt Kark beat me in the 100m sprint final! Being fleet-of-foot meant everything to me, and this student in his final year of school left me three metres behind when he stormed over the finish line. I never forgot that moment. And to shovel salt into the festering wound, my pal Joelsa and I visited monsieur Kark in our combie van at his home in Toowoomba nine years later, where he was a fine host, sure, and we enjoyed our stay there in the country city on a hill somewhere beyond the wonders of Brisvegus, but it was on that fateful eve that his husky dog decided it a wonderful idea to insert one of his fangs into the palm of my hand! Between the sprint debacle and tepid canine kiss, Matt Kark went on to run the wing for our local NRL team, none other than the Cronulla Sharks! Well, I guess if the NRL thought his talents worthy, then surely that takes some of the sting out of the defeat dealt to me a couple of years earlier.
While Matt Kark’s feet may have led him to glory when playing for the junior squad of our local heroes the Sharkies, it is his voice which spellbinds those in his midst today. But where does this butch, sincerely sullen-voiced country-n-western swagger, and bouncy hip hop, fit into the schedule of a man from a beachside township of southern Sydney? I was curious…
…..or be woken out of bed at 3am or 4am with a tune……it kind of chooses me!”
Describe the excitement of playing with Cronulla Sharks’ junior squad back in the day.
As a junior I was Super laid back, I never realised my abilities and had no upbringing with football at home, where the young guns around me lived and breathed it, I loved playing but in all honesty, it was more for Fun to be around friends and that was the real Buzz…..I actually came from a soccer background and I’m still a mad Liverpool supporter …. The Star players were more Mark Brian, Tod Young and Jody Teora….I had some Natural abilities, but the partying scene was my go to and no regrets with that call.
Are tough rugby league players allowed to show their hand and swoon with an open heart in music?
100% mate – you gotta be vulnerable if your gunna keep it real when writing /producing music as it comes from the heart and this will bring out your Best…as for tough, I ran extra fast to get away from those Big Buffoons and was just a tad tough when I wanted to be😊
What skills would you suggest as being transferable when playing at elite sporting level, and on to now administering the sultry whims of ‘confidence’, when applying your art in song writing and song recording?
Both are so different yet share common factors…..on the sports side, the importance was being physically fit, where music involves far more mental strength….the 1 common thing would be some form of training/yoga/meditation to get “In the Zone” and clear the mind to perform well.
Describe the process of song development and song delivery. Where do you record? Who are you trying to reach with your songs?
Great question….I can be driving and come up with a hook for a song or be woken out of bed at 3am or 4am with a tune……it kind of chooses me (out of the blue) …. I hope to reach everyone I can with my music, make it relatable but have feet tapping also….first basic recording at home, then final cut at the studios with Sam Brown a Master mixer.
Do friends and family lavish you in praise? What does what you do mean to them?
The support from family and friends has been immense, so it means plenty and though inspiration needs to come from within, support is 100% an added motivation, as it shows there is a Positive effect from the music.
How often have you sung/ performed to a live audience? How did this make you feel?
I have played a few performances at functions and also at events, it is certainly fun after brushing the nerves away and working out a set that is suitable for that particular gig….generally I will play both keyboard and guitar and sing both covers and originals.
Do you have a venue you wish to perform in? Why?
I was hand-picked to attend “BIGSOUND” in Brisbane a few months ago and met Radio stations and agents from ALL over Australia, so wanna play there in 2026, also went to “Groundwater Country Music Festival” this month on the Gold Coast and aim to play there next year …. The Why is easy for both these events, Massive stages, Amazing atmosphere and have that chilled out Vibe I love…from there I would love to play on any stage I get a chance !!
Did you know that you could sing when you were a teen? Who were you listening to in high school and how does today’s soundscapes lift your tempo?
Well I sounded ok in the shower and the music teacher picked me out at choir at “Cronulla Public school” but I was actually embarrassed, so started going off key as it wasn’t “cool” to sing as a boy 😊so the school experience had a short career , though I did teach myself how to play keyboard at this time at home…..favourite artists, well I still love old school before my time even today, Beatles , Rolling Stones and later INXS, Dire Straits, Coldplay and today I like post Malone, Hilltop Hoods and anything from hip hop through to country, rock and pop…my stuff heading Hip Hop/Country.
“Matty we play footy – you sing” !!
What is your pick of the songs you have recorded? Why? And what do you want punters to take away with them?
My last song “So Sorry” just came out and is personally my fave….it’s about being good (not perfect) when no one is watching and also make the most of what you have…..it also questions how ppl start to prey and ask for help when things are bad, which is fine, but personally I believe being a good person is more important than going to church on a Sunday (though respect ppl who make that decision), I just feel what defines us all, is the way we treat others and the deep belief that comes from within…..Another song close is “RISE” as it was done with the NRL and included some NRL stars the Trjobovic brothers from Manly, so not only made a good song, but hung out with these players half day and had a blast – they were fun blokes but refused to sing, they said “Matty we play footy – you sing” !!
The song ‘SO SORRY’ ─though I’d suggest not entirely ‘Country’─ it does have that vocal emphasis emanating. But much of your soundscape also includes hip hop with songs like ‘JUST ROLLING’, RNB has its day, and an experimental electronica pop allure when you were trying to get that sock back from your dog clip: not exactly a husky I might add!
Yes I agree 100% that “So Sorry” has the country element and with slight adjustments could fully fit that genre, just for now working on keeping that Hip Hop Vibe, as feel a great beat is a BIG part of today’s music…I am learning more about Country as love the slide guitars and that deep Memphis sound and after speaking to some big producers with far more experience than myself, this sound is coming in Hot atm…..that sausage dog sock day was not really music related, just answered a few questions about where my past 300 socks have gone missing 😊
How does diversity have its day, and is this inspiration a fixture of the moment, making its way into what you do? Or is it all planned out well in advance like a pent-up musical genre variety-itch to be rudimentarily ticked off a list?
Another great question, on my recent invitational day to “BIGSOUND” in Brisbane, there were some of Australia’s Top artists and managers and radio stations and we basically speed dated with them all……I learned so much that day, including the diversity of current music is more than ever a mix of various genre…..so it is still be important to find your best jam, but don’t be afraid to mix in some different styles as you will find today rappers singing with country artists, which was very rare back in year 2000….so play what works, just bring you’re “A Game” and make the sound ‘fit”.
When your music began being played in the US, what did this mean to you? Could you see avenues opening up in front of you?
To get an Email from the USA saying my song “Till I Die” was playing on the leading station in Chicago, I was blown away….it was like a reward for hard work and showed anything is possible and my thing to everyone out there, if you have a Dream only you have the Power to stop it coming true, keep the Faith, work hard and stay disciplined and good things will happen.
Here it is…what’s next brudda?
This is just the start my bro, so gunna keep on track and try climbing the Eiffel tower of Music….it’s a heck of a ride, but 1 step at a time, will give it my Best shot!
Experience the VOICE of MATT KARK here...
…and try Apple, I heart, Deezer, Facebook
APRA Music and Film Industry
I love your music. Thank you for sharing. It calms me brings me happiness and inspires me thank you.