Balderdasch

Balderdasch is the adopted moniker of London-based, Cork artist, Jessica Matthews. ‘Balderdash’ was her late father’s favourite word to use when she was growing up in Cork, Ireland. However, Jessica slightly changed the spelling before taking on the name out of fear of being “sued by the board game one day”. Her work is co-produced with long time collaborator, Pete Wareham (Melt Yourself Down, Nadine Shah, Beth Orton). Wareham’s experimental jazz back ground has aided in the nurturing of Jessica’s left field sound and supported her fluid use of tempo. Balderdasch’s music is intensely driven by the lyrics, which stems from her love of folk music as a child, though now you’re as likely to find her listening to Denzel Curry or Confidence Man, as you are to Johnny Cash.

Her lyrics zone in on topics such as queerness, grief and growing up, all told with a smart, self deprecating humour. Balderdasch’s half sung, half spoken distinct vocal delivery, typically rests up on off kilter guitars, glitchy beats and spliced up samples, all on a bed of often heavy synth bass. Balderdasch’s single releases have received air play from the likes of RTE 2xm, BBC radio 6 and BBC introducing London. In 2024, Balderdasch will be growing the intricate sound world that she has begun to develop into a larger project with her debut EP.