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Creatives at Home: Matt Walters in His Music Room
A music maker and business owner creates good vibes in his home office
Entrepreneur and musician Matt Walters of Parlour Gigs invites us into his home office, to show us where the music magic begins. Walters uses his space primarily to run his business, but it’s also an area where he can play his guitar or create new music with his business partner Glenn Luck. Being able to work from the comfort of home, Walters can let his creativity thrive in a casual workspace without limitations. He describes the music room as peaceful and purposeful.
Creative Space at a Glance
Name: Matt Walters
Age: 30
Occupation: Founder of Parlour Gigs
Location: Northcote, Victoria
What’s made here: Music, band recordings and unique music events
Creative Space at a Glance
Name: Matt Walters
Age: 30
Occupation: Founder of Parlour Gigs
Location: Northcote, Victoria
What’s made here: Music, band recordings and unique music events
As Walters has made Parlour Gigs his own full-time gig, it was important to have a space where he felt comfortable. He enjoys standing at his desk to produce music and says he hates sitting down. Though most of his work is done in front of a computer, being able to move around and have music surrounding him keeps things balanced and fresh.
Record player: eBay; photographic print: Australian (LA-based) photographer George Byrne
Record player: eBay; photographic print: Australian (LA-based) photographer George Byrne
Being thrifty and having eclectic taste, most of the furnishings in the room were made by Hamer or found on eBay. Walters is grateful that Hamer has such an eye for design. She has arranged most of the space including Walters’ favourite feature – the desk – which Hamer made herself. The desk was originally an old wardrobe that she converted into a long desk to accommodate more staff members working in the space.
Desk: Designed by Liz Hamer; laptop stand: Ikea
Desk: Designed by Liz Hamer; laptop stand: Ikea
Walters shares the space with Luck, one part-timer and sometimes an intern. It has been challenging to maximise the space to fit everyone comfortably. For additional work space, a kitchen table is used as a desk, with legs reinforced by Hamer so it can stand up to the task. Walters says he likes the large window that lets in natural light and opens the space to the outdoors.
The musician and businessman is constantly bringing home new records to add to his collection. He loves the sound of vinyl and thinks his collection might be contributing to the clutter. He doesn’t mind though, because the space still feels spacious and homey.
To play this vinyl, Walters uses his cherished record player and stereo. These were being given away on Gumtree by an older lady who hadn’t plugged them in for 30 years. Luckily, after a clean up, they worked perfectly. Walters plays his records while he works and when things are winding down.
He enjoys the freedom of working from home and not having to worry about being disruptive to others.
He enjoys the freedom of working from home and not having to worry about being disruptive to others.
Green velvet armchair: eBay
Walters admits to being a music biography junkie; he gets inspiration from reading about the music industry and musicians he admires, and keeps his books on the room’s original mantelpiece.
Below the mantel, the red amp (on loan from a musician friend) is used when bands come to record. The space has become a bit of a hub for musicians to meet. Walters has recorded live sessions there and tries to utilise the space as much as possible.
In keeping with the rest of the home, there are touches of green throughout this room as well. Such decorations are always added with the idea of bringing the outside in and opening up the space.
In keeping with the rest of the home, there are touches of green throughout this room as well. Such decorations are always added with the idea of bringing the outside in and opening up the space.
Walters says he has been tempted to look at other places to work out of, but wants to stay in his modest office as long as he can. He acknowledges a turning point for himself and Luck was realising that all the things you need to run your business can be at your fingertips.
It’s often thought that you need a fancy new office and lots of equipment to run a business, but when you put your mind to it all you need are the necessities. He hopes to keep growing his business with a target of putting together 100 shows a month around the country. Currently Parlour Gigs are putting on 5-10 shows a week Australia-wide.
See the full house tour here
TELL US
Have you set up your own personalised creative space at home? Tell us all about it or share photos in the Comments below.
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It’s often thought that you need a fancy new office and lots of equipment to run a business, but when you put your mind to it all you need are the necessities. He hopes to keep growing his business with a target of putting together 100 shows a month around the country. Currently Parlour Gigs are putting on 5-10 shows a week Australia-wide.
See the full house tour here
TELL US
Have you set up your own personalised creative space at home? Tell us all about it or share photos in the Comments below.
MORE
Creatives at Home: Two Architects in Their Backyard Office
Creatives at Home: Nahji Chu in Her Kitchen
Creatives at Home: Alice and Richie in Their Living Room Studio
In the past, Walters was in a coworking space where the atmosphere felt clinical and corporate. It was early days in the business (which has just reached its one-year anniversary) and to reduce costs, the office was moved to Walters’ home, which he shares with his partner Liz Hamer.
It made sense for Parlour Gigs to work out of a home as they were bringing live music into other people’s homes. Before the space was used as ‘the music room’ it was the couple’s living room.