Daudi Matsiko

Daudi Matsiko is a British-Ugandan singer-songwriter and guitarist who makes music in the contemporary folk tradition. His composition practice is intuitive and centres mostly on the acoustic guitar. Matsiko works in alternate guitar tunings (and sometimes with different instruments) to create a sense of originality and freedom, relying almost entirely on his aural skills to express himself poetically and honestly through lyrics, melody, and harmony. 

Matsiko’s debut album, The King of Misery, released through his own label, Really Good, was a haunting exploration of depression, bipolar disorder, and finding hope in the face of this experience. His fragile yet powerful vocals, evocative lyrics, and modern folk melodies have earned high praise from Gilles Peterson, Lauren Laverne, Jamz Supernova, Dean Jackson, Sian Eleri, Jamie Cullum, Tom Robinson, John Kennedy, Simon Phillips, and comedian and podcaster Adam Buxton. His 2025 release, Dead Bird Dream, is a collection of deeply felt modern folk songs that tells a story of heartache, diaspora, and self-acceptance at a time when belonging and British identity feel as though they are in constant jeopardy. 

Matsiko has supported artists Keaton Henson, GoGo Penguin, Portico Quartet, Jono McCleery, and Jamie Woon, and has also played session guitar for the band Do Nothing, with previous notable performances at the Barbican Centre, London Palladium, BBC Maida Vale, KOKO Camden and Salle Pleyel, Paris. Upcoming releases include Bass Song, written for Lauren Benedek, Leave me in Peace, written for Duncan Hamilton, and Anenoa pt. 2 written for Matias Aguayo.