In the cosy corners of Launceston, Tasmania, a unique musical partnership has blossomed.
It’s not just any duo; it’s a sibling act featuring Matthew and Sophia Griffioen, who have turned their familial bond and shared love for music into a semi-professional endeavour that’s capturing the hearts and ears of locals.
Both students, Matthew is studying for a Bachelor of Arts at UTAS, majoring in philosophy and history, while also working at a local college in the music department and teaching piano. Meanwhile, Sophia is studying for a Bachelor of Education and is currently busy with her final placement, while also working as a school chaplain.
Their musical journey began early in life, having grown up in quite a musical household.
“I have this memory of my dad playing piano when I was very young,” said Matthew, “and I’d climb into his lap and he’d be playing. I’d put my hands on his hands and we’d just have a lot of fun.”
“So, I hit grade one and Mum said, ‘Mate, would you like to take piano lessons?’” he added.
Matthew then continued on with piano lessons through to Year 11 and then kept going, emphasising he had a lot of fun playing music.
For Sophia, her love of music has centred mainly on singing.
“I’ve always really loved singing, and then in grade 10, I decided to go and have singing lessons,” said Sophia.
Matthew and Sophia have been performing together for over 5 years, with Sophia instigating the duo’s foray into the music scene.
She continued, “The first time I dragged him along and said, ‘Matthew, play music for me. I’m singing, you’re playing, here we go.”
The siblings first showcased their musical talents together at a school concert, revealing a natural ability to collaborate harmoniously from the start.
Matthew and Sophia advanced their interest in music from the school concert into a semi-professional endeavour when they were asked to perform at a wedding.
Matthew explained, “A couple of friends of ours asked us if we wanted to play at their wedding, and so we thought, hey, why not? We’ll give it a shot, so that was really nice to be able to play for friends.”
After their brother requested that they perform at his wedding, the sibling duo estimates they have since played together at another half a dozen events.
“We’ve also been doing, you know, just whether it be background music at events or, you know, some semi-busking situations or whatnot, we’re pretty flexible in that as well,” Matthew said.
When asked about their most memorable experience so far, Matthew and Sophia both agreed it would have to be their brother’s wedding, expressing it was a special moment for them both. With Matthew stating, what better crowd to play for than family.
Matthew continued, “It’s just everyone’s around you and obviously everyone’s being brothers and sisters of the groom. We knew basically everyone there, so it was, yeah, a great crowd and everyone’s so supportive.”
For many of the duo’s family, it was the first time they had heard the pair sing together.
At the risk of sounding cheesy, Matthew added, “It’s like what music’s all about is just sharing it with people, and the song that we sang was a really nice message about what marriage is and how that’s what that means to them, and that was really special.”
Whilst the duo currently don’t write their own music, Sophia conceded they did try back in the day, although they never presented it to anyone.
“We had a bit of a band of friends that were just, you know, together, but none of us were super committed.”
Having grown up locally, Matthew and Sophia said they aren’t actively out searching for gigs but tend to get asked by word of mouth and people that they know.
“I’ve got a few friends who are in the music industry, if you want to call it that, and I think there’s opportunities, but it’d be great if there were more,” he continued.
“Live music’s always a great thing if people would just be a bit more aware of the names that were out there.”
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