Mat Hunsley - The Things We Need (2026)

Tracklist

01. There's Been A Death
02. Hey Officer
03. With Or Without
04. If Anyone Asks
05. This Is History
06. Passenger
07. Happy In The Dark
08. Just The Family Inside
09. The Things We Need

The Things We Need is a deeply personal yet outward-looking album from Mat Hunsley, balancing intimate reflections on family and self with songs that confront wider social and political realities.

The album takes its title from the opening track, The Things We Need, a song rich with personal meaning for Hunsley and his family. Written as a way of grounding himself after years of spinning too many plates, it reflects on letting go of noise and remembering that “though our lives are quite small, they are full of the things we need.” This sentiment runs throughout the record.

While many songs draw directly from Hunsley’s life, the album’s scope extends far beyond the personal. With or Without challenges climate-change denial, If Anyone Asks responds to the unprovoked attack on an ambulance convoy in Gaza, and Happy in the Dark confronts the instinct to turn away from devastating news, even when others’ lives and livelihoods are being destroyed.

Much of Mat’s debut album was recorded in his modest home studio, where he taught himself to self-produce and mix - a challenge he embraced with determination.

The record is further enriched by collaborations with drummer Matt Hardy (Lanterns on the Lake, Lovely Assistant) and string arranger Joseph Lawrenson (Dancing Years), adding depth and emotional weight throughout.