Stuart Matthewman

Lore & Background

Matthewman was born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, and relocated to London in 1982. He joined the Latin funk band Pride, where he met singer Sade Adu. Together with bassist Paul S. Denman and keyboardist Andrew Hale, they formed the band Sade, which signed with Epic Records in 1984. Matthewman played saxophone, guitar, keyboards, and programming on all Sade albums and tours, including Diamond Life, Promise, Stronger Than Pride, Love Deluxe, Lovers Rock, and Soldier of Love. Stronger Than Pride is certified double platinum in the U.S., Soldier of Love is certified platinum, and the rest have achieved multi-platinum status, collectively selling over 40 million albums worldwide.

In 1995, percussionist Karl Vanden Bossche introduced Matthewman to then-unknown singer Maxwell. Matthewman co-produced, co-wrote, and played saxophone and guitar on Maxwell's albums Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite (1996), Embrya (1998), Now (2001), and blackSUMMERS'night (2016). In 1996, Matthewman, Andrew Hale, and Paul Spencer Denman formed the studio band Sweetback, releasing two albums: Sweetback (1996) and Stage 2 (2004). He also used the pseudonym Cottonbelly to release the dub/electronic album X Amounts of Niceness in 2010 and produced remixes for artists.

Matthewman co-wrote and performed on Santessa's 2000 trip-hop album Delirium, and co-wrote two songs on Paloma Faith's 2014 album A Perfect Contradiction. He was a member of Twin Danger, formed in 2011 with singer Vanessa Bley, releasing an eponymous album in 2015. Matthewman also composed music for numerous films, including Twin Falls Idaho (1999), Jackpot (2001), Northfork (2003), The Astronaut Farmer (2006), and others.

Reader's Guide

Stuart Matthewman's significance lies in his central role as a multi-instrumentalist and co-writer for Sade, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. His contributions helped define the band's smooth, sophisticated sound, earning four Grammy Awards and a 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Beyond Sade, Matthewman's work with Maxwell was instrumental in shaping the neo-soul movement, co-producing and co-writing the majority of Maxwell's albums. His side projects, including Sweetback and Twin Danger, as well as his solo work as Cottonbelly, demonstrate his versatility across genres such as dub, electronic, and trip-hop. His film scoring work further showcases his range. Matthewman's ability to collaborate with diverse artists—from Paloma Faith to Santessa—and his influence on multiple generations of musicians underscore his legacy as a quietly pivotal figure in modern popular music.

Did You Know?

• Matthewman co-produced and co-wrote on Maxwell's albums including Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite and blackSUMMERS'night.
• Using the pseudonym Cottonbelly, he released the dub/electronic album X Amounts of Niceness in 2010.
• He composed music for the film Twin Falls Idaho (1999) and several other movies.