Contemporary folk has been gaining ground all over the world, not least in Malta. But not all purveyors of this style choose to stay put and ply their wares on the island, a case in point being Matthew Engerer, who chose to leave, busking around the globe before settling in the great southern land that is Australia.

Based in the creative breeding ground of Mullumbimby in New South Wales, Engerer and his partner-in-crime Mat Akehurst have been attracting attention under the guise of Walrus & The Carpenter.

Reflecting his travels and the experiences he picked up along the way, Engerer’s music is honest to the core. It oozes a sense of melancholy at times, yet one can still sense an uplifting vibe within the music that is refreshing as it is appealing.

Walrus & The Carpenter is essentially a vehicle for Engerer’s songs, but Akehurst – in whom the Maltese artist has found a kindred musical spirit – enhances their ambiance and energy with his dynamic drumming and percussion.

The collective creativity of the two musicians brings together their distinct individual traits, blending them seamlessly into powerful songs that are not only engaging on record, but also successfully connect with audiences that Walrus & The Carpenter have played to.

Despite only being around for a relatively short time, the duo has been lucky enough to be offered slots for the 2013 Splendour in the Grass Festival in Byron Bay, which took place last weekend, and this year’s edition of the Mullum Music Festival, dubbed the biggest little music festival in Australia, which will take place in November.

For more information, look up Walrus & The Carpenter on Facebook and Soundcloud.