GA-20 interview: “Having Charlie with us was pure joy!”

Some collaborations seem obvious on paper. And then there are those that go far beyond a simple marketing move and genuinely surprise us. With Blues Now, due out July 31, 2026 on New West Records, GA-20 joins forces with a true blues legend: Charlie Musselwhite. GA-20 guitarist Matthew Stubbs chose Blues Actu to share his thoughts following this extraordinary studio session!

Legendary harmonica player, deeply soulful singer and direct witness to the golden age of electric blues in the 1960s, Charlie Musselwhite brings all his experience here to a band that shares the same love for raw, organic and unpolished sounds.

Produced by Matthew Stubbs and recorded at Rare Signals Studio in Massachusetts, Blues Now draws heavily from the roots of Chicago Blues while preserving GA-20’s rougher and more nervous approach. The album revisits songs associated with Elmore James, Junior Wells and Eddie Taylor. The first single, Crazy Love, written by Willie Dixon and made famous by Buddy Guy, sets the tone immediately: tense, alive blues recorded under live conditions with a strong focus on energy and spontaneity.

More than a simple retro tribute, the album feels like a conversation between generations around a music that continues to move forward without denying its foundations.

🎙️ Interview with Matthew Stubbs (GA-20)

Hi Matthew! Great to talk with you again (check out our previous interview here). Charlie Musselwhite is a true blues legend, and you know him very well! How did this new collaboration come together, and what does it mean to you to share an entire album with him?

I’ve been playing in Charlie’s touring band as guitarist for 18 years and I’ve also worked on three of his albums, two live records and one studio album, but that still doesn’t change anything! It’s a real honor to be able to play with him alongside my own band. I had also always wanted to produce a Charlie Musselwhite album. After five GA-20 albums, it felt like the perfect time to try this collaboration between GA-20 and Charlie.

Organizing and recording the album with Charlie was fantastic. We approached the process the way people did in the 1950s and 60s: just a few rehearsals and then straight into the studio playing live together. The goal was to capture performances that feel like a real live concert, and we wanted listeners to feel like they were in the room with us. We weren’t looking for perfect takes, we were trying to capture the spirit of a true live performance.

GA-20 brings a very modern energy while Charlie Musselwhite embodies the living history of Chicago Blues. How did you find the balance between these two approaches on Blues Now?

I don’t really think GA-20 is all that modern. I think we simply deeply love classic American music and blues, and maybe it sounds more modern because of the age difference. People often say GA-20 manages to sound both old and new at the same time. “Modern energy” might actually be a good way to describe it.

But honestly, we weren’t specifically searching for balance during the recording. We all connected naturally to these songs and simply went into the studio to enjoy ourselves. This is a blues album based on music we all truly love, and we share many of the same influences. There was no preconceived idea about how to make it work.

That said, having Charlie on the album was pure joy. He brings such a deep connection and understanding of this music. I hope listeners will feel that freshness too, because we certainly did.

“I don’t feel any pressure, only excitement”

When you play with someone who actually lived through the blues scene of the 1960s, do you feel any kind of pressure in the studio?

I don’t feel any pressure, only excitement. I’ve known Charlie for a long time, so we’re mostly focused on getting the best performances possible together. It feels very comfortable.

That said, Charlie has the greatest stories from that era in Chicago. We recorded a few short clips that we’ll share on social media to give people a more intimate glimpse into that period. It’s incredibly entertaining and inspiring. A real goldmine.

Did Charlie Musselwhite surprise you during the recording sessions, musically or personally?

Honestly, I was mostly surprised by how naturally Charlie and Cody connected vocally on Big Stars Falling. The contrast between their voices worked instantly, without preparation or adjustments. It became one of my favorite songs on the album. At the time, it really felt special.

Throughout the album, there’s a clear desire to keep the sound spontaneous and human. Was preserving that authenticity important to you today?

Absolutely. All my favorite blues and jazz albums give you that feeling. They sound alive and spontaneous, like the musicians are genuinely having fun and sharing a real musical conversation.

Those old blues records weren’t made to show how fast someone could play or how many notes they could fit in. Everything was about feeling, soul and attitude. Charlie is a true master of atmosphere and “less is more.” He always says: “The blues is a feeling.” I think that’s something incredibly valuable and probably more important today than ever before.