London-based Matt Hales aka Aqualung started getting involved in music at a young age while listening to different tracks played at his parents Southampton record store. At the age of 16 and after achieving a scholarship the enthusiastic youg man began attending composition classes. A year later a symphony called Life Cycle became his debut in the classical field. His brother Ben joined him in a band to cover the Police's classic songs. In the early-'90s and following studies at London's City University he became part of the Britpop band Ruth, releasing Harrison on ARC Records in 1999. After leading the 45's (not the Atlanta-based garage rock revival) and issuing two singles on Universal, Hales started working on Aqualung a breathy vocals and processed instrumentation alternative rock project popularized by a VW Beetle tv ad featuring his song "Strange and Beautiful (I'll Put A Spell On You)," which coincided the release of his self-titled debut in 2002. Several singles followed into the next year as well as his second album, Still Life. ~ Drago Bonacich, All Music Guide