The Dom Harvey Podcast

Matty J Ruys: Discovered K’Lee & Brooke Fraser, Named OMC, Then NZ Forgot Him

2026-11-01

You might remember Matty J Ruys from his music in the ’90s.

Behind the scenes, he’s also helped shape the careers of artists including K’Lee, Brooke Fraser, Dei Hamo and Elemeno P.

Now he’s preparing to release his first solo album in 30 years, Beautiful Mess (It's out Friday November 6, 2026)

We talk about his tough upbringing, the brutal attack that left him with 7 years of seizures, fatherhood, loneliness, and the highs and heartbreaks of the music business - including his time managing Brooke Fraser.

There are some great laughs too: getting banned from the Parachute Christian music festival, appearing on a TV dating show Blind Date as a robot, and the reality of being famous in New Zealand while still catching the bus.

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This episode has been sponsored by Generate- a six time winner of the Consumer NZ People’s Choice award for KiwiSaver

Generate have over 200,000 Kiwi clients, including myself, my partner my mum and most of my close friends!I switched over when they began sponsoring the podcast, and I’ve convinced most of the people I care about to make the switch too!

Generate have a strong track record of long‑term performance. You can check out their latest returns online, or book a no‑obligation chat with one of their advisers at https://www.generatewealth.co.nz/dom

No pressure, no hard sell, no judgement - just clear advice to help you feel confident that you’re on track without any judgement for leaving this on the to‑do list a bit longer than planned.

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Past performance does not guarantee future returns.

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2026-11-01

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The Dom Harvey Podcast is home to honest, long-form conversations with remarkable people from all walks of life.

Dom goes beyond the headlines to uncover the experiences, challenges and defining moments that shaped his guests… along with plenty of humour and the occasional awkward question.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.