The Man Behind the Piano: Mathias Lefebvre’s Unique Lifestyle
Mathias Lefebvre has made a name for himself in Queenstown by performing with a full upright piano mounted on a cart. His daily routine usually involves positioning himself by the lake and letting his music tell stories to nature. This practice has earned him a special place in the heart of the community.
Unlike typical street musicians, Mathias’s piano is large and requires effort to move, showing his commitment to sharing his art in public spaces. He calls himself a lifestyle designer, having shaped his life around his values rather than traditional work structures.
Music is more than just entertainment for him; it is a form of storytelling and emotional connection. By playing live on the streets, he creates a shared experience where people can pause, listen, and reflect. His presence is a reminder that life doesn’t need to be complicated to be meaningful.
The Journey to Understanding What Matters Most
Leaving Conventional Life Behind
Mathias’s story starts in Belgium, where he completed his studies but felt an inner resistance to joining the usual workforce. Instead of plunging into a job, he chose to travel across continents: Africa, South America, Asia, and finally New Zealand.
Upon arriving in New Zealand, his funds had dried up. He humorously recalls withdrawing his last $140 from an ATM, highlighting the stark reality of life on the road with limited resources. This moment marked the true beginning of his journey to a simpler way of living.
His travels weren't just about visiting new places; they were a search for meaning beyond financial obligation. He wanted freedom, not the chains of a traditional 9-to-5 job.
The Job, the Accident, and the Realization
To survive, Mathias took a kitchen hand job that he quickly came to hate, feeling like "someone's little slave." Just three weeks into the job, a bike accident became a symbolic turning point. His bike’s front wheel came off, causing him to crash and hurt himself. But to Mathias, it was more than just a physical injury — it was a wake-up call.
He took this as a sign and quit the job the next day, feeling the most free he had ever been. This moment marked what he calls the shift: not the disappearance of insecurity, but the disappearance of the fear of insecurity.
Lessons from the Shift:
- Fear and insecurity are different; losing fear creates freedom.
- Breaking free from obligations opens space to explore true passions.
- Real life change often starts with recognizing internal emotional shifts.
This new psychological freedom gave Mathias room to breathe and discover what he truly wanted to do.
Exploring Passions: Food, Shelter, and Music
Growing His Own Food
After quitting, Mathias began trying things that brought him joy and sustenance. One of those was growing his own food in Wanaka, a town surrounded by mountains.
Self-taught through online resources, he quickly realized gardening wasn’t complicated. He built a vegetable patch and began growing organic, fresh food that fed him and his family. This experiment showed him how accessible self-sufficiency could be.
Steps Mathias followed to start his garden:
- Found a small patch of land suitable for a garden.
- Researched planting techniques and seasons online.
- Started with easy-to-grow vegetables.
- Maintained the garden through daily care.
- Reaped the benefits of fresh and free food.
Growing food became not only practical but deeply satisfying for him.
Embracing Nature and Self-Expression Through Music
Alongside gardening, Mathias found joy in walking the mountains every couple of days. The natural surroundings complemented his quest for a simpler life.
Music played a huge role. Despite never having formal lessons or training, he rekindled his love for piano, spending 3 to 4 hours a day practicing. Thanks to his girlfriend, who bought him a recycled piano for just $75, his passion could fully bloom.
He then created a unique way to share his gift: busking on the streets with his upright piano mounted on a repaired trolley. This novel approach was a hit with locals and tourists alike. Not only did people love it, but he also made more money busking than at any previous job.
Mathias sums up his philosophy with the phrase “do what you love”, showing that pursuing passions can bring both joy and financial support.
Redefining Basic Needs: Food, Shelter, and Love
What We Truly Need in Life
Through his experience, Mathias realized life’s essentials can be boiled down to three things:
- Food – nourishment needed every day.
- Shelter – a place that feels like home, warm and secure.
- Love – friends, community, connection.
Jobs and money are not ends but means to these essentials. And much of this can come directly from the land and relationships.
Connecting the dots:
- Land provides food and shelter.
- Community and relationships provide love.
- Money simply facilitates access, but is not necessary in itself.
The Challenge of Land Ownership and Modern Society
Mathias reflects on how land ownership came to be a source of struggle and exclusion. He imagines a time when someone claimed a piece of land, creating fences and dividing resources. Now, most land is owned, leaving people "born homeless" and reliant on work and money to survive.
"Every next generation that came in was born homeless, including me, including you."
This system breeds competition, fear, and insecurity. People build emotional and physical fences to protect themselves, yet this only increases the feeling of struggle and isolation.
He calls this a form of slavery — having to work constantly to pay for basic needs that should be available to all.
Vision for a Cooperative Future
The Current World – Competition and Its Consequences
Our current world is defined by limited space and resources, leading to a survival-of-the-fittest mentality. Individualism drives competition, creating fear, greed, and mental health challenges like stress and depression.
Mathias shares a poignant hope for his newborn daughter, Melina, acknowledging that he must tell her the harsh reality of this competitive world if things don’t change.
“Good luck, my dear,” he says with gentle irony about navigating this system.
A Hopeful Alternative: Cooperation and Shared Abundance
Rather than competition, Mathias envisions a future based on cooperation where:
- Land is shared.
- Food is grown collectively.
- Homes are built for all.
- People live freely without the need for money or work obligations.
He believes true security and quality of life come from sharing and creativity, not individual ownership and competition.
“We can change and shape the world the way we want it to be.”
This message is a call to action for freedom through collaboration.
Invitation to Reflect: What Do You Truly Need?
Mathias closes by inviting us to consider our own needs. If we believe we need material things or money, we enter a world of competition. If we recognize our true needs as love, food, and shelter, cooperation becomes possible.
What do you truly need in your life?
Reflecting on this question can open new perspectives on freedom, happiness, and community.
Mathias Lefebvre’s story is a powerful reminder that simplicity, passion, and connection are the core of a fulfilling life. We all have the chance to rethink what matters and choose to live with less stress and more joy.
For those interested in a similar lifestyle or knowing more about how to live with less and support creative passions, consider exploring ideas on sustainable living and self-expression.
Explore additional inspiring talks like this one at TEDx events that encourage us to rethink life priorities.
If you want to get in touch for more ideas or share your reflections, feel free to contact Buxone.
This perspective challenges us to rethink the basic parts of our lives and possibly embrace a future where freedom, love, and community come first. It might just start with a conversation—and a piano in the streets.
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