Matt Miller “Graveyard Full of Hearts”
Matt Miller “Graveyard Full of Hearts” Official video
NASHVILLE – He’s barely twenty-one, but already the singer, songwriter, and guitarist Matt Miller is working and recording with the R&B and pop legend who co-wrote “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay” and who John Belushi told to “play it, Steve” in The Blues Brothers, Steve Cropper.
That’s Steve playing those delicious, funky guitar licks on “The Hunter,” an R&B/Rock flavored Cropper/Dunn/ Jackson/Jones/Wells, classic, and on the Cropper/Gore/Miller “Last Ride;” two of the many highlights on Matt’s debut album.
But to understand the amazing variety of Matt’s songs, it’s vital to realize that his influences are not just the Blues and R&B of artists like Steve Cropper, but also a completely different style of music: Grunge.
“I love the angst and the rawness of Nirvana which is the initial inspiration for me to start creating my own music,” Matt says in a Music Row conversation a few weeks before his 21st birthday. ‘It’s what spoke to me during a pivotal time in my life.”
“I love playing live,” Miller says, smiling as he recalls shows his high school power trio Shred Rot played. “We captured a feel of pure raw energy. We just got on stage and gave it our all. Our shows were wild! A lot of our fans – our posse – were like us, outcasts, who came to our shows to express themselves.”
Those feelings of loneliness and not belonging are emotions Matt could relate to big-time. That was pretty much the story of his first three years in high school. “I was very introverted, I didn’t talk to many people.”
One of the upsides of his down years, Matt would later realize, was that those tough times helped him craft his music into songs that a whole lot of folks can relate to.
Matt then gets to the core of his message. “Popular music today has lost a part of its rebelliousness,” he states. “It can be very corporate and industrialized losing much of its artistic aspect. In my writing process, I’m about real; the melody and the story simply find me.” Matt says.
“Matt came to me because he was no longer being challenged in Cleveland,” says Sharon Dennis, his manager since his high school graduation. “He wanted to diversify his talent. I strongly agree with Matt that artists must be real. When I first reviewed Matt’s music from his Punk Rock band, I heard a tremendous believability in his writing, in his delivery as a vocalist, and as a performing artist,”
Sharon continues. “My main objective was to elevate Matt’s proficiency as a regional artist to an artist with global appeal.”
Dennis put together a powerhouse team of veteran management, producers, musicians and industry professionals that’s already firmly in place.
Kent Wells who has worked with Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Brooks and Dunn adds his production magic to five tracks on Matt’s album.
Eddie Gore produced eight tracks on the debut album and co-wrote with Matt, Steve Cropper and John Corabi (Motley Crue, Ratt, and The Scream).
“I’m grateful for the support of my team and family and I am committed to being a voice for my generation.”
For more info check out the official website
