Born a backwoods boy in the hills of Upstate New York, Matt Nakoa is an up and coming singer/songwriter who daringly blends swanky mod-rock with a dark classicism, producing a lyrical and dangerously infectious sound. His energetic vocals evoke Freddie Mercury and Jeff Buckley, and his soulful yet simple lyrics appeal to the generations.
It is surprising, however, that such a commanding performer was not always in the spotlight. Matt grew up on a small goat farm and didn't lay hands on a piano until age thirteen. Soon, he and the keys were inseparable. After his debut album of contemporary classical works sent him touring the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains as a young teen, Matt turned his sights to rock and roll and won a scholarship to Boston's Berklee College of Music.
In Boston, he developed a reputation as a well rounded musician mixing his prodigious piano skills with powerhouse rock vocals. This led him to performances with two-time Grammy winning country artist Kathy Mattea, and Grammy winning jazz composer/Rolling Stones touring saxophonist Tim Ries. Additionally, he has recorded with producer/engineer legends Bill Scheniman, George Massenburg, and Elliot Scheiner. After graduating, Matt led an original rock group The Fens, touring east coast clubs, colleges, and even major sporting events before deciding to focus on his solo career.
Now, looking for any and every opportunity to play music for the masses, Matt Nakoa hopes to inspire every quiet kid with too much music on the brain.
