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Matt Rivers

Love, Love, Love...!

About Me

Matt Rivers, The Matt Rivers Band, Matt Rivers and Guests…Whatever blend, Matt and the band tend to like grabbing an audience by the emotional proverbials and giving them a bit of a shake. The songs bounce from upbeat & funky to downright moody, with a smattering of foot-stomping and tantrum in between. Tunes pour out of Matt’s head in a weather-beaten type style, earthy, wind-bashed and raw, as Francesco Bonini (lead guitar) and James W Griffiths (bass) wend their wily magic, mixing all the ingredients into a big indie-folk rock cake.Motivated by a need to increase the depth and range of his songs, Matt brought in Francesco in 2006 after being awarded a place on an exclusive professional music development course at prestigious live venue - ‘The Stables’ in Wavendon. Funded by the Arts Council and Leverhulme Trust, the course involved working with artists such as David Knopfler (Dire Straights), Boo Hewerdine (Eddie Reader) and Cara Dillon (Transatlantic Sessions). The course also funded his debut EP. James was recruited in 2007 to record the bass lines and they have continued to add a dynamic feel to the sound ever since. In the same year, the band got into the regional finals of South Coast Idol and Matt was awarded ‘Best Male Act’ by the judges.Over the last two years, the band has played extensively in the South East and London at established venues, clubs, acoustic showcases and festivals. They are currently focusing on developing their sound and repertoire whilst clocking up tons of gigs and plenty of exposure.Matt has been creative since he was a nipper. Initially trained as an actor, after numerous stage productions and the odd TV appearance, Matt decided to channel his energies into singing and song-writing. A self-taught musician, he was playing solo for 6 years before forming the current line-up.Matt was weaned on a diet of Beatles, Stones and Roses, whilst gleaning all he could from Acid Jazz, Indie, Rock, Classical and Pop. He cites major influences as Bowie, Blur, Cat Stevens, Lennon, Marvin Gaye, Iron and Wine, Kate Bush, Weller, Wonder, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, Pachabel, Elton John, Jamiroquai, Rod, Jane and Freddy and Bruce Forsyth.Some Elsewhere is their first EP and came out in July 2007. These are songs shaped by the elements – the sound of weather-beaten soul.
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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 3/29/2006
Band Website: mattrivers.co.uk
Band Members: Matt Rivers - Singer/Songwriter/Guitar/Piano Francesco Bonini - Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals James WG - Bass Mr Doodle - Artwork & Design... check out his website! Sam Christmas - Photographs... check out his website!
Become a fan here:
Some Elsewhere - The Debut EP
Download singles here...Buy or Download the Album here...Mailing List
Influences: My musical influence comes from everywhere. Tunes dominate my life but stuff I see, feel, hear, touch, love, read, you name it... it all affects what comes out of my mind. Influence is the sum of everything that has made you up till the present moment in this reality and perhaps even stuff that hasn't yet... It's not just the music I have listened to and loved but the people I have met, the books I have read, the minds that have inspired me. The issues that burn the papers everyday, the worries in my heart, the passions in my heart... The pictures I have drawn, the dances I have enjoyed, the poems that flooded out of my soul. My family has a deep and profound effect on me. And of course, the great unknowable. The Great Spirit. God, whatever you want to call that... the silent consciousness at the depths of meditation.Reading Yogananda, Gandhi, Krishnamurti, Lao Tse, Don Juan, Carlos Castenada, Leo Buscaglia, Ben Okri, The Dalai Lama, Richard Bach, Tolkien, Shakespeare, Byron and Tom Wolfe to name but a few help me create subjects and viewpoints for songs. Old ancient wisdom and religeous teachings, Mayan, Native American and Aboriginal philosophy from every indigenous tribe on the planet. All ideas of self-realization, enlightenment and love. It all counts.But the people I used to listen to, the people I listen to now, here's the ones that have stood out and still do...Paul Weller, John Lennon, David Bowie, Michael Franti, Jack Johnson, The Verve, Stone Roses, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Bob Marley, The Velvet Underground, The Doors, Pucho and the Latin Soul Brothers, Marvin Gaye, Parliament, Dennis Brown, Lenny Kravitz, Cat Stevens, Blur, Jimmy Cliff, Oasis, Billy Joel, Elton John, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Belle and Sebastian, Sigur Ros, Zero 7, Lamb, Nitin Sawhney, Mozart, The Levellers... to name but a few...

Sounds Like: Weather-Beaten Soul!
"Acoustic moonshine soul. Very good voice. Loving the hooks - some very catchy riffs. Excellent control of tone and timbre; balance of light and shade. You are good. We like it!"Katy Morrison, (Argus, Observer, Telegraph)"Matt Rivers wows the audience with an energetic, heart on your sleeve performance which is kind of typical from Mr Rivers as here is a singer/performer who lives and breathes every minute of his music. With Mike O'Hara joining Matt on guitar the sound has a thicker edge with clever use of harmonies giving further texture. Matt's vocals are rich with power but with a soulful twinge which translates well to his upbeat lively material. There is a positive feel good vibe to Matt's music but also plenty of heartfelt expression and reflective narratives of his life experiences contained in his lyrics. Because of these attributes and his charismatic stage persona, he is able to sweep the audience along for the ride to share an insight into his world through his songs and they willingly follow, with good reason too"Paul Dunton, An Evening With..."Extraordinarily beautiful! This guy has got such great talent. This album is going straight onto my iPod. I discovered Matt Rivers’ music quite by accident through his Facebook page. I’m glad I was bored this morning mucking about once again on Facebook. Never has music promotion been so accessible to all, allowing new talent to shine through."Els - iTunes Review

Record Label: TBA
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Here and There...

Ah me... the listless meanderings of an artist. Caught in a time-wave of criss-crossing seconds, balanced between the now and never. How fortunate I. Being at peace and oneness with this moment, can d...
Posted by Matt Rivers on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:12:00 PST