Matt's four album releases have taken him across the United States, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and Mexico. He's performed at such venues as The Sydney Opera House, The Troubadour, CBGBs (RIP), The Bitter End, El Mocambo, Hotel Cafe, Spaceland, Pappy & Harriets and The Annandale Hotel sharing the stages with Calexico, J.Tillman, Port O'Brien, Perry Farrell and John Doe to name a few. Tracks have been licensed by ABC TV America, played on Australia's Triple J Radio, Triple M and FBi, along with Indie 103 FM in Los Angeles and dozens of college and online stations around the globe. Ellis released his 4th album, "Births, Deaths & Marriages" digitally in 2010, receiving an HONORABLE MENTION from the International Songwriting Competition for it's lead track "Heart Of Mine". A limited edition version of the album was released in 2011 featuring it's first pressing. "Heart Of Mine" is once again up for an ISC award this year, this time in the "Best Video" category.
THE NEW ALBUM, “BIRTHS, DEATHS & MARRIAGES” - OUT NOW ON iTUNES and other leading online retailers.
Matt Ellis' fourth solo album features eleven new Americana/Folk Rock tracks and is arguably his best work to date. With a few teaser songs making an early appearance on Little Radio, Hear Ya and the Buzz Bands blog out of LA, the new songs started developing a buzz months before it's release. Now, with over 30 AAA US Radio Stations playing tracks, a hugely successful music video release, press and ISC accolades plus dozens of live shows, “BIRTHS, DEATHS & MARRIAGES” is exposing Matt to his biggest audience yet, taking him to the next level in his career.
Recording began in January 2009, at a Venice Beach loft where Ellis cut his vocals and acoustic guitar tracks live with drummer, Branden Harper. The laid back recording environment suited the songs and Ellis, perfectly. The pair found themselves free from the pressures of modern studios and decided to work alone, building each song from the ground up, sometimes capturing and keeping..a song played in full for the first time.
Ellis spent the following months in between shows, bringing in special guest musicians, adding layers to the songs, note by note. Returning guest, Greg Leisz (Joni Mitchell, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris) added his haunting signature pedal steel, lap steel & Banjo to four tracks while Tim Young (Beck, Daniel Johnston) channeled the desert through his Telecaster on five of them. Calexico's Nick Luca added further electric guitars, piano and Fender Rhodes while his band mate Jacob Valenzuela rounded out two songs with trumpet.
The guest list continued with accordion, cello, electric and upright bass, percussion and more guitars, however they saved the best for last with a visit from the one and only, Merry Clayton. Best known for her vocals on The Rolling Stones hit "Gimme Shelter", Merry's career and voice have a life of their own. Merry lent her incredible range to the gospel-inspired track, "Ghosts" - a definite highlight of this new set of songs.
The album was mixed at Wave Lab studios in Tucson, Arizona by Craig Schumacher. Known for his production and mixing credits with Neko Case, Calexico, Iron & Wine, M Ward, Devotchka and many more, Craig was the perfect, last stop.
For media inquiries please contact: Hilary Craven at The Maven Projects Email:
[email protected] For bookings and further info: www.mattellis.com Email:
[email protected]
PRESS QUOTES:
Venice-based Aussie ex-pat Matt Ellis brings the full range of his gravelly, often angelic voice and songwriting subtleties to bear on his latest album, Births, Deaths & Marriages, a soulful and sweet tribute to the cast of characters that populate a man's life and the shared milestones that give it shape. If less overtly political than previous albums, Births... is still an intensely thoughtful study in the interconnectedness of extended family, and makes ideal material for one of Ellis' famously rousing live performances.
- Shana Nys Dambrot, LA Flavor Pill
"Ellis has a pleasurable way with darker moods
and a sturdy approach to songwriting"
- Bob Gordon, Rolling Stone
"Sublime beauty. The writing is exceptional"
-Peter Merritt, 3RRR Radio
"Matt Ellis is one of Australia's most promising up-and-coming singer songwriters"
-Dan Condon, Time Off Magazine
"Matt Ellis' voice is captivating in its obvious sincerity & passion which so many singers lack"
-Sarah Bav, thedwarf.com.au
Instrumentation
Matt Ellis - Vocals & Guitar
Rotating band line-up.
Performs in solo acoustic mode also.
Discography
PEEL - LP 2000 (Tracks Peel, The Cause and The Wicked received airplay in Australia and overseas)
IN THIS LIFE/WHERE IT STARTS - Double A-Side Single 2003 (Tracks In This Life and Where It Starts received airplay in Australia and overseas)
MATT ELLIS - LP 2004
(Tracks On Your Way, In This Life, What You Left, Where It Starts, Like It Here and All You Need have all received airplay in Australia and overseas)
TELL THE PEOPLE - LP 2006
(Too Many Days recently appeared on ABC's Brothers & Sisters. Hey Mr has enjoyed wide airplay across the US and Australia)
BIRTHS, DEATHS & MARRIAGES - LP 2010
(Lead track "Heart Of Mine" received a finalist nod from the ISC while the title track reached the semi-final stage of the competition.)
Tracks from each release are available for download at www.mattellis.com
www.myspace.com/mattellisband
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