About Matt

I Grew up in a house that loved music, however, no one in my family was a musician. I fondly remember making my way through parents record collection, they were big into Classic Rock, R&B, NWOBHW, Prog and Blues. I remember Aerosmith and Pink Floyd being big influences in making me want to take up the guitar. Growing up I managed to coast fairly smoothly through social and academic situations, but I was quiet and withdrawn and preferred my own company. It wasn’t until later in my 20s would I discover I had fairly severe social anxiety and was highly introverted. It took some time for me then to buck up the courage to want to commit to the guitar. At 15, my brother and I decided we both wanted to learn, so come Christmas time we asked for a guitar each. I still remember my Squier starter pack sat under the tree. It came with an electric blue Stratocaster, a 10 watt amp that sounded like a jar of wasps and a little DVD to get the first few chords under my fingers, I was hooked.

Slowly, I began working out parts of songs I loved and spent a decent amount of time building my chops. In danger of sounding like a stereotype, I quit college to focus on music and auditioned to secure a place studying in Brighton. It was here my musical world was opened and had instruction from some amazing tutors. It also broadened my musical horizons and I heard so much more than I knew was out there. It kindled my love for new genres and I delved deeper into Funk, Jazz, Gospel, Fusion and Country music. I also found a love for music theory and what it afforded me and the doors it opened on my path for learning.

For four years I studied and networked and soon found myself working in several function bands across the Southeast. It was here I finally earned some money, made all the mistakes and cut my teeth playing for pubs, weddings and questionable local fairs. After a decade of the ‘‘gun for hire’’ stuff, I had a last honest attempt at an ‘‘adult’’ career and I began working in insurance. This led me down a school-like corporate path eventually culminating in me moving to Majorca, Spain as a Yield Manager (I know…).

Depressed and unsure, I quit. As fate had it, on my flight home I received a message from a singer songwriter from my hometown who had found my number and wanted to collaborate. One thing led to another and were now engaged and performing across the UK together as Kay Iris.

I wanted to share my experience with others through teaching. Somehow the guitar had turned a shy kid into someone who pushed himself through his hang ups and into someone who went out performing and stayed hungry for learning. To this day, I get some much self-worth from playing and learning and I can truly say it’s kept me happy. Now I’m teaching students, going out performing my original music and networking with amazing like minded people. I’m quite content.