INTRODUCTION:
Recording each album like it was his first, performing each soul-induced tune as if it were his final song… Matt Williams, a visionary at 23 years, remains a promising talent in the world of music. As a performer and recording artist, Williams has developed into a very creative musician with a bright future. The singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist strikes melodic creativity from many angles, utilizing guitars, 4 and 5-string electric violins, acoustic and electric mandolin, the Hawaiian lap-slide, bass guitar, and percussion. His unique style of music has gained some true fans, especially in North Carolina where Matt was born and continues to live. The Western Carolina University Commercial & Electronic Music Major has managed to accomplish many things with relentless dedication.

THE BEGINNING:
September 1st, 2002 marked the release of his debut studio album entitled "Matt Williams: First Light". The 14 track CD was written, performed, and produced independently at age 16. It created quite a buzz regionally and became a great-selling CD at many record stores throughout the Eastern NC area. His live performances began as a young teen performing in coffee shops acoustically, but has grown over the years to be one of the most impressive solo live-loop sampling, multi-instrumental experiences around! About halfway through this growth period, Matt also completed the production on his first Live CD and Video. "Ladies And Gentlemen...Matt Williams Live" released March 22nd, 2003 as a double-disc CD. The promotional DVD Video includes highlights from the show recorded in November of 2002, however his stage-presence and his sound has evolved to new heights since this release. Therefore, in the summer of 2004, Matt recorded his second studio album, a concept album entitled "Your Last Make-Believe," released 02/02/2005.

"PARTICLES":
He is currently working on his third studio album, a 2 CD, 30 song effort entitled, "Particles". For the past 2 years, Matt has been emersed in the project's intricasy, and overall meaning. For this musical endeavor, Matt teamed up with friends and colleagues Jeff Browning and Pat McNeill recording the primary tracks in the Center for Applied Technologies (C.A.T.) Recording Studios on the campus of WCU. Screaming the album's message that "All of us are ONE", many guest musicians and WCU faculty are participating with Williams on this project which is full of potential. "Optimism is just another something that never gets enough of our attention," speaks Williams. Like a young Roger Waters (of Pink Floyd), Williams always dreams of supporting something more than just another album of songs with each published release. His upcoming "Particles" project has been quite an ambitious undertaking for the WCU Senior. Paralleling to the Particles concept, the project is reaching a close and has only been possible by everyone involved uniting together to make it come to life.

MATT WILLIAMS LIVE:
Matt's live shows today are regarded as something very special. He usually performs his eclectic music solo, however, the sound produced is full and includes the use of up to 10 instruments on his stage. He achieves multiple-instrument usage via live loop sampling, which he personally executes (no laptops or engineers). His remarkable loop act is always quick and flowing. Audiences are often intrigued to see a solo performer as they hear the sounds of many. An aggressive but passionate vocal glides over powerful, searing music. Solo performances include the looping of his voice, electric violins, acoustic and electric mandolins, guitars, unique guitar percussion, djembe, shakers and other percussion all layering to fill each room with artful harmonies.

As of late, Matt has began performing select shows featuring other excellent musicians that are currently lending their talents to the upcoming "Particles" album. The "Particles" co-producers Jeff Browning (drum set) and Pat McNeill (keys and percussion) complete a truly masterful 3-piece that takes the upcoming release to a new level. Though Jeff and Pat have graduated from WCU and are currently working as engineers on the West coast of the country, the 3 front-runners plan to reunite in an effort to explore new musical territory and support "Particles" with all they've got after Matt's graduation. In addition to current solo performances, Williams continues to play with other musicians featured on the upcoming album. As the Western NC area knows, Matt teams up with fellow songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Steven Foster (woodwinds) on a regular basis, performing a variety of MW tunes, as well as some to be released on the Williams/Foster collaborative project, "Rainbows At Night", coming this Winter after the 1st Volume of "Particles".

RECAP:
The forever-evolving music of Matt Williams has been classified as Folk/Rock/Reggae/World with a psychedelic twist. His lyrical content has captivated listeners and his musical ability is respected and easily observed. He has studied the violin since the age of 5, the guitar and bass since age 11, the mandolin over the last 8 years, the Hawaiian lap-slide since 2003 and percussion instruments for the past 4 years. His multi-instrumentalism and stage-presence makes him intriguing to see perform, always full of energy at each show, whether solo or accompanied by others. His classical and jazz backgrounds have helped to influence the creation of an original style that is very marketable, but musically sophisticated. His intense musical deliverance and intimate lyric portrayal is something that is all his own.

Matt plans to take his music as far as it will go.
He is a gifted artist trying to get his music and messages to reach people in the most pure and honest way.

"All Of Us Are ONE"

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(56 kbps: lo-res)
"Sing For The Sun" - Matt Williams: Your Last Make-Believe (2005)