Matt Ellis |
|---|
Biography
Earlier Years
Matt Ellis is a folk/ rock genre singer-songwriter who became an indie identity of critical acclaim in his hometown of Sydney, Australia. He had an international upbringing spending his childhood between Sydney's northern beaches, Brisbane Australia and Wellington New Zealand before his family's relocation to Hong Kong - where he spent almost all of his teenage years.
Inspired by punk & rock bands of his high school era, Matt Ellis formed Sydney, heavy-rock band Sedgwick Pie. With Matt as their frontman, Sedgwick Pie released two EPs, touring with such prominent 90s acts as Reef (band) UK, Grinspoon AUS & Tumbleweed (band) AUS, before launching his solo career in 2000 with his critically acclaimed debut,""Peel"". Release of this album quickly established Ellis on an international stage, with the album sitting in the top 10 on ninemsn for six weeks. The self-produced music video for the title track "Peel", gained airplay on Foxtel's Country Music Channel, MTV Australia, Rage (TV program) and defunct, late-night TV show on Network Ten, Ground Zero. The track was added to rotation in South East Asia, but was eventually banned after outraged viewers called in to complain that the clip - which featured Ellis driving around Sydney blindfolded - promoted reckless driving. The banning sparked an invitation from Channel V Asia for Ellis to interview and perform live at the station in Hong Kong. This performance wrapped the Peel tour which saw Matt Ellis perform at respected rock music venues CBGBs (RIP) NYC & the Knitting Factory LA.
In July 2004, Matt Ellis launched his second, self-titled solo effort at the Vanguard in Sydney. The production team on this second album consisted of Ellis himself, long time musical collaborator, Tamlin and ARIA Music Awards winner, Jonathan Burnside. As a preview to the forthcoming album, a double A-side single of "In This Life/ Where It Starts" was launched in August 2003 at Sydney venue, The Gaelic Club. Along with more critical acclaim the release also attracted a sponsorship from Cole Clark Guitars, Australia. Tracks from the album received airplay on Triple J, Sydney’s FBi Radio, Newcastle’s New FM, 2NUR and countless stations Australia wide. The album has also received airplay on College radio in Germany, Canada and The USA.
In 2005 Matt Ellis left Australia with his latest album in hand and embarked upon a tour across Canada and the USA which included shows in and around Vancouver, Hornby & Denman Islands and at the North by Northeast (NxNE) Festival in Toronto. Ellis stayed on the road through July and August playing a twenty date acoustic tour through New York, Pennsylvania, Toronto, Vancouver, San Francisco and Los Angeles. It was while on the road that he began writing his current release, "Tell the People." Writing of the album was completed and a demo recorded while on creative seclusion in a remote, coastal village in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula.
Recent Years
Returning to Los Angeles in 2006, Matt Ellis collaborated with fellow musician, Branden Harper to produce his third solo album, "Tell the People." Recorded at Veneto West Studios in Culver City, California and engineered by Ronan Chris Murphy, the 11 tracks on "Tell the People" attracted a heavy-weight musical line-up. The recording sessions included Nels Cline (Wilco) and Tim Young (David Sylvian, The Youngs) on guitars, Greg Leisz (K.D. Lang, Beck, Joni Mitchell) on lap steel, pedal steel and mandolin, Tim Luntzel, Bright Eyes (band), Norah Jones, Emmylou Harris) on bass, Dave Palmer ([[Fiona Apple, Air (band)) on piano and Rhodes and Branden Harper on drums. His wife even provides the vocals on track 10.
In promotion of this current, well received and critically acclaimed album, "Tell the People", Ellis has performed across the USA, with regular shows at such esteemed, LA, music venues as Hotel Cafe and The Troubadour. He has returned to his homeland twice since this album's release playing both Brisbane & Sydney, Australia. Matt Ellis has taken to the Little Radio stage at South by Southwest, playing multiple days in both 2007 & 2008.
Matt Ellis currently resides in Venice Beach, California, USA.