Merging calm, funky soul and a strong hip-hop aesthetic, singer-songwriter Mathien (MAY-thee-in) conveys the passion of reggae and soul vocal stylings, the free experimentation of P-Funk, while incorporating the unconventional hip-hop attitudes of A Tribe

15 MP3 Songs
POP: Pop Underground, HIP-HOP/RAP: Alternative Hip Hop

Show all album songs: Head, Heart...& Hands Songs


Details:
Merging calm, funky soul and a strong hip-hop aesthetic, singer-songwriter Mathien (MAY-thee-in) conveys the passion of reggae and soul vocal stylings, the free experimentation of Parliament-Funkadelic, while incorporating the unconventional hip-hop attitudes of A Tribe Called Quest and The Roots. Mathien's voice encompasses beyond-his-years soulfulness, and possesses an undeniably unique vocal style that catapults him from mediocrity. His distinctive lyrical approach maintains a strong sense of wit and unique ability to cleverly tell a story, while his talents as a producer highlight the landscapes of his music. By the time Mathien turned 21, he released his first full-length recording Head, Heart. . . &Hands, toured the Midwest college circuit, acquired a dedicated street team, and signed with a Chicago management company. Mathien has also recently attracted attention from several industry insiders after having been chosen as 1 of 3 winners from a nationwide songwriting contest.

Born into a non-musical but supportive family, Mathien had his first piano lesson at the age of five, and began playing the guitar while still in elementary school. Playing with various rock bands through the end of high school, Mathien gained popularity, but eventually decided to focus his energies on his own songwriting and solo work. After acceptance into the vocal performance program at Southern Illinois University, Mathien sought out players to back up his solo work. By junior year, he had constructed a 6 piece back-up band to support him throughout his college tours. In the meantime, he was taught to sing by a former European opera star. By the end of 2005, Mathien played virtually every college campus in the area, placed third in a 30 group battle of the bands competition, and sold out shows at the University. Chris recalls, "I just remember calling my friends because I didn't see them at my show, and they were like, 'we tried but we couldn't get in!'"

In 2007, Mathien released his first full-length CD, Head, Heart. . . &Hands, a journey through the inner workings of his eclectic and obscure palette of influences. Head, Heart. . . &Hands establishes Mathien as a prolific songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and passionate producer. Aside from a rap appearance, there is no song on the record that Mathien did not perform entirely or engineer himself. There is an extensive marketing and promotional push behind the release of Head, Heart. . . &Hands headed up by Mathien's management and street teams. Tour dates are currently lining up for winter of 2007 as well as into the spring of 2008. Please check out www.myspace.com/mathien for more information.

Top Honors in Artist House Music Songwriting Contest
www.billboard.biz
"Mathien's entry, "The Hard Way," blends soul and R&B elements to create a magnetic track."

George Howard
www.artistshousemusic.org
"Mathien is undeniably talented. He is unique and timely without being trendy or derivative."