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Matthew Landis
And His 'Progressive" Songwriting Styling
Philadelphia New Comer
By Brooke Welu
Think Counting Crows. Think Bare Naked Ladies. Those were the first two bands that came to mind when listening to Philadelphia's Matthew Landis as his voice is a slight cross between Adam Duritz and Steven Page.
I must admit whenever I listen to bands that incorporate the piano into their music I am always pleasantly surprised. It is such a soothing and dramatic instrument that can add a lot of character to the sound. As Matthew Landis strives to set himself apart from most singer/songwriters incorporating 'progressive elements" into his music I believe he will be able to use his classically trained pianist abilities to his advantage. As of now, though, I would say the 'progressive" sound Landis is striving to achieve is not that noticeable. Beyond Mathew's piano and lead vocals, he is joined by three band members; Rob Smith (bass), Dave Gardner (drums), and Steve Solof (guitar).
Landis's lyrics explore most of the feelings that trouble everyone surviving their early twenties, i.e. finding one's identity and unrequited love. Based on the EPK and blog entries from his website, it is my impression that Matthew Landis is a new comer looking to break into the professional music scene and has a lot of road to cover. I believe he has the talent of a gifted musician and composer and I look forward to hearing more of his music as he continues to experiment and grow as vocalist and artist.
FROM Mid-November Issue, Northeast In-Tune (www.northeastintune.com)
- Northeast In-Tune Magazine Online
Discography
1 self-released eponymous ep; is currently recording a new song which should be available the end of February and rehearsing his new band for upcoming gigs and recording sessions
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Matthew Landis started playing piano at the age of 7 after watching his father perform in the chorus of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. He was never a normal child again. Schooled in classical piano for 12 years, and voice for 3 years he quickly applied his developing talent to the field of pop music. Spurred on by such innovative singer/songwriters as Elliot Smith, David Bowie, and Ray Davies of the Kinks, he sought to blend their artistry and catchy melodic sensibilities with the lush, progressive elements of artists such as Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, and Wilco. Because of this, Matthew Landis has developed a distinct voice amongst singer/songwriters by pushing the limits of what singer/songwriters are supposed to do. By taking control of the arrangements fully, and sculpting each detail of his songs carefully he acheives a unique blend of experimentaion, aggression, and melody. In the quest to balance the art of being a tunesmith with his belief in the transformative power of art and music, Matthew's experimentation is driven towards his goal to be both an important songwriter and an affecting performer.
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