Our guest today is Matt Joe Gow.
Born in New Zealand in what is known colloquially as the “deep south”, Matt was encouraged to pick up a guitar at an early age.
After traveling the world, Matt moved to Melbourne, Australia, drawn by its culture and vibrant music scene. He formed a band, The Dead Leaves, and in 2009 released his debut record ‘The Messenger’, produced and recorded by multi-Aria award-winner Nash Chambers at the legendary Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne and released on Liberation Records. The album is featuring Jim Moginie of Midnight Oil and iconic Australian country artist Bill Chambers, and introduced Matt, and in many ways alternative country, to many people for the first time in Australia.
As Alternative Country and Americana continued to grow in popularity, Matt steadily toured and supported acts such as Chris Isaak, The Jayhawks, Justin Townes Earle, James Reyne, Kasey Chambers, Marlon Williams, Jimmy Barnes and John Butler.
It was however Matt’s 2018 self produced album, ‘Break Rattle And Roll ‘, which ranged from Stones-esque blues rock and roll to hushed heartbreak that truly resonated with fans and critics alike and went on to win the prestigious Music Victoria Award for Best Country album. Revered Americana blog ‘Post To Wire’ describing the album, as “one of the finest alt-country albums of the year, full of consummate songwriting and life affirming rock ’n’ roll.”
Matt went back into studio In early 2020 with the guiding concept of making a stripped-back and self produced record. after recording on the album had finished, the world was hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
With Matt touring overseas and the Melbourne studio under strict lockdown, the choice was made to continue work on the record remotely over the following year.
The result is a unique record which, although laborious to make during a dark and difficult time, is the most pure and direct expression of Matt’s songwriting and artistic vision of his career.