About Matthew de Zoete
Exploring the lands of pop,rock, and folk music, Matthew de Zoete combines rhythmic inventiveness with an astonishing gift for melody to discover a territory entirely his own. With a distinct voice and writing style, the 26 year-old from Hamilton, Ontario, will soon release his second album of intelligent, hook-laden songs. While his 2006 debut ‘Across the Sea’ examined themes of distance and separation, his new record ‘Bottom of the World’ explores the universal foundations of one person’s life: love, family, the past, the future, and the inevitable truth of human mortality. Recorded mostly live off the floor, this collection of songs captures the feeling of Matthew performing with his touring band; it is the sound of intuitive musicians playing in a room, working together to deliver a body of music. Ranging from simple ballads to joyful pop revelries, these songs keep melody to the fore and favour beauty over bravado, honesty over obscurity. While de Zoete’s music resists direct categorization, shades of Harrison, Davies, and Drake appear, as does the influence of Elliott Smith and Ron Sexsmith. Produced by Dave King and to be released later in 2008, ‘Bottom of the World’ takes the artist and listener through realms beyond the reach of most songwriters. The same is true of de Zoete’s live performances, in which he mines the soul of each song and offers it up to the crowd. After releasing ‘Across the Sea’, de Zoete began establishing an international audience. Extensive touring throughout Canada, America, and Holland has earned him a reputation for solid songwriting and dynamic performances that pull listeners deep into his music. Along with his band, he goes beyond a simple recitation of notes to construct a powerful musical conduit connecting the audience to the songs. Matthew has shared the stage with artists including Great Lake Swimmers, Luke Doucet, Serena Ryder, Peter Elkas, Melissa McClelland, and Pete Best. He has performed at numerous festivals including North by Northeast (Toronto, ON), Indie Week Toronto, GO! Music Festival (Waterloo, ON), In the Dead of Winter (Halifax, NS), Spring Arts Festival (Grand Rapids, MI), Hamilton Music Awards, Festival of Friends (Hamilton, ON), and It’s Your Festival (Hamilton, ON).