About a year ago I attended the first ever Local Tourist Showcase at Elbo Room and saw Matt Ryd live on stage for the first time. I was so won over by his easy going vibe on stage and a fab cover of the Jackson 5′s “I Want You Back” that I signed up for the mailing list and even used my personal email address, not the b.s. one I usually use for spam. In the year since, I’ve been treated to the occasional email blast from Ryd and each email usually includes a fantastic cover. Again, talent and occasional email blasts with free music? What’s not to love?! Besides, you haven’t really lived until you’ve heard Ryd’s cover of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” and Ryd’s cover of Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up” is a revelation. Real talk.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to meet Ryd that night yet I feel like I’ve come to know him in the last year. Talk to anyone who has met him and you’ll hear what a genuinely nice guy he is with an incredible talent.
Earlier this fall Ryd released his first full length album, Looking For Home, a collection of well crafted intelligent pop songs. Each song is radio-friendly and incorporates interesting instrumentation (think toy pianos and the little Casio keyboards snuck in for fun) and gorgeous velvety harmonies.
Standout tracks: For So Long, Healed (which was featured in an episode of Scrubs!), Marianne and Lie To Me. This collection of songs showcases the evolution of an artist with lyrics that are mature and relatable. I’m excited and looking forward to following what I expect (that’s right, expect) to be a long and successful career. Maybe I won’t chicken out at the next show and will actually say hello.
One Comment
Hi MeanLittleBumbleBee!
You definitely should introduce yourself at the next show!
Thanks so much for the nice review and write-up! And I’m honored that I was privy to your real email address–I try very hard never to abuse the privilege of being given peoples’ emails.
- Matt