An American-born singer-songwriter who wandered his way along the North American highways to Halifax NS, Matt Steele explores love and life with a whimsical nod to the nostalgia of seventies pop. He draws from his southern Kentucky roots with a slight vocal drawl, while clearly embracing his Canadiana lineage in his sonic delivery. While the pandemic has put a pause on the hectic power pop rave-ups with his band Matt Steele & The Corvette Sunset, it has proved a good time to showcase these rootsier, lighter songs within his songwriting catalog. Active in the East Coast music scene since 2010, Matt Steele is a recreation therapist and musician who loves to combine a passion for mental health with his lifelong love of music. Along with five years’ experience volunteering with and working for Nova Scotia Health, Matt is now a member of the East Coast Music Association’s Wellness Initiative. He also sits on the marketing committee for the Nova Scotia Therapeutic Recreation Association, and is currently working on a metal/punk/rock-themed mental health workbook with artist Teri Boates.
With his exquisite single “Falling Asleep at the Metal Show,” Steele captures the dissonance of going to a concert that you’re just, like, not into. He also calls out the incongruity of people throwing all their energy into a bar band when….well, what if that passion were redirected to making the world a better place? It’s a complicated set of emotions set to a perfect Candicana soundtrack, rounded out with longtime Adobe & Teardrops fave Mo Kenney‘s distinctive harmonies. With this song and interview, Steele is now on the same roster.
“Between 2010 and 2014, I worked as a sound technician, pushing faders for legends and locals alike,” says Matt Steele (he/him) of the song. “Part of that gig was working the Sunday night punk and metal shows. After a week of working a day job, gigging, and doing sound on other nights, not even the loudest, most energetic punk show could stop me from nodding off at times. Usually, nothing would happen during these mini naps, but one night a lead singer – rightfully – tore a strip off of me for my inattention,” Steele said. “I love loud music, being pushed around in the pit, and feeling the sound hit my body like an ocean wave. I also love the camaraderie of people united by the music. But that said, it’s a running joke among my friends that I could literally sleep through anything.”
Tell us about the first song you wrote.
I started writing silly kid songs in elementary school, and I can’t remember any of those, sadly! I’m sure they were funny. The first one I remember I wrote was “Three Months’ Girl”, an ode to my first high school relationship, but also a future-oriented anxiety about not being able to stay in a relationship for longer than a few months. I’m happy to report that I’m now engaged to be married this year, so take that, 13 year old Matt!
Is there a professional “bucket list” item you would love to check off with this release?
I’d love for the music video/song to go viral! It seems like a fun contradiction to the current moment – taking live music for granted so much that you could nod off at a show – that I hope people keep talking about it.
Have you ever been star-struck when playing with a musician?
I am a huge fan of Mo Kenney, so it was incredible to have them come into the studio and sing harmonies on this song and it’s B-Side, “Cupcake”. Mo has an incredible voice, was super down to earth, working with them was magic! [Side note: Rachel is, too.]
Who would you love to collaborate with? Why?
I would love to do something, anything, with Josh Homme. I love Queens of the Stone Age, I love all of his other production and writing work. I think we could make some slinky, vibey stuff, and I can only imagine how much I could learn from him if given the chance. He is a unique, creative presence in modern music, someone whose output stands above and apart from the trends other acts feel compelled to follow.
What 5 albums are you going to make your kid listen to and why?
Queens of the Stone Age – Era Vulgaris. Heavy meets delicate and sexy in a more atmospheric way than the rest of the QOTSA canon. It’s a great road trip album.
Neil Young – On The Beach. It’s an album that is perfectly imperfect in its recording, but each track is a great story. This would show my kid that you don’t need to be perfect to be worthwhile.
Billy Talent – Billy Talent I. If I was sad and emotional sometimes in high school, my kid needs to be too, haha.
Tom Petty – Full Moon Fever / Wildflowers – I can’t really pick here, but everyone needs to vibe to Tom Petty at some point in their life. I’m sure as hell going to make sure I fulfill my Rock Dad duties.
Tim Baker – Forever Overhead. I think this is the one LP my fiancé and I listen to together the most, since she doesn’t love heavy music the way I do. It’s so well written, it has some fun “recording nerd” parts in it, while grooving and throwing off a gentle ambience to soundtrack our weekend breakfasts. This seems like a nice family time record (minus the song where Tim says “fuck 2017”, but I think we can look past that).