Matt Collins
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Matt Collins

Jacksonville, Florida, United States | SELF

Jacksonville, Florida, United States | SELF
Solo Americana Acoustic

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This band has not uploaded any videos

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Press


"Matt Collins Demo Critique"

Collins has had song placements on CBS prime time and MTV, and it’s no wonder when you experience the overall quality of his pristinely produced songs. Backed by a mostly acoustic band, with just the right amount of pedal steel, this Floridian’s material is neo-country in nature. Riding above it all is his smooth, husky voice, an appealing instrument that conveys heartache convincingly. Songs are kind of longish, but Collins is a solid recording artist.
- Music Connection Magazine


"Matt Collins-- Acoustic Wizardry with a Strong Voice"

BY RICK GRANT

It was a strange scene at Pauly’s Pizza when I arrived to cover Matt Collins. Lynyrd Skynyrd was performing a concert on the flat screen TV (muted) above the stage while singer/songwriter Matt Collins was performing his catchy original music. For me, it was a bizarre juxtaposition, sending my consciousness into a then-and-now time-warp. As Bob Dylan said after his 1960s Newport Folk festival debacle, in which he and The Band went electric, causing a near riot by folk purists, "It’s all music."

Indeed, Matt Collins is forging his own path as a singer/songwriter. He is a 27 year old veteran of playing in rock bands during his U of F college years. During that time, Matt discovered he could write melodic songs that went over well with audiences. While still in Gainesville, Matt joined the band The Treatment and played out with them for twelve years. They recorded three albums the third of which was White Bread on Cinemark Records.

In 2005, the group released an EP titled Wake Up. Then a funny thing happened when the group amicably decided to go their separate ways, The Treatment’s song Echo Radio was featured on the CBS hit show, The Ghost Whisperer, starring Jennifer Love Hewett. The song was featured in episode 2 of Season 2.

Clearly, the 10 second placement of this song in scene with a boy listening to his iPod was not a big time launching event, but it did get the lads thinking about reforming the group. But as of now, nothing has come of that idea. "We have done just about everything an independent local band could ever hope to do. We are very proud of the song making a major television show," Matt said at the Pauly’s gig.

Meanwhile, Matt is playing over 200 solo acoustic shows a year from Jacksonville, Florida (where he resides) to Charlotte, North Carolina. "I’m so lucky to be able to do what I love for a living. My only goal is to give 100% of myself to each night to whomever will listen, and hope that they will enjoy themselves as much as I enjoy performing," Matt went on to say.

Matt has been working on his first solo CD, Matt Collins Short & Sweet and it is finally finished. What started out as an idea for a somewhat bare-bones live CD back in January of this year has been through many changes and several studios in a couple of different states.

"My recordings were mixed by Jon Kaplan in New York City. I plan to stage a CD release party in Jax, January 7, at Jack Rabbits. I will be sharing the stage with Alt-country band from Raleigh, N.C. called Chatham County Line," Matt said.

Matt’s set at Pauly’s Pizza, where he gigs every Friday from 6:00 to 10:00 pm, showcased his powerful voice and original orchestration using looping devices to setup rhythms over which he improvises on his amplified acoustic guitar. Matt presents a full sound featuring his intelligently conceived originals and some cleverly rearranged covers. Amid the enticing aroma of Pauly’s New York styled pizza , sending me into a serious pizza jones, Matt delivered his material with magnetic appeal..

Of all the solo singer/songwriters I’ve covered lately, Matt is one of the most talented both as a songwriter and a performer. He said that he has worked with Chuck Nash and Ron Perry on a side project and has made many friends in the local musical community.

For people starved for high quality original music, Matt Collins is a righteous choice to see live. He plays every Friday at Pauly’s. It’s a serious pizza restaurant that serves beer and other Italian New York styled deli dishes. It’s a great place to eat pizza and dig Matt Collins’ acoustic alchemy and original material.
- EU Magazine


Discography

With Matt's Band, The Treatment (formerly Longwood)

1999 Five Years Down The Road

2000 Let Me In EP

2001 An American Classic

2003 White Bread (Cinemark Records)
- Daddy's Little Girl added to regular rotation on over 50 college radio stations (charting in top 20 on several) and selected as Grand Prize Winner in the 2004 Windrift Music Songwriting Contest

2005 The Treatment - Wake Up EP

Solo:
2004 "I Won't Give Up" benefit CD for STOP Children's Cancer (Matt contributed one song)

2007 Debut solo Album "Short and Sweet"

2009 Side-Project - "The Collins Brothers" (Alt-Country/Americana Cover Album)

2012 The Nashville Sessions - Vol.1 (EP)

Photos

Bio

Matt Collins is the epitome of the do-it-yourself musician. Matt is a self-taught guitarist, singer and songwriter, and a successful independent recording artist. Matt began writing and playing music professionally while attending the University of Florida. For over 10 years, Matt was the lead singer and guitarist for nationally accomplished Independent Pop/Rock band Longwood (later named The Treatment.)

Matt enjoyed numerous accolades and successes with this band including winning an international songwriting competition in 2004, 2 nationally released albums, Top 20 Most Played on XM Unsigned Radio, showcases for major record labels, Gator Growl performance at the University of Florida for over 60,000 people, and several national brand endorsements.

More recently, Matt has had music featured on the hit TV shows The Ghost Whisperer and "CSI: Miami" on CBS, Whistler on CTV, and Lincoln Heights on ABC Family. Matts music has also been featured in a national ad campaign for MTVs Road Rules and Jeep Automobiles, as well as promo spots for the television shows, "Glee," "New Girl," "House" and the 2011 MLB All Star Game.

In 2007, Matt released his debut album Short & Sweet to great reviews followed by a side project with his brother Bo, called The Collins Brothers. Matt has recently put the finishing touches on a new EP recorded in Nashville, TN. Matt has also co-written several new songs that are making their way around the industry. Matts music is available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and most major music download websites.

Fans of Matts are drawn to his powerful, soulful vocal style coupled with a rare ability to write insightful, sometimes witty, lyrics with infectious melodies. Matt is the epitome of the do-it-yourself musician by taking control of his career and has found a way to find success in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Matt finances his own recordings, marketing and merchandise, and continues to build a rapidly growing fan base with only the power of his music and forward-thinking marketing practices.

To hear streaming audio of Matt Collins debut album, and for up-to-date news, visit Matts website at http://www.MattCollinsOnline.com