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Artist of the Day - MATT VANTINE




The first time I heard the Philadelphia based musician, Matt Vantine's power popping song "Drop Dead" I was driving.  I immediately started that little car groove I do when a song comes on that grabs me. The track ripples with shimmery guitar sounds mixed with dark subject matter. In short, it’s a snarky jam that made me say Yes! While Matt and I are not of the same generation (X vs. Millenial) I dated before cell phones. Being able to tell a person, whether a romantic interest or friend to "Go Drop Dead" was a right of power. One couldn't hide behind a text back in the day. Now if a "Go Drop Dead" text sailed onto the screen it would be a slap in the virtual face. Either way, Matt’s righteous bop sums up getting fed up with narcissists and flakes. 

Matt is a seasoned musician who spent the past decade fronting Fleeting Ends, who came upon moderate success in Indie rock circles.  Matt makes his money as a guitar instructor who told me he “learns as he teaches.”  He utilizes unique guitar tunings in a very Nick Drakeish manner. Finger picking works for Matt as he writes socially observant lyrics based on personal experiences. 

Believe me babe
Your no picnic in the shade

"Drop Dead" rolls with the poppy fk you vibe. In the video, he sports a slick look with fitted denim, imposing Ray Bans and jet black hair with a slight Joe Strummer slick back.
He moves through the sunny tree lined good neighborhood of Philly as he keeps his guitar close to his side. He creatively adorns his electric and acoustic guitars with fake roses and tambourine parts. The song stays with you more than most of the pop driven songs that got many radio plays this year.  The emphasis he puts on the ending line captures his ability to sing of dark matter with a breezy flair.  

I wish you all the best
But go drop dead

The first single he dropped as a solo artist was in March of this year. Again, he gifts us a track that is both infectious yet acerbic

“The Goddess and Me” shows off his brightly iridescent flamenco "look mom no pick" guitar style. The story is a fabricated depiction of an unrequited love story. What if a famous celeb looked his way and a romance ensued. He employs carefree sarcasm to know but he wouldn't be able to be in HER spotlight.

She is used to being admire
He’s used to standing in line

Matt's use of irreverent wit drives his lyrics. His unique guitar playing, based on intriguing, insouciant tuning solidifies the appealing nature of his latest work. Moving from front man to solo can be a dramatic challenge but Matt is handling it in stride. Now this young gun is primed to take on the airways as just Matt Vantine. I am hoping his latest offerings are paving the way for more smart sardonic song writing mixed with sophisticated guitar playing.  His music making reminds me of some of my favorite 90s Brit Pop. I used to get a laugh when digging into some of Pulp and Blur’s songs that were catchy yet biting numbers revolving around social situations and unexpected sexual encounters.

In short, the world went to crazy shit this year, with political improprieties and moral perversions. Yet the music of 2019, youth driven mixed with old seasoned souls, proved surprisingly inspiring and impressive. J'ADORE. 

Fun Fact – He “stickers” up his guitars. He also adorns them with fake roses and tambourine parts. Unique!     




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