Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Heaton.
Hi Matthew, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Ever since I can remember, I have been drawn to music. One thing that comes to mind is how my parents always had the radio or a CD playing, and I felt a strong connection to the rhythms and melodies I would hear. My older brother, Brenden, had drummed in a local band when we were kids, and since I was the youngest child, I would go with him to his practices and performances. Being in those musical environments regularly impacted my desire to be involved with music one day. Another crucial moment was when I got my first Guitar Hero game for Christmas. I would play it for hours on end. Then one day, I traded in the guitar controller for a real one.
I started taking lessons from a neighbor up the street who taught guitar outside his basement. Once social media began to take hold in our everyday lives, I started to post recordings of myself online, playing songs I loved and songs I thought other people would like to hear. I eventually wrote a couple of songs of my own and would post those. I played bass for a punk band called Right Quick in high school. Within the last couple of years, we took a break from performing, and I was on my own for a while. Without a band, I wrote my album, “Farewell Conspiracies,” My friend Nick Bifano recorded and produced it at his studio, Harbor, in Alton, IL.
Releasing a full-length album has been a dream come true, and I continue to pursue my creative desires. I started performing as a solo musician named “Matthias” a few years ago and continue to play. It is wild to think that I went from going to all of my brother’s shows to playing shows of my own. Today, I play a few times a month, whether solo gigs or with my current band, The Grand Arson.
Last year, I got together with some friends, and we became The Grand Arson. We are a rock band that covers anywhere from Blue Oyster Cult to The Strokes and Foo Fighters. That being said, we have started focusing on original material and getting it recorded. Our first single, “Chasing,” was released last month on all streaming platforms, and seemingly out of nowhere, it has gotten much attention from our community. The coolest thing that has happened to us is that our song made it into regular rotation on WCLA 89.9 FM. We will release another song soon, within the next couple of weeks. I also plan on releasing another solo album this November. My biggest dream is to one day make music full-time, and I get closer to that dream each day.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
The road has been relatively smooth. Sometimes, it can be discouraging if you play a show where the crowd might need to be more responsive to your performance. However, I am grateful for each opportunity I have and blessed that I get to perform music regularly. If ever I feel doubt, I remind myself that I can follow in the footsteps of my favorite bands. I have the drive, discipline, and hunger to achieve what I dream of doing, which is being a professional musician. This might be cliché, but if I had to give any advice, it would be never to give up. If I gave in to some of my past doubts, I would never be where I am today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a musician from Edwardsville, IL. I specialize in guitar, vocals, and bass, but I can also play some piano. I have always been able to memorize countless lyrics and guitar parts. In addition to my love of the craft, I possessed that ability because I was meant to pursue music. A lot of music comes from personal experiences, and It feels very therapeutic to me. I find music fascinating because every emotion can be expressed through music. My work exists as a celebration of things I have experienced and gotten through. I make music for myself, but I also share it with the world so a listener may hear it and relate to or respond to my work.
My solo name is “Matthias,” and I am on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon Streaming, and more! You can find links to my work on my Linktree page. Also, I am always booking gigs if anyone needs some live musicians in their lives. Contacting me through Linktree, Instagram, or email works best.
I am most proud of my band, The Grand Arson, and how we got our first “Chasing” single on the radio. I play guitar and sing harmonies in The Grand Arson. Let me introduce you to the other guys: We’ve got Garret Wehking on bass, Brady Logan on drums, Jimmy Barr rockin’ lead guitar, and Blake Fultz is our frontman. The cool thing about our band is that each of us has a particular taste in music, and when we come together, our sound has this unique blend of genres.
Who else deserves credit for your story?
First and foremost, I would like to thank my dad Herb. He has always been there for me, coming to every show he can, getting me my first guitar, and showing me all kinds of awesome bands. The list goes on and on. A vital part of my creative pursuits is that my father continually encourages me to keep going.
My girlfriend, Madalyn, is also an undeniable support. She inspires my songwriting (which you can hear in the song “My Blue Orchid”) and constantly reminds me that it will all work out if I continue to work toward my goals. She believes in me, even when I don’t believe in myself sometimes, and that means the world to me. She is my best friend, and I could not ask for a better partner.
Nick Bifano also deserves recognition. Within the last few years, he founded Harbor Music, a studio in Alton, IL, where he has recorded all of my solo projects (under the name “Matthias”) and my band, “The Grand Arson.” Nick showed me support and creative offerings to help grow my material and artistry.
Pricing:
- Solo: $100/hr
- Band: $200/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/matthewheaton
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matt_heat/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialgrandarson
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8hF61NhbHzxZGLVO7njWZg
- Other: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/thegrandarson/chasing?fbclid=IwAR02i6lHg4iBGz_g5Y5JryD-VFGV3brenFI6sM3mfHzx8djXcMKl2xsshOY
Image Credits
Sarah Hancock and Madalyn Theisen
