Recent Years
Returning to Los Angeles in 2006, Matt Ellis collaborated with fellow musician, Branden Harper to produce his third solo album, "Tell the People". Recorded at Veneto West Studios in Culver City, California and engineered by Ronan Chris Murphy, the 11 tracks on "Tell the People" attracted a stellar cast of musicians. The recording sessions included Nels Cline (Wilco) and Tim Young (David Sylvian, The Youngs) on guitar, Greg Leisz (k.d. lang, Beck, Joni Mitchell) on lap steel, pedal steel and mandolin, Tim Luntzel, (Bright Eyes (band), Norah Jones, Emmylou Harris) on bass, Dave Palmer (Fiona Apple, Air) on piano and Rhodes and Branden Harper on drums. His wife provides vocals on track 10 & 11.
In promotion of this, well received and critically acclaimed album "Tell the People", Matt Ellis has performed across the USA, with regular shows at such esteemed, LA, music venues as Hotel Cafe and The Troubadour. He has returned to his homeland twice since this album's release playing both Brisbane & Sydney, Australia.
Ellis has taken to the Little Radio stage at South by Southwest, playing multiple days in 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010.
Matt Ellis' current album, "Births, Deaths & Marriages" was digitally released in March 2010. Vocals and acoustic guitar were recorded in a Venice Beach loft with his then drummer. The laid-back recording environment suited the songs and Ellis, perfectly, sometimes capturing and keeping a song played in full for the first time. Over several months, special guest musicians were brought in, adding layers to the songs note by note. Ellis' 4th solo effort has captured an expanded repertoire of artists. Returning guest, Greg Leisz (Joni Mitchell, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris) added his haunting, singature pedal steel, lap steel and Banjo to four tracks while Tim Young (Beck, Daniel Johnston) channeled the desert through his Telecaster on five of them. Calexico's Nick Luca added further electric guitars, piano and Feder Rhodes while his Calexico band mate, Jacob Valenzuela rounded out two songs with trumpet. This album is inspired by Ellis’ travels across the south and his love for the Mississippi Delta region. There is a surprise performance by gospel great (who sang the duet “Gimme Shelter", with Mick Jagger on the “Let it Bleed” album), Merry Clayton. Ellis mixed the album with Craig Schumacher (Calexico, Devotchka, Iron & Wine, Neko Case, Richard Buckner) at his WaveLab studios in Tucson, Arizona.
The lead single, "Heart Of Mine", was featured on Andrew Zimmerns' "Appetite For Life" and received an Honorable Mention in the International Songwriting Competition in the Americana category. "Heart Of Mine's" Music Video, directed by Ellis, took home 3rd place for Best Video in 2010. Tracks from "Births, Deaths & Marriages" have received wide AAA radio airplay across the USA, including LA's KCSN, operating out of Northridge, California.
Ellis currently resides in Venice Beach, California, USA with his wife, Vavine Tahapehi - who has contributed vocals on his past two albums and performs with him on stage.
Read more about this topic: Matt Ellis (singer Songwriter)
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