Quiet Loner is the pen-name of songwriter Matt Hill, a solo artist from Eastwood, born in 1970. His work draws on the storytelling traditions of American folk and country music, while his lyrics also reflect a distinctly British perspective. His songs cover subjects including love, loss, infidelity, suicide, attempted murder, capital punishment, the database state, terrorism, religion, war, fallen angels, the secret rulers of the world, and the redemptive power of country music.

Recording career

Quiet Loner’s debut album, Secret Ruler of the World, wins Americana UK Album of the Year in 2004. In 2010 he releases Spectrology, a set of stark, intimate performances recorded in the English countryside during the January 2010 cold spell. The album is produced by Mat Martin and includes contributions from Inge Thomson, Roy Dodds, and his long-term collaborator Alan Cook.

Recognition and reception

Spectrology receives four-star reviews from The Daily Mirror, Uncut, R2, and Maverick, and gets radio play on BBC 6 Music. It also reaches number one in the Americana UK/Maverick americana chart.

Live performance

As a performer, Hill is known as an experienced raconteur and a strong live act. His shows combine emotion, humour, politics, anger, satire, and a generally restrained and humane tone.