Scott Matthews

Scott Matthews

Scott Matthews is a singer-songwriter from Wolverhampton, England. Born in 1976, he works in pop and chart music, and is also associated with folk, acoustic and alternative styles. He begins playing guitar at the age of seven, starting on a junior-sized Kapok acoustic instrument that he still owns. He later switches briefly to drums before asking for an electric guitar on his eleventh birthday, when his father gives him a £25 Kay guitar and a set of old records, including Smash Hits by Jimi Hendrix. That record renews his interest in music, and he continues playing from then on.

Early development

Matthews draws inspiration from artists including The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, Marc Bolan and Joe Satriani. His first sustained attempt at writing music is with his brother Darren, who plays piano and keyboards, and the two explore instrumental rock together. Before becoming a solo artist, Matthews experiments with funk, indie rock and soul. He also performs in the band Positive Firefly, where he first takes on the role of singer and guitarist. He later moves away from band membership and develops a solo style that combines folk and blues rock.

Solo career

Matthews releases his first album, Passing Stranger, in 2006. It wins an award and establishes him more widely as a solo artist. He follows it with Elsewhere in 2009 and What The Night Delivers in 2011. His work receives attention from music press, with Q magazine describing him as a promising home-grown singer-songwriter, while The Sun calls him one of the most exciting figures in West Midlands music since Robert Plant.

Live work and collaborations

Matthews tours extensively and appears on shows with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Foo Fighters and Snow Patrol. These performances sit alongside his recorded work as part of his profile as a touring singer-songwriter from Wolverhampton.