Striking Matches

Striking Matches

Striking Matches is a Nashville-based country duo made up of guitarist-songwriters Sarah Zimmermann and Justin Davis. The pair forms in 2007 and continues to perform and write together. Zimmermann comes from Philadelphia and Davis from Atlanta, and they meet at Belmont University when a professor pairs them at random for a classroom performance for guitar majors.

Style and influences

The duo works in country, with an acoustic guitar-led sound. Their influences range from Jerry Reed and Patsy Cline to the Beatles and John Mayer.

Releases and recognition

Their debut self-titled EP is produced by Luke Wooten and contains four songs, all co-written by the duo. It appears in iTunes’ Best of 2012 and leads to coverage from NPR and The Wall Street Journal. The duo becomes the first act signed to the newly launched I.R.S. Records Nashville, and their label is I.R.S. Nashville.

Live work and collaborations

Striking Matches makes its Grand Ole Opry debut in December 2012 and goes on to play there more than twenty times. The duo also shares stages with John Hiatt, Vince Gill, Hunter Hayes, Martina McBride, Matt Nathanson, The Fray, Billy Currington, Kip Moore and Ashley Monroe, among others.

Television and songwriting

The duo has six songs featured on the ABC series Nashville. Among them are “Like New,” written with Jonathan Singleton, and “I Ain’t Leavin’ Without Your Love,” written with Cary Barlowe.

Associated names

Striking Matches is named as a CMT Listen Up artist in 2013. T. Bone Burnett produces the duo’s debut full-length recording.