Artist Spotlight: Matt Costa

The man responsible for the throwback to simpler times and folk rock blues that's now emerging on modern rock radio is a shaggy haired twig by the name of Matt Costa.

Matt Costa is an unpolished diamond. He reminds me of older days when the likes of Donovan and other UK imports had America under a spell.

Here's the recipe for a Matt Costa smoothie: Throw in a light dose of country, a teaspoon of psychedlia, just a small bit of ragtime, a cup of folk rock, put it in a mixer and blend the sounds together. When done mixing, top with a wedge of pop music and it is best served chilled. How did Matt Costa come to be this musical genius?

When Costa was 12 he received his first guitar but immediately lost interest. The skateboard became his first true love and practiced with the kind of fierce dedication and motivation that you now hear in his music. In just a matter of years his devotion to the sport paid of and he nearly turned professional.

However, fate intervened and the musical gods decided he had a different path in life. His calling to skateboarding shifted when he shattered his leg in a skateboarding accident. Fortunately for us, the injury required eighteen months of recovery and rehabilitation and a lot of downtime which is where the guitar comes in. During that time, he developed a passion for the guitar, and started to write and recorded tunes on a mini tape recorder.

Matt eventually made a demo and circulated it amongst around his hometown of Huntington Beach, California. One copy found its way into the hands of Tom Dumont. If that name doesn't ring a bell then you should maybe look up a bio on a little band called No Doubt. Dumont is the lead guitarist for No Doubt. Dumont offered to record more demos for him in his home studio and this eventually led to a self-titled 5 song EP that was self distributed.

As interest grew, they were already working on the sessions that led to Songs We Sing, his most recent release with Brushfire Records. Dumont took a passive role behind the control board while Costa cranked out the twelve song record that remains on rotation in my car. Songs We Sing incorporates many natural themes throughout the record and doesn't succumb to the pressures of writing about politics or government. Costa takes on more of a narrator role in his songs, and this is evident in songs like "Cold December" or "Behind the Moon" where he sings, "I would shine just like a million suns if you'd just love me baby."

His delivery is not forced, and is yet so natural and soothing that it's the perfect record for a beer and a good book. Though his music strays away from most of the crap you hear on modern radio today, a track like "Sunshine" oozes with the pop sound that made a guy like Eagle Eyed Cherry so famous. His songs are effortless and meet incredible levels of simplicity, leaving one to ponder why they haven't started a music career of their own.

As for his guitar skills, I can honestly tell you, as a guitar player myself, that his fretwork is unbelievable. You can discover this for yourself in a live setting. He has supported a variety of bands like The Shins and Built To Spill. The great thing about Matt Costa is I was turned on to his music after seeing him live.

Isn't that a beautiful thing? It was during a 2005 summer stint with label mate Jack Johnson, and that's when eyes started turning to Costa. Being the opening act for one of the most anticipated tours of the year opened doors allowed Costa to shine and build a fanbase. His performances are more like story telling by a fire, and you're left with no choice but to listen.

This brown-eyed, shaggy haired wonder is unlike anything you hear, especially coming out of suburban California or the skate world. If you're looking for a CD to go back to the basics with then I highly recommend Matt Costa's, "Songs We Sing."

Check out Matt Costa's music at the following sites:

www.MattCosta.com
www.Myspace.com/MattCosta