Matt Joe Gow is a musician

Musician

A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....

 and singer-songwriter

Singer-songwriter

Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...

. He is best known as the lead singer and frontman of Australian alternative

Alternative rock

Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...

 band

Rock Band

Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...

 The Dead Leaves.

Raised in Wellington, after spending several years living in England, Canada and the United States with his family, Joe Gow moved to Dunedin at age 12. He began learning guitar and writing songs, combining a talent for writing poetry with a love of the music he was raised listening to.

After completing his secondary education in Dunedin and moving on to study at the University of Otago

University of Otago

The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...

, Joe Gow graduated with a degree in Philosophy. Travelling through Asia, Europe and North America before settling in Vancouver, Canada, Joe Gow formed a band called Tearlighter. Tearlighter went on to record an EP titled ‘The Truth This Winter’. ‘The Truth This Winter’ generated national airplay. After spending a year playing shows in Canada, Joe Gow relocated to Leeds, England.

In 2007, Joe Gow settled in Melbourne, Australia. After working with members of Augie March

Augie March

Augie March are an Australian indie/pop rock band. Formed in 1996 in Shepparton, Victoria, the band currently consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Glenn Richards, lead guitarist Adam Donovan, bassist Edmondo Ammendola, drummer David Williams, and keyboardist Kiernan Box...

, Matt went on to form Matt Joe Gow and the Dead Leaves

Matt Joe Gow and the Dead Leaves

The Dead Leaves formerly known as Matt Joe Gow and The Dead Leaves are an Australian Alternative / rock band. The band formed in 2009, and their line up consists of vocalist, guitarist Matt Joe Gow, guitarist Andrew Pollock, bassist Cameron Grindrod and drummer Joel Witenberg...

. The band released their debut album ʻThe Messenger

The Messenger (Matt Joe Gow and the Dead Leaves album)

- Performers :* Matt Joe Gow – Vocals, Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Harmonica, Percussion* Andrew Pollock – Electric Guitar, Vocals* Kain Borlase – Bass Guitar* Chris Elliott – Drums* James van Cuylenburg - Piano...

ʼ through Liberation Music

Liberation Music

Liberation Music is a boutique, independent Australasian record company, started in 1999 by Michael Gudinski and Warren Costello. Its stated aim is to find, nurture and then to develop new talent for a world market while remaining independent in the process...

in July 2009. A new album slated for release 2011 is said to mark a change in direction for Joe Gow.

Sources

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2005/10/18/music_local_band_matt_joe_gow_feature.shtml
• http://www.liberation.com.au/artists/artist/Matt_Joe_Gow_and_the_Dead_Leaves
• http://www.musicglue.com/mattjoegowthedeadleaves