Matt Mays
Encyclopedia
Matt Mays is a Canadian
singer-songwriter
and was the lead singer of Matt Mays & El Torpedo, a rock music
group based in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia
and New York City
. Previously, Mays was a member of a Canadian indie
band The Guthries
. Mays was born in Hamilton, Ontario
, and grew up in Nova Scotia
.
, Mays presented an award, and was himself nominated for New Artist of the Year and Adult Alternative Album of the Year for his self-titled album.
In February 2006, Mays appeared with the Symphony Nova Scotia
in their Rising Star series on the Dalhousie University
campus.
In April 2006, fellow Canadian rocker Sam Roberts
released his new album titled Chemical City
. Mays performed on the track "Uprising Down Under".
"Cocaine Cowgirl" received saturation airplay on Canadian rock radio in 2005, and its video heavy rotation on MuchMusic
. At the 2006 East Coast Music Awards, MM&ET were nominated for entertainer of the year, group of the year, radio rock recording of the year, album of the year, and single of the year (for "Cocaine Cowgirl"), and won all of these but entertainer of the year award. They closed out the national broadcast of the event with "Cocaine Cowgirl". As he introduced the band, host Mike Smith
(Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys
) said that they were one of his favourite bands. In Maclean's
magazine, Ron MacLean
of Hockey Night in Canada
listed Matt Mays & El Torpedo among the artists whose music he "never leaves home without."
In 2006 Matt Mays and El Torpedo released a music video for their single "Time of Your Life ('til You're Dead)", directed by Drew Lightfoot
. The video was filmed in Kensington Market
, Toronto
. This particular video features the card manipulation
s of American comedian and magician Erik Tait. This video received notice in the magic world after it was pointed out that the card manipulation with the box is physically impossible. This particular manipulation was achieved by filming Erik's hands then playing the footage backward. The card work is also acclaimed in this video as members of the band perform some of the manipulations.
Matt Mays & El Torpedo performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
in December 2006.
. Although much of the movie was shot in early 2006, production then stalled due to lack of financing. Sam Roberts
has a cameo role as an Australian surfer. The album features Buck 65
, Skratch Bastid
, and Rose Cousins
, among others.
.
Throughout July 2008, Matt Mays and El Torpedo toured with Kid Rock in support of their new album.
On December 12, 2008 Matt Mays & El Torpedo received 5 East Coast Music Association
Nominations including Group Recording Of The Year and Songwriter Of The Year.
members Serge Samson and Dale Murray. In addition to playing in The Guthries, Murray has played guitar
and pedal steel on each previous Matt Mays album.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
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...
and was the lead singer of Matt Mays & El Torpedo, a rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group based in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia
Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia
Cole Harbour is a Canadian suburban community in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality. It is the hometown of Sidney Crosby.-Geography:...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Previously, Mays was a member of a Canadian indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
band The Guthries
The Guthries
The Guthries were a Canadian country rock band, active in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Originally formed by Ruth Minnikin and Dale Murray, the band included their respective siblings Gabe Minnikin and Brian Murray, as well as high school friends Serge Samson and Matt Mays...
. Mays was born in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, and grew up in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
.
Matt Mays
At the 2005 Juno AwardsJuno Awards of 2005
The Juno Awards of 2005 were held April 3 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba and were hosted by comedian Brent Butt. Avril Lavigne and k-os won three awards each, while Billy Talent and Feist won 2 apiece.Nominations were announced 7 February 2005....
, Mays presented an award, and was himself nominated for New Artist of the Year and Adult Alternative Album of the Year for his self-titled album.
In February 2006, Mays appeared with the Symphony Nova Scotia
Symphony Nova Scotia
Symphony Nova Scotia is a professional orchestra based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.Symphony Nova Scotia traces its origins back to several different orchestras, including the Halifax Symphony , the Halifax Sinfoniette , and the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra . Its current structure began in 1983...
in their Rising Star series on the Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
campus.
In April 2006, fellow Canadian rocker Sam Roberts
Sam Roberts
Sam Roberts is a Juno Award-winning Canadian rock singer-songwriter, whose 2001 debut release, The Inhuman Condition, became one of the bestselling independent releases in Quebec and Canadian music history.-Life and career:...
released his new album titled Chemical City
Chemical City
Chemical City is an album by Canadian musician Sam Roberts, released in Canada on April 11, 2006, and in the United States on May 16, 2006. This is the second album release by Roberts. The album debuted at #3 on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 10,000 units in its first week.The first single...
. Mays performed on the track "Uprising Down Under".
Matt Mays & El Torpedo
Matt Mays & El Torpedo consisted of Jay Smith (guitar, vocals), Andy Patil (bass, vocals), Tim Baker (drums), and Adam Baldwin (keyboard). Previously, Mays toured with the Atlantic Canadian group The Guthries."Cocaine Cowgirl" received saturation airplay on Canadian rock radio in 2005, and its video heavy rotation on MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
. At the 2006 East Coast Music Awards, MM&ET were nominated for entertainer of the year, group of the year, radio rock recording of the year, album of the year, and single of the year (for "Cocaine Cowgirl"), and won all of these but entertainer of the year award. They closed out the national broadcast of the event with "Cocaine Cowgirl". As he introduced the band, host Mike Smith
Mike Smith (actor)
Mike Smith is a Canadian actor and musician, most famous for playing Bubbles on Trailer Park Boys.-Personal life:...
(Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys
Trailer Park Boys
Trailer Park Boys is a Canadian comedy mockumentary television series created and directed by Mike Clattenburg that focuses on the misadventures of a group of trailer park residents, some of whom are ex-convicts, living in the fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The...
) said that they were one of his favourite bands. In Maclean's
Maclean's
Maclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
magazine, Ron MacLean
Ron MacLean
Ronald Harold "Ron" MacLean is a Canadian sportscaster for the CBC who is best known as the host of Hockey Night in Canada.-Early life and career:...
of Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
listed Matt Mays & El Torpedo among the artists whose music he "never leaves home without."
In 2006 Matt Mays and El Torpedo released a music video for their single "Time of Your Life ('til You're Dead)", directed by Drew Lightfoot
Drew Lightfoot
Drew Lightfoot is a Canadian director of commercials and music videos. He has also worked as an animator, and continues to use animation as a director, to varying degrees, sometimes using stop-motion and CGI in his commercials and videos.-Commercials:...
. The video was filmed in Kensington Market
Kensington Market
Kensington Market is a distinctive multicultural neighbourhood in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Market is an older neighbourhood and one of the city's most well-known. In November 2006, it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada. Robert Fulford wrote in 1999 that "Kensington...
, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. This particular video features the card manipulation
Card manipulation
Card magic is the branch of conjuring that deals with creating magical effects using a deck of playing cards. Card magic is commonplace in magical performances, especially in close up magic or parlor magic and street magic. Some of the most recognized names in this field include John Scarne, Juan...
s of American comedian and magician Erik Tait. This video received notice in the magic world after it was pointed out that the card manipulation with the box is physically impossible. This particular manipulation was achieved by filming Erik's hands then playing the footage backward. The card work is also acclaimed in this video as members of the band perform some of the manipulations.
Matt Mays & El Torpedo performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
in December 2006.
When the Angels Make Contact
Matt Mays' project When the Angels Make Contact, released on November 7, 2006, is a soundtrack to Mays' unfinished film of the same name. Regarding the origin of the idea, Mays stated: "I had this album that was based on the theme of an all-nighter. It started when the sun went down and ended when the sun came up. Then I thought, 'That would make a good movie.'" The album flows with the themes of the movie, following the character J.J. Carver, a motorcyclist on a quest. The music video for the title track and the "movie trailer" were both directed by Drew LightfootDrew Lightfoot
Drew Lightfoot is a Canadian director of commercials and music videos. He has also worked as an animator, and continues to use animation as a director, to varying degrees, sometimes using stop-motion and CGI in his commercials and videos.-Commercials:...
. Although much of the movie was shot in early 2006, production then stalled due to lack of financing. Sam Roberts
Sam Roberts
Sam Roberts is a Juno Award-winning Canadian rock singer-songwriter, whose 2001 debut release, The Inhuman Condition, became one of the bestselling independent releases in Quebec and Canadian music history.-Life and career:...
has a cameo role as an Australian surfer. The album features Buck 65
Buck 65
Richard Terfry , who uses the stage name Buck 65, is a Canadian experimental artist, MC and turntablist. Underpinned by an extensive background in abstract hip hop, his more recent music has extensively incorporated blues, country, rock, folk and avant garde influences.Terfry is also a radio host,...
, Skratch Bastid
Skratch Bastid
Paul Murphy , known primarily by his stage name Skratch Bastid, is a Canadian hip hop DJ and Juno nominated record producer. His rise to prominence began with his 2003 Scribble Jam win, and his world class status was solidified with subsequent victories in 2004 and 2007...
, and Rose Cousins
Rose Cousins
Rose Cousins is a Canadian folk-pop singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Prince Edward Island, she is currently based in Halifax, Nova Scotia....
, among others.
Terminal Romance
The last album, Terminal Romance, was released on July 8, 2008. Singles, "Tall Trees" and "Building a Boat" have received heavy airplay on Canadian radio, including CBC Radio 3CBC Radio 3
CBC Radio 3 is a radio station that consists of two parts devoted to Canadian arts and music: a radio service which is available on Sirius Satellite Radio and streaming audio, and several daily and weekly podcasts from the CBC Radio 3 website...
.
Throughout July 2008, Matt Mays and El Torpedo toured with Kid Rock in support of their new album.
On December 12, 2008 Matt Mays & El Torpedo received 5 East Coast Music Association
East Coast Music Association
The East Coast Music Association is a non-profit association that hosts an annual awards ceremony based in Atlantic Canada for music appreciation on the East Coast of Canada...
Nominations including Group Recording Of The Year and Songwriter Of The Year.
Disbanding of El Torpedo
Matt Mays & El Torpedo officially disbanded in June 2009 with the departure of Andy Patil and Tim Baker, however Adam Baldwin and Jay Smith have remained with Mays. The band added three new members, including drummer Damien Moynihan and former The GuthriesThe Guthries
The Guthries were a Canadian country rock band, active in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Originally formed by Ruth Minnikin and Dale Murray, the band included their respective siblings Gabe Minnikin and Brian Murray, as well as high school friends Serge Samson and Matt Mays...
members Serge Samson and Dale Murray. In addition to playing in The Guthries, Murray has played guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and pedal steel on each previous Matt Mays album.
Discography
- Matt MaysMatt Mays (album)-Track listing:All songs were written by Matt Mays.# "Downtown"# "So Distant"# "Where Am I Going?"# "Full July Moon"# "Lonely Highway Night"# "Back Home Weather"# "City of Lakes" [video]# "Your Heart"# "Hello Highway"# "Sometime Soon "...
(2002) - Matt Mays + El TorpedoMatt Mays + El Torpedo (album)Matt Mays & El Torpedo is the second album by Matt Mays, released in 2005. It is the first with his band El Torpedo.-Track listing:# "Stand Down at Sundown" - 5:45# "Travellin'" - 4:02# "Cocaine Cowgirl" - 4:24# "The Plan" - 3:32...
(2005) - When the Angels Make ContactWhen the Angels Make Contact...When the Angels Make Contact is the third album by Matt Mays, released in 2006.-Track listing:All songs written by Matt Mays, except as noted.# "Intro"# "The Past"# "When the Angels Make Contact" # "1 for the Motor"...
(2006) - Terminal RomanceTerminal RomanceTerminal Romance is the fourth album by Canadian rocker Matt Mays, and his second with backing band El Torpedo, following 2005's Matt Mays & El Torpedo. The album was released on July 8, 2008...
(2008) - iTunes SessionITunes SessioniTunes Session is a live EP by Billy Talent, released as a digital download on February 16, 2010 exclusively via iTunes. The EP features live performances of 7 songs, from all of the band's three albums. It is part of the Live Session series.-Tracklist:...
(2011)
Singles
- "City of Lakes" (2002)
- "Cocaine Cowgirl" (2005)
- "On the Hood" (2005)
- "Time of your Life" (2005)
- "When the Angels Make Contact" feat. Buck 65 (2006)
- "850 Commando" (2006)
- "Wasn't Meant To Be" (2007)
- "Tall Trees" (2008)
- "Building a Boat" (2008)
- "Terminal Romance" (2009)
- "Queen of Portland Street" (2010)
External links
- MattMays.com, Matt Mays official site
- Matt Mays & El Torpedo at New Music Canada (includes sample music)
- Official website for the "…When The Angels Make Contact" project (samples, videos)
- 49music, fansite
- Sonic Records media sheet
- The Mod Club, Toronto 2007.01.20: Matt Mays - When The Angels Make Contact (Live Video),Photos, Review, by CanadaJams.ca