If star power is an artist delivering the emotion of a song, then Matt Wynn is a superstar in the making! His sultry soulful voice is reflective of the likes of power-houses Chris Stapleton, Ronnie Dunn and Travis Tritt. He captivates audiences every time he performs.

 

“All I know is, if I'm going to perform a song, I want the listener to feel something.” says Matt.

 

With his easygoing friendly manner and welcoming smile, it’s difficult to even imagine Matt in such a painful state like the one in his achingly honest song, "When It’s Gone” -- a tune he wrote with one of his heroes, Phil Vassar, and Cliff Downs. Even more so when you listen to the Missouri native launch into the yet-to-be released song, wringing every ounce of emotion out of each well-turned phrase as he recalls the aftermath of a love gone impossibly wrong.

 

But spend a few moments with the driven young singer, and it’s clear that he’s a forever invested student of music and songwriting. Maybe it’s the years he spent riding around with his dad, singing every word to songs by 90’s country staples like Tim McGraw, Aaron Tippin, Darryl Worley and others. Or the copies of the albums from the Beatles, Motown, Phil Collins, Frank Sinatra, and many others he pilfered from his dad’s record collection early on that he intently soaked up the words to every single cut. Matt figured out early on he had something to say. “I just fell in love with songwriting right away," recalls Matt. "The songs mattered, and they led the way.”

 

As a kid growing up in Flint Hill, MO, a tiny town of 600, Matt enjoyed creative writing in school, but it was the time spent in church that really laid the foundation for his love of singing. It also instilled in him a steadfast faith that has guided him and can be found in many of the songs he writes.

 

“In grade school and middle school we had no music program, but we had church every morning,” recalls Matt. “I fell in love with being able to move people and watch them react to the emotion of a song. In church there’s no filter -- soul singing just lets the spirit move you, and I learned my voice a lot during that period of time. There’s definitely a spiritual element to my writing and people often ask why I didn’t pursue a career in Christian music, but I feel my heart is in country music.

 

“I always thought country music represented Jesus. Christian music is great, but I feel it speaks to the people already in the pews, the people going to church every Sunday and the people who are trying to listen to God. But Jesus went out and met people where they were -- He talked in parables; He brought God to people without them knowing. And that’s what I think country music often does in a sense.”

 

Matt’s eyes light up as he talks about his faith and it’s easy to see he shares the same passion for the Good Book as he does for the Country Top 40. During school he picked up several instruments and became comfortable on the stage in choirs and musical theater and even acapella groups. By the time he was ready to graduate he wrestled with the decision of college or a music career. An audition for a national TV talent competition swayed his vote and he headed to Hollywood when the scouts took note of his talent and pushed him through.

 

Though he didn’t place in the competition, that experience became the catalyst that drove him to ultimately head to Nashville and pursue his dreams full time. He moved to Music City and dove in headfirst, making the rounds, performing at writers’ nights, and meeting everyone he could who might help him get into the business. At an industry party with some friends one night, he met a soft drink exec who was impressed with his talent and offered him a few opening gigs on some corporate shows, which opened even more doors. That relationship eventually led him to the execs at Given Entertainment, who instantly recognized his drive and unending passion for the music and signed him to a deal at the company. Before signing him, they were immediately taken with Matt’s maturity beyond his years and undeniable work ethic. But it was his soulful voice and his passion, curiosity and a never-ending quest to be the best that he could be as a songwriter that pulled them in and they knew he needed to be heard.

 

Since signing with Given, Matt has been passionately churning out songs in mostly two-a-day writing sessions at the company, carving out his own unique style and laying the foundation to make his mark in today’s country. He’s had the opportunity to meet and write with several of his country heroes like Phil Vassar, Aaron Tippin, Billy Dean and Andy Griggs.

 

“All those guys are my heroes, and they were the soundtrack of my life growing up,” says Matt, “and now it’s crazy that I get to be friends with them and write with them. It’s amazing. – Manifestation is a real thing in the sense that you can work your butt off and turn those dreams into reality.

 

A seasoned performer, Matt has played all over the country and abroad opening for artists like Luke Combs, Maren Morris, Brother Osborne, Brett Young, Sam Hunt, Brantley Gilbert, Vince Gill, Chris Janson, Russell Dickerson, Scotty McCreery, Tyler Farr, Phil Vassar, Trace Adkins, Gretchen Wilson, Jay Leno and more.

 

“Performing live is the entertainer’s rush,” Matt admits. “I love recording, I love being in the studio, I love bringing that song to life. But there’s nothing like going out and playing live for people and feeling a crowd. An artist's job is to portray emotion, whether it’s through a guitar solo like Keith Urban, Eric Clapton or John Mayer, or through the way someone sings with a uniqueness like a Reba, Willie Nelson or Bob Dylan, or just being an unbelievable emotional singer like Chris Stapleton. I’m not made just to write, or just to sing, I’m made to do both. I’m one of those guys I don’t feel fully complete without one or the other. Playing live makes me feel like this is what I do, and this is what I offer the world.  This is what my job is. This is my purpose.”

 

On October 6th Reba McEntire released the companion CD, Not That Fancy to her new book of the same title. Matt is proud to have the one new song, “Seven Minutes In Heaven” on the 14-track compilation.  “When you hear one of your heroes, who happens to be an icon, sing the words you wrote back to you, it is truly a spiritual experience. That song was made for Reba. No one could have told the story the way she did. She is a master at delivering a song. She is a songwriter’s dream.”  

 

Matt who is always writing, is in the studio working on his first record and is excited to be releasing new music soon.

 

For more info connect on all social media sites @MattWynnMusic