Matt Gary

A country artist whose music fuses contemporary Nashville sounds with pop melodies and rock & roll energy, Matt Gary was born in Lenexa, Kansas. Though his parents had no particular interest in music, Gary developed a taste for country music early on, and cites <a href="spotify:artist:3grHWM9bx2E9vwJCdlRv9O">Kenny Chesney</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:0u2FHSq3ln94y5Q57xazwf">Keith Urban</a> as especially strong influences, while he also listened to pop artists such as <a href="spotify:artist:04gDigrS5kc9YWfZHwBETP">Maroon 5</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:0hEurMDQu99nJRq8pTxO14">John Mayer</a>. Gary took up songwriting while attending the University of Tampa (where he studied Computer Information Systems and Digital Art), and after graduating, he decided to take a shot at a career in music, and relocated to Nashville. He struck up a working relationship with producer <a href="spotify:artist:239MlJ8t307SaOMOCw8OkJ">Kent Wells</a>, and in 2009 released his first single, "The Days You Live For," followed by the EP I'm Just Sayin'. As Gary learned more about the music business, he formed his own record label, 17 Music Entertainment, in order to have greater control over his career. In 2012, he and 17 Music released the single "City Lights," and "Summertime" followed in 2014. In 2015, Gary teamed with producer Ilya Toshinskiy (who had previously worked as a session musician with <a href="spotify:artist:6roFdX1y5BYSbp60OTJWMd">Tim McGraw</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2bA6fzP0lMAQ4kz6CF61w8">Toby Keith</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:0BvkDsjIUla7X0k6CSWh1I">Luke Bryan</a>) for another single, the pop-rock accented "It's on You." ~ Mark Deming