Matt Gresham
{{short description|Australian musician}}
{{For|the British musician of the same name|Logistics (musician)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Matt Gresham
| birth_name = Matthew Beau Gresham
| image = Matt Gresham 2016-2.jpg
| caption = Matt Gresham in 2016
| image_size =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1988|09|22}}
| birth_place = Perth, Western Australia
| origin =
| instrument = Vocals, guitar
| genre = {{hlist|folk|blues|electronic|indie}}
| occupation = Singer-songwriter
| years_active = 2006–present
| label = Matt Gresham, Warner Music Germany
| associated_acts = Guy Sebastian
| website = {{URL|mattgresham.com.au}}
}}
Matthew Beau Gresham (born 22 September 1988), is an Australian singer and songwriter from Perth, Western Australia.{{cite web | publisher = APRA AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association, Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society) | title = '2010' at APRA search engine | url = http://apraamcos.com.au/search?searchtype=works&keywords=2010 | accessdate = 6 August 2020 }} Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'
He has supported Vera Blue,{{cite web|url=https://www.theaureview.com/music/win-a-double-pass-to-see-matt-gresham-on-tour-this-july-august/|title=Win a double pass to see Matt Gresham on tour this July & August |website=The AU Review|date=11 July 2016|accessdate=2 August 2020}} James Arthur, Guy Sebastian and Shane Filan.{{cite web|url=https://www.triplejunearthed.com/artist/matt-gresham|title=Matt Gresham (Triple J Unearthed)|website=Triple J Unearthed|accessdate=2 August 2020}} He defined his style as folk, blues, electronic and indie.{{cite web|url=https://www.beat.com.au/qa-matt-gresham/|title= Q&A: Matt Gresham|website=Beat Magazine|date=2013|accessdate=2 August 2020}} He is best known for winning first place at the 2017 International Songwriting Competition and for his participation in The X Factor (Australia) (2013) and The Voice (Australia) (2020).
Music career
=2006-2012: Independent Releases=
In 2006, Gresham released his first album The Recipe on My Space.{{cite web|url=https://myspace.com/mattgresham/music/album/the-recipe-6696848|title=The Recipe(MySpace)|website=MySpace|date=2006|accessdate=2 August 2020}} At the 2006 Western Australian Rock Music Industry Association Awards, his song "Happy Birthday Dave" won the WAM Song of the Year in the Upper Secondary category.{{cite news|url=http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=25&ContentID=9198|title=Kav Temperley & Panda band to play WAM song of the year 06|website=The West Australian|date=10 October 2006|accessdate=2 August 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.procopy.com.au/western-australian-music-event/ |title=WAM Song of the Year Ceremony - October 19th 2006 |website=Procopy - Promote Multimedia Pty Ltd |date=30 September 2006 |accessdate=2 August 2020}}
In 2008, Gresham released his first live album Live. It was also known as Good Times and Live at Bar Orient.
{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Matt-Gresham/dp/B01KAVET4G|title=Good Times by Matt Gresham|website=Amazon|date=2008|accessdate=2 August 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1qCTS3NQcSzscOBs36cPgW|title=Live at Bar Orient|website=spotify|date=2008|accessdate=2 August 2020}} Amazon reviewed the album saying "Matt Gresham's fresh, spirited album entitled Good Times reflects upon his recent live performances and new found modern blues style, with integrated country and reggae influences, demonstrating that he is a songwriter of proven talent, versatility and audience-pleasing cleverness."
In 2009, Gresham released June.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/June-Matt-Gresham/dp/B0038RSJ64|title=June by Matt Gresham|website=amazon|accessdate=2 August 2020}} The album was recorded over a period of 9 months and was dedicated to his late grandmother June. Amazon reviewed the album saying "June shows Gresham at his melodic best, ranging from tender ballads to full-on rocking country and blues & roots numbers."
In November 2012, Gresham released his third studio album, See the World.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com.au/SEE-WORLD-MATT-GRESHAM/dp/B00A0L65N0|title=See the World by Matt Gresham|website=amazon|accessdate=2 August 2020}}
=2013: The X Factor=
After years of gigging around Fremantle, in 2013, Gresham auditioned for the fifth season of The X factor Australia. Gresham made it to the top 24, but decided he could not commit to the competition and was replaced by eventual winner Dami Im.{{cite episode |title=Season 5, Episode 10: Home visits|series=The X Factor Australia |network=Seven Network |airdate=18 August 2013}}
In 2016, Gresham reflected "The show really helped me develop confidence and a strong work ethic but, in the end, it just wasn't the direction I wanted to go. But I don't regret it at all (leaving the competition): it was a great experience and I learnt a lot." In 2020, added "As a creative, they (The X Factor contracts) don't give you much freedom when it comes to artistic direction which is the whole purpose of being in the arts. And they don't really tell until you're at the crunching point, where you have to make a choice."{{cite web|url=https://www.newidea.com.au/the-voice-matt-gresham-controversial-exit|title=The Voice star: 'Why I walked away'|website=New Idea|date=3 June 2020|accessdate=2 August 2020}}
=2014-2019: International recognition=
In May 2014, Gresham released the track "Whiskey". Gresham said the song is a reflection of a dark time in his life. "My partner had recently left me – we were married actually – and I was having trouble accepting that it was over – so the song, for me, was a healing song; getting out all the heavy emotions that come along with a break-up." "Whiskey" won Song of the Year in the Blues and Roots category at the 2014 Western Australian Music Awards.{{cite web|url=https://vulturehound.co.uk/2016/11/guest-playlist-matt-gresham-2016/|title=Guest Playlist Matt Gresham 2016 |website=vulture hound|date=2016|accessdate=2 August 2020}}
In December 2014, Gresham released his fourth studio album, The Beautiful Emptiness. Lukas Murphy from The Music said the album is "wrought with the tender emotions of a tragic journey through love and loss" adding "these songs are meaningful and profound, with wisdom, life and worlds of experience behind them"{{cite web|url=https://themusic.com.au/reviews/matt-gresham-the-beautiful-emptiness-lukas-murphy/IgQ1NDc2OTg/09-12-14/|title =Matt Gresham / The Beautiful Emptiness|website=The Music|date=14 December 2014|accessdate=2 August 2020}} The songs on the album were recorded all around the world.{{cite web|url=https://blankgc.com.au/greshams-beautiful-emptiness-on-show-this-week/ |title=Gresham's Beautiful Emptiness on Show This Week|website=blankgc|date=25 May 2015 |accessdate=2 August 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://theweekendedition.com.au/gold-coast/the-locals/matt-gresham/|title=Matt Gresham, musician |website=the weekend edition|date=2016 |accessdate=2 August 2020}}
In February 2016, Gresham released "Small Voices", which was co-written with Los Angeles based producer Jaymes Young. Gresham said the original concept for the song was about his mother being forced to live a city life and how she missed mother nature, but the song evolved into a story about a man missing his daughter from a prison cell.
In March 2016, Gresham played at the South by Southwest (SXSW).{{cite web|url=https://themusic.com.au/news/a-heap-more-aussies-get-added-to-sxsw-2016/wZbS1dTX1tk/13-01-16/|title=A Heap More Aussies Get Added to SXSW 2016 |website=The Music|date=13 January 2016|accessdate=2 August 2020}} Shortly after, Gresham relocated to Berlin and signing with Warner Music Germany.{{cite web|url=https://musicmusingsandsuch.com/2016/10/07/interview-matt-gresham/|title=Interview Matt Gresham|website=music musings and such|date=7 October 2016|accessdate=2 August 2020}}
In September 2016 Gresham released "Survive on Love", which was again, co-written with Young. It was shortlisted for the 2016 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition{{cite web|url=https://apraamcos.com.au/news/2016/october/2016-vanda-and-young-songwriting-competition-finalists-announced/|title=2016 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition finalists announced|website=APRA Amcos|date=2016|accessdate=2 August 2020}} and in 2017, won first place at the International Songwriting Competition (Unpublished Category).{{cite web|url=https://apraamcos.com.au/news/2017/may/aussies-smash-prestigious-international-songwriting-competition/|title=Aussies smash prestigious International Songwriting Competition|website=APRA Amcos|date= May 2017|accessdate=2 August 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://themusic.com.au/news/the-voice-matt-gresham-matt-evans-kirby-burgess-janine-gordon/AQMZFRQXFhk/01-06-20/|title=The Voice Matt Gresham|website=The Music|date=1 June 2020|accessdate=2 August 2020}}
Gresham toured Australian on the Survive on Love tour across January and February 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.theaureview.com/music/matt-gresham-announces-australian-return-with-survive-on-love-tour-in-january-february/|title=Matt Gresham announces Australian return with "Survive on Love" tour in January & February |website=The AU Review|date=21 December 2016|accessdate=2 August 2020}}
In 2018, Gresham released the album, Who Am I Now, which was proceeded by a number of singles.
In August 2018, Gresham learned that his best friend Luke Liang took his own life aged 28 and Gresham struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Gresham said "It was tough. I didn't really know much about PTSD before I had it. I thought it was something that you acquire from war or things like that."{{cite web|url=https://www.who.com.au/the-voice-matt-gresham-luke-liang-death|title=EXCLUSIVE: The Voice star Matt Gresham's tragic loss|website=Who|date=2 June 2020|accessdate=2 August 2020}}
=2020: ''The Voice'' =
In 2020 Gresham auditioned for the ninth season of The Voice Australia where he joined team Delta Goodrem. He was eliminated in the battle rounds by saved by and joined team Guy Sebastian. He reached the top 20 before being eliminated from the competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.popsugar.com.au/celebrity/photo-gallery/47507400/image/47566116/Matt-Gresham|title=Guy Sebastian's Team on the Voice Is Down to Just One Person for the Grand Final |website=Pop Sugar|date=15 July 2020 |accessdate=2 August 2020}}
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%; margin:1em auto 1em auto; text-align:center;" |
| colspan="4" style="background:#BFBFBF;"| The Voice performances and results (2020) |
|---|
| scope="col"| Episode
! scope="col"| Song ! scope="col"| Original Artist ! scope="col"| Result |
| Audition
| "Bruises" | Through to Battle Rounds |
| Battle Rounds
| "Slide Away" | Lost. Saved by Guy Sebastian. Through to The play-offs |
| The play-offs
| "Half a Man" | Lost. Saved by and given wildcard by Guy Sebastian. Through to Show Downs |
| Show Downs
| "Who Am I Now?" | Matt Gresham | Eliminated |
Immediately following his performance of "Who Am I Now?", the song and album trended.{{cite web|url=https://daily.plaympe.com/matt-gresham-who-am-i-now/|title= Matt Gresham Here I Am Now!|website=Daily|date=19 July 2020|accessdate=2 August 2020}} The song and album reached official charts the following week, peaking at number 1 on the Australian Indie chart{{cite web|url=https://www.air.org.au/feature/story/this-week-in-the-charts-july-20|title=This Week in the Charts|website=AIR|date=20 July 2020|accessdate=2 August 2020}} and 3 on the Australian Digital Sales Chart.
On 24 August 2020, Gresham release "Hotel Floors", the lead single from his next studio album.
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Details ! scope="col"| Peak chart positions |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AIR{{cite web|url=https://www.air.org.au/chart/independent_label_album/20200720|title=Albums Chart (Independent Labels)|website= Australian Independent Record Labels Association|date=20 July 2020|accessdate=2 August 2020}} |
| scope="row"| Recipe
|
| — |
| scope="row"| Good Times/Live at Bar Orient
|
| — |
| scope="row"| June
| | — |
| scope="row"| See the World
| | — |
| scope="row"| The Beautiful Emptiness
|
| — |
| scope="row"| One Night in May
|
| — |
| scope="row"| Who Am I Now
|
| 6 |
=Singles=
Awards
=WAM Song of the Year=
The WAM Song of the Year was formed by the Western Australian Rock Music Industry Association Inc. (WARMIA) in 1985, with its main aim to develop and run annual awards recognising achievements within the music industry in Western Australia.{{cite web|url=http://intersector.wa.gov.au/article_view.php?article_id=350&article_main=24|title=2006 WAM Song of the Year Awards |work=InterSector |publisher=Western Australian State Government |year=2006|accessdate=7 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725092704/http://www.intersector.wa.gov.au/article_view.php?article_id=350&article_main=24|archive-date=25 July 2008|url-status=dead}}
{{awards table}} (wins only)
|-
| 2006
| "Happy Birthday Dave"
| Upper Secondary School
| {{won}}
|-
{{end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gresham, Matt}}
Category:Australian male singers