The Matrix (production team)
{{short description|American-British songwriting team}}
{{About|the production team|the original film|The Matrix|the film franchise|The Matrix (franchise)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{primary sources|date=October 2016}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2009}}
}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = The Matrix
|background = non_performing_personnel
|origin = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
|instrument = {{hlist|Guitars|bass|keyboards|piano}}
|years_active = 1999−present
|label = {{hlist|Columbia|Let's Hear It}}
|website = {{URL|www.thematrixmusic.com}}
|current_members =
- Lauren Christy
- Scott Spock
- Graham Edwards
|past_members =
- Adam Longlands
- Katy Perry
}}
The Matrix is an American-British songwriting and record production team, consisting of Lauren Christy, Scott Spock, and Graham Edwards. In 1999, the production team took on their first project, the Jackson Mendoza song "Venus or Mars"; it was intended to be a one-off project. Christy, Spock, and Edwards enjoyed the songwriting and production process, which prompted them to form a production team. The team chose their name, the Matrix, as they wanted to remain in the background and allow the artists they work with to further stand out.
The Matrix's breakthrough came in 2002 with the release of Avril Lavigne's debut studio album Let Go, in which they co-wrote and produced five songs. Three of the songs became top ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart ("Complicated", "Sk8er Boi", and "I'm with You") and their work with Lavigne collectively earned them seven Grammy Award nominations in 2003 and 2004. The success of these songs caused the Matrix to become a sought after production team, with the Matrix subsequently producing songs for artists such as Liz Phair, Britney Spears, Shakira, and Korn.
In 2002, the Matrix began work on their own studio album under Columbia Records. The production team recruited Adam Longlands (then known as A.K.A.) and Katy Perry to record lead vocals on the effort. A full album was recorded, several music videos were produced, and a tentative release date was set for the summer of 2004. However, the project was abruptly cancelled only weeks before its intended release. Following the release and subsequent success of Perry's second studio album One of the Boys (2008), the Matrix independently released their album under the title The Matrix on January 27, 2009.
Formation
In 1991, Lauren Christy and her then-husband Graham Edwards relocated to Los Angeles, California, in an effort to support her budding music career.{{cite news|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/matrix|title=The Matrix|last=Buskin|first=Richard|date=April 2006|work=Sound on Sound|accessdate=July 2, 2021|df=mdy-all}} Christy released two studio albums, including Lauren Christy (1993) and Breed (1997). In 1998, Edwards formed the electronic pop duo Dollshead with singer Sierra Swan. Scott Spock remixed one of the duo's songs, which ultimately resulted in Edwards asking Spock to join Dollshead. Spock accepted this offer and the group began writing songs together. In 1999, Dollshead's manager asked the group if they could write a song for Australian pop duo Jackson Mendoza.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1470503/britney-spears-avril-lavigne-fall-into-the-matrix/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912085127/http://www.mtv.com/news/1470503/britney-spears-avril-lavigne-fall-into-the-matrix/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 12, 2014|title=Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne Fall Into The Matrix|last=Moss|first=Corey|date=March 12, 2003|work=MTV News|accessdate=July 2, 2021|df=mdy-all}} Christy and Edwards were apprehensive to accept this project, as they vowed to not professionally work together when they originally wed. The group, however, eventually accepted the project and wrote "Venus or Mars" for the duo. While this project was meant to be a one-time occurrence, the group decided to continue writing and producing together due to the song being well-received and their overall enjoyment of the process.
In reference to the production group's name, Spock explained: "We don't want to take the glory, which is why we took the name the Matrix, to be in the background, to make the artist's name stand out more".
Career
=Writing and producing=
The Matrix first came to prominence in the early 2000s for their collaborations with pop music artists such as Christina Aguilera, Busted, Myra,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gA8EAAAAMBAJ&q=Myra+singer+disney+The+Matrix&pg=PA12|title=Billboard|date=January 31, 2004|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en}} Hilary Duff, Avril Lavigne, Jason Mraz, Liz Phair, Ashley Tisdale, Shakira, Britney Spears, Miranda Cosgrove, and Tokio Hotel.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}} They went on to co-write and produce metal band Korn's seventh studio album See You on the Other Side which sold over two million copies worldwide.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}
=''The Matrix''=
{{Main|The Matrix (album)}}
{{Quote box|width=30%|align=right|quote="Thank God that didn't come out, you know? I had this kind of quirky, unique perspective, and they had a very mainstream-pop perspective, which was really cool, too, but I wasn't used to it. We made a record that sonically sounds brilliant but doesn't say much, even though there's a few songs I still love. My own stuff is very heart-on-my-sleeve."{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2008/07/25/katy-perrys-long-road/|title=Katy Perry's long road|last=Greenblatt|first=Leah|date=July 25, 2008|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|accessdate=July 2, 2021|df=mdy-all}}|source=—Katy Perry reflecting on the shelving of The Matrix.}}
Prior to the formation of The Matrix, all three members of the production team worked as performers in their own right. With this knowledge, Columbia Records executive Tim Devine suggested to The Matrix that they record and release an album of their own. The production team desired to have an outlet to release their own music, although they also wanted to avoid media attention.{{cite news|last=Hochman|first=Steve|title=Making a production of itself|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-feb-15-ca-popeye15-story.html|access-date=April 25, 2015|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=February 15, 2004|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610181224/http://articles.latimes.com/2004/feb/15/entertainment/ca-popeye15|archive-date=June 10, 2015}} As a result, they recruited Adam Longlands (then performing under the stage name A.K.A.) and Katy Perry to perform lead vocals on their album.[http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=1061 Blender: The Next Big Thing! Katy Perry] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081110151956/http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=1061 |date=November 10, 2008 }} The production team was already working with Longlands on several songs prior to inviting him onto the project. Perry was suggested to The Matrix by Devine after he was introduced to her by Glen Ballard. Devine was particularly impressed with Perry's vocals and overall charisma. When speaking on why The Matrix chose Longlands and Perry to join their team, Lauren Christy explained: "The reason we picked Katy and A.K.A. is they're amazing performers. [Graham Edwards, Scott Spock, and I] like our role in the background and it shall continue to be there." Devine had suggested the team become "a real group" with a "fresh face" for the album when bringing them in.
Development for the album lasted over two years, with the team forming tentative plans to debut the material in 2004.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1502998/the-matrix-return-to-the-shadows-forge-ahead-with-ricky-martin-shakira-lps/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505131956/http://www.mtv.com/news/1502998/the-matrix-return-to-the-shadows-forge-ahead-with-ricky-martin-shakira-lps/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 5, 2014|title=The Matrix Return to the Shadows, Forge Ahead with Ricky Martin, Shakira LPs|last=Tecson|first=Brandee|date=May 26, 2005|work=MTV News|accessdate=July 2, 2021|df=mdy-all}} The planned lead single, "Broken," was set for release in the spring with the self-titled album following in the early summer. In February 2004, the Los Angeles Times revealed four song titles set for inclusion on the album: "Love Is a Train", "Damn", "Another Year to Come", and "Do You Miss Me". A full album was recorded, several music videos were produced, and there were plans for a heavy promotional album campaign. The album, however, was abruptly shelved several weeks before its intended release. The Matrix explained that they cancelled the project following their dissatisfaction with the time commitments of interviews and live performances, finding that these demands gave them less time to devote to music production. Ballard later commented that the project fell apart internally, with the team being unable to even agree upon a lead single.
Four years after the shelving of The Matrix, the production team formed plans to release the album in 2008 on their own record label, Let's Hear It Records.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1603622/the-matrix-drop-long-lost-album-featuring-katy-perry/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502061308/http://www.mtv.com/news/1603622/the-matrix-drop-long-lost-album-featuring-katy-perry/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 2, 2014|title=The Matrix Drop Long-Lost Album Featuring Katy Perry|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=January 27, 2009|work=MTV News|accessdate=July 2, 2021|df=mdy-all}} These plans, however, were delayed after Perry's debut single, "I Kissed a Girl", achieved international commercial success in April 2008. Christy reached out to Perry in regards to releasing the album, prompting Perry to ask the team to wait until the fourth and final single from One of the Boys (2008) was released. The Matrix was officially released on iTunes on January 27, 2009, by Let's Hear It Records. When speaking on the album, Christy commented: "We don't want to be pop stars, and we're not releasing it on a major label. And it's not called 'Katy Perry and the Matrix.' These are just great songs, and I'm very proud of it." The album failed to attain any notable commercial success, while it received mixed critical reception.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}
Accolades
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2016}}
The members of The Matrix are 7-time Grammy-nominated songwriters and producers and the recipients of the Ivor Novello Award for Best International Hit of the Year 2003 and BMI and ASCAP Songwriters of The Year 2004, as well as 2-time Canadian Juno winner for Pop Song of the Year and Album of The Year 2003.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}
Production and songwriting discography
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of songs produced by The Matrix, with performing artists, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" style="width:19em;" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Performer(s) ! scope="col" | Album |
| scope="row"|"Venus or Mars"
| 1999 | {{n/a|Non-album single}} |
|---|
| scope="row"|"Thank God I Kissed You"
| rowspan="2" | 2000 | Ronan |
| scope="row"|"This Year" |
| scope="row"|"I Love Life"
| rowspan="6" | 2001 |
| scope="row"|"Lie, Lie, Lie"
| rowspan="4" | Myra | rowspan="2" | Myra |
| scope="row"|"Candy Boy" |
| scope="row"|"Vete Ya"
| rowspan="2" | Milagros |
| scope="row"|"Bailador" |
| scope="row"|"My Hit Song"
| Melissa Lefton |
| scope="row"|"Welcome"
| rowspan="12" | 2002 | South |
| scope="row"|"Complicated"
| rowspan="8" | Avril Lavigne | rowspan="5" | Let Go |
| scope="row"|"Sk8er Boi" |
| scope="row"|"I'm with You" |
| scope="row"|"Anything but Ordinary" |
| scope="row"|"Things I'll Never Say" |
| scope="row"|"I Don't Give" |
| scope="row"|"Get Over It" |
| scope="row"|"Falling Down" |
| scope="row"|"The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" |
| scope="row"|"Who Needs the World" |
| scope="row"|"Incredible (What I Meant to Say)"
| Darius | Dive In |
| scope="row"|"It's About Time"
| rowspan="20" | 2003 | rowspan="2" | Lillix | rowspan="2" | Falling Uphill |
| scope="row"|"Dirty Sunshine" |
| scope="row"|"Why Can't I?"
| rowspan="4" | Liz Phair | rowspan="4" | Liz Phair |
| scope="row"|"Extraordinary" |
| scope="row"|"Rock Me" |
| scope="row"|"Favorite" |
| scope="row"|"What Do You Do" |
| scope="row"|"Obsession (I Love You)"
| rowspan="2" | Amiel | rowspan="2" | Audio Out |
| scope="row"|"All of Me" |
| scope="row"|"So Yesterday"
| rowspan="3" | Hilary Duff | rowspan="3" | Metamorphosis |
| scope="row"|"Where Did I Go Right?" |
| scope="row"|"The Math" |
| scope="row"|"Everyday's a Weekend"
| The Weight of the Circumstances |
| scope="row"|"Shut Up"
| rowspan="3" | Nick Lachey | rowspan="3" | SoulO |
| scope="row"|"Let Go" |
| scope="row"|"It's Alright" |
| scope="row"|"Shadow" |
| scope="row"|"Back in the Day"
| Ronan Keating |
| scope="row"|"She Wants to Be Me"
| rowspan="2" | Busted | rowspan="2" | A Present for Everyone |
| scope="row"|"3AM" |
| scope="row"|"Christine"
| rowspan="15" | 2004 | rowspan="2" | Ben Jelen | rowspan="2" | Give It All Away |
| scope="row"|"Stay" |
| scope="row"|"Once Upon Our Time"
| rowspan="2" | Angel | rowspan="2" | Believe in Angels Believe in Me |
| scope="row"|"Angel" |
| scope="row"|"Primitive Condition"
| rowspan="11" | The Mooney Suzuki | rowspan="10" | Alive & Amplified |
| scope="row"|"Alive & Amplified" |
| scope="row"|"Legal High" |
| scope="row"|"New York Girls" |
| scope="row"|"Shake That Bush Again" |
| scope="row"|"Sometimes Somethin'" |
| scope="row"|"Loose 'n' Juicy" |
| scope="row"|"Hot Sugar" |
| scope="row"|"Messin' in the Dressin' Room" |
| scope="row"|"Naked Lady" |
| scope="row"|"Diary"
| Alive & Amplified (single) |
| scope="row"|"Take a Walk"
| rowspan="25" | 2005 |
| scope="row"|"Only You" |
| scope="row"|"This Is Good"
| rowspan="2" | Ricky Martin | rowspan="2" | Life |
| scope="row"|"Sleep Tight" |
| scope="row"|"Don't Bother"
| rowspan="2" | Shakira | rowspan="2" | Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 |
| scope="row"|"How Do You Do" |
| scope="row"|"Hot Girls"
| rowspan="2" | INXS | rowspan="2" | Switch |
| scope="row"|"Perfect Strangers" |
| scope="row"|"Twisted Transistor"
| rowspan="16" | Korn | rowspan="16" | See You on the Other Side |
| scope="row"|"Politics" |
| scope="row"|"Hypocrites" |
| scope="row"|"Souvenir" |
| scope="row"|"10 or a 2-Way" |
| scope="row"|"Throw Me Away" |
| scope="row"|"Love Song" |
| scope="row"|"Open Up" |
| scope="row"|"Coming Undone" |
| scope="row"|"Getting Off" |
| scope="row"|"Liar" |
| scope="row"|"For No One" |
| scope="row"|"Seen It All" |
| scope="row"|"Tearjerker" |
| scope="row"|"Inside Out" |
| scope="row"|"Too Late I'm Dead" |
| scope="row"|"Once Again"
| The Desired Effect |
| scope="row"|"Soundtrack to Your Life"
| rowspan="4" | 2006 | rowspan="3" | Ashley Parker Angel | rowspan="3" | Soundtrack to Your Life |
| scope="row"|"Crazy Beautiful" |
| scope="row"|"Live Before I Die" |
| scope="row"|"Opposite of Me"
| Josh Kelley | Just Say the Word |
| scope="row"|"So Much for You"
| rowspan="17" | 2007 | rowspan="2" | Ashley Tisdale | rowspan="2" | Headstrong |
| scope="row"|"Headstrong" |
| scope="row"|"For You From Me"
| Indiana |
| scope="row"|"Evolution"
| rowspan="4" | Korn | rowspan="4" | Untitled Korn album |
| scope="row"|"Hold On" |
| scope="row"|"Innocent Bystander" |
| scope="row"|"Hushabye" |
| scope="row"|"Music Is My Boyfriend"
| rowspan="9" | Skye Sweetnam | rowspan="9" | Sound Soldier |
| scope="row"|"Human" |
| scope="row"|"Boyhunter" |
| scope="row"|"My Favorite Tune" |
| scope="row"|"Scary Love" |
| scope="row"|"Cartoon" |
| scope="row"|"Make-Out Song" |
| scope="row"|"Ultra" |
| scope="row"|"Babydoll Gone Wrong" |
| scope="row"|"How a Girl Feels"
| TCG |
| scope="row"|"Liberation Day"
| rowspan="16" | 2008 | rowspan="12" | Ferras | rowspan="12" | Aliens & Rainbows |
| scope="row"|"Aliens & Rainbows" |
| scope="row"|"Something About You" |
| scope="row"|"Hollywood's Not America" |
| scope="row"|"Everybody Bleeds the Same" |
| scope="row"|"Rush" |
| scope="row"|"My Beautiful Life" |
| scope="row"|"Soul Rock" |
| scope="row"|"Blame, Blame, Blame" |
| scope="row"|"Dear God" |
| scope="row"|"Don't Give Up" |
| scope="row"|"Take My Lips" |
| scope="row"|"Broken Man" |
| scope="row"|"Corrupted"
| rowspan="2" | McFly | rowspan="2" | Radio:Active |
| scope="row"|"The End" |
| scope="row"|"A Word for You" |
| scope="row"|"FYI"
| rowspan="10" | 2009 |
| scope="row"|"Guilty Pleasure"
| rowspan="2" | Ashley Tisdale | rowspan="2" | Guilty Pleasure |
| scope="row"|"Time's Up" |
| scope="row"|"Human Connect to Human"
| rowspan="7" | Tokio Hotel | rowspan="7" | Humanoid |
| scope="row"|"Hey You" |
| scope="row"|"Love & Death" |
| scope="row"|"That Day" |
| scope="row"|"Screamin'" |
| scope="row"|"Attention" |
| scope="row"|"Down on You" |
| scope="row"|"Adored"
| rowspan="4" | 2010 | Miranda Cosgrove |
| scope="row"|"Hanging"
| rowspan="2" | Sterling Knight | rowspan="2" | Sonny with a Chance |
| scope="row"|"How We Do This" |
| scope="row"|"Cheers (Drink to That)"
| Rihanna | Loud |
| scope="row"|"Hold On 'til the Night"
| rowspan="4" | 2011 | rowspan="2" | Greyson Chance | rowspan="2" | Hold On 'til the Night |
| scope="row"|"Take a Look at Me Now" |
| scope="row"|"The New Rule"
| rowspan="2" | The New Cities | rowspan="2" | Kill the Lights |
| scope="row"|"Heatwave" |
| scope="row"|"I Can Love"
| rowspan="2" | 2012 | rowspan="2" | Vicci Martinez | rowspan="2" | Vicci |
| scope="row"|"Not Washing You Off of Me" |
| scope="row"|"Heartbreaker"
| rowspan="2" | 2013 |
| scope="row"|"11:59"
| All People |
| scope="row"|"Make Up"
| 2022 | Avril Lavigne |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://myspace.com/thematrixproductions The Matrix] on Myspace
- [http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/features/200401/matrix.asp "The Matrix Keeps the Faith"]. MusicWorld. January 27, 2004.
- [http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_Lauren_Christy_Interview.html Interview with Lauren Christy, HitQuarters Jul 06]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matrix, The}}