Matt Mathews has gained millions of followers on social media as a flamboyant comedian who often does farm chores in a fluffy bathrobe. He insults his turkeys, cusses at his horses, and has a chicken named Mary Kate Olsen Mathews.
He took his unique brand of no-filter-farm-funny meets observational humor on the road and sold out back-to-back headlining tours.
Financially, Mathews is doing just fine. Creatively, regardless of his comedy success, he still had dreams he wanted to chase. Friday, those near life-long ambitions will come to fruition when the Alabama-based boudoir photographer-turned-comedian officially adds another craft to his creative quill—country singer/songwriter.
Mathews will release his first two songs—”What a War” and “Joke’s On Me”—to streaming services Friday. American Songwriter received the titles a day early to debut them with readers. Stanton Edward, whose credits include Jewel and Jessica Simpson, produced the songs. Mathews wrote “What a War” alone and “Joke’s on Me” with Trent Dabbs.
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Matt Mathews Released His First Two Country Songs March 28
“I feel like both of these songs are so relatable to just so many different people,” Mathews told American Songwriter. “Everybody has felt like this at one point in their life or has kind of gone through something similar at this point in their life.”
Neither song is comedic. He describes “What a War” as a song about being at war with yourself, your heart, and questioning if your current relationship is right.
“If it’s meant to be it, it will work out,” Mathews said. “If it’s not meant to be, it won’t work out. It’s about what we go through when we’re in a relationship, and we don’t know if it’s going to work.”
“Joke’s on Me,” he said, is the opposite. He describes it as a revenge song.
“You were in love with this person, and they were not who you thought they were the entire time,” Mathews said. “You loved them so much that you were blinded by the stupidity of it, basically. I feel like every single person has gone through that in their life with some sort of relationship. It’s kind of like a ‘screw you’ song.”
Matt Mathews Covered Martina McBride Songs in Bar Karaoke as a Child
For people who think Mathews’ interest in country music is sudden—it isn’t. The Alabama native has gravitated towards music his entire life. He grew up in the projects with his mother, who was an alcoholic. He wrote music to express himself. Mathews recently found his notebook of songs he wrote when he was 9 and 10. At the time he wrote the songs, his mother was drunk in their living room. Writing was his therapy.
Both of his parents loved country music. He remembers riding with his dad in the truck and swapping verses on Hank Williams Jr.’s “Country Boy Can Survive.” Mathews said his dad still calls him if he hears their song.
His mother loved Martina McBride. “Broken Wing” and “Independence Day” were her favorites. Mathews remembers being the child who sang McBride cover songs on karaoke Tuesdays at the local honky-tonk.
“It became a thing,” Mathews said. “People would come on Tuesday nights to hear me sing. I just remember my parents loved country music, and I remember just listening to that heavily growing up.”
Matt Mathews Recorded Country Songs to Fulfill His Childhood Dreams
Mathews isn’t leaving comedy for country. He sees his music career as just another facet of his creativity. He’s a storyteller as a comedian—and country music is very much storytelling.
“I get on stage and tell stories,” he said. “I don’t really tell jokes. I just tell stories in a funny way. I think that’s why I’ve always gravitated towards country music. The music is absolutely for me. If my fans love it, great. If it pops off and it’s this huge thing, great. But that’s not why I’m doing it. This is another dream.”
Mathews’ debut album will be available in the coming months.
Photo courtesy of Matt Mathews
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