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All Music Guide:
Singer/songwriter Matt Hires made his recording debut at the age of 22, when the Florida native introduced his confessional songcraft with the Live from the Hotel Cafe EP. Hires had begun writing music during his late teens, when his father jump-started his son's career by giving him a 1977 acoustic guitar. Before long, he'd pieced together a band with several friends; the rock group named itself Brer and released two records before calling it quits. Hires continued onward as a solo musician, landing opening gigs with Marc Broussard and the Dave Matthews Band before issuing Live from the Hotel Café in October 2008. A full-length album, Take Us to the Start, followed in 2009.
Wikipedia:
Matt Hires (born August 5, 1985) is an American singer-songwriter from Tampa, Florida. Drawing inspiration from influences as disparate as The Band, Sufjan Stevens, Wilco and Ryan Adams, Matt became the first artist to sign with F-Stop Music, an imprint of Atlantic Records.
Biography
As a cabinet store worker by day and a musician by night, Hires always had a heroic passion for music. Matt’s father, also a musician, introduced him to music at a young age, giving him the handmade guitar that Matt continues to play. Initially drawn to the punk, Post-hardcore, and Emo scenes, Matt later developed an interest in artists like Tom Petty and Bob Dylan, which explains the uniqueness of his vocal and instrumental harmonies that dabble in both traditional and contemporary musical realms.
Hires began his music career as frontman for Tampa, FL based band Brer. the band's debut record, Microwavable, was produced by Will Denton, longtime drummer for Steven Curtis Chapman. Atlantic Records A&R executive, Gregg Nadel, fell in love with his sound. Soon Hires began working with producer Eric Rosse (Sara Bareilles, Tori Amos, David Archuleta), and together they recorded his first full-length record.
Live From the Hotel Café, EP
Hires released his debut EP, Live From the Hotel Cafe, under F-Stop Music/Atlantic Records, on October 7, 2008. Although only four songs in length, the EP gained him solid exposure, with critics comparing him to the likes of Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Matt Costa, Mat Kearney, and Bright Eyes. But still, critics conceded that Hires has a sincerity and authenticity of his own.
Building his fan base in preparation for his debut album, Hires appeared at the SXSW Music Festival and on the 2009 Mayercraft Carrier. He has also opened for Dave Matthews, Marc Broussard, O.A.R., and Paolo Nutini.
Take Us To The Start
On July 28, 2009 Hires released his debut full-length album, Take Us To The Start, featuring his first single, “Honey Let Me Sing You A Song.” The album also features, “You in The End,” co-written by Sara Bareilles. Two tracks from Take Us To The Start have already appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Cougar Town on ABC and Life Unexpected on The CW.
