Matt Jennings
Always striving for the outer limits creatively, Matt Jennings has spent his life making music that pushes the boundaries. Singing in English and Spanish, he incorporates elements of several types of music from around the world. He spent time studying Spanish in Mexico and later taught English in South China and Thailand. By playing music in international and local bands in all these places, he developed a whole different perspective on the cultural functions of music. He also absorbed the sounds and melodies of the cultures and has incorporated them into his writing.
Matt is originally from Pittsburgh, but moved to Minneapolis in high school to play bass, and later drums, in his brother’s band. Instead of continuing down that path, he opted to finish his college degree and do some traveling. But these experiences only helped pique his interest in music, and allowed him to see the myriad of possibilities that it really has to offer.
After returning from abroad, he put a band together and landed an eight-month long weekly gig at the 400 Bar in Minneapolis. He has since recorded a CD, entitled Two Become One, which was self-released in the summer of 2005. Describing the disc, Megan Wiley from Mpls.St.Paul Magazine wrote, “His guitar skills are flawless. There’s a distinct world music feel, inspired by his international travels. The gypsy rhythms and folksy vibe lend to hip-shaking, head-bobbing beats.”
He has shared the stage with Smog, The Beautiful Girls, Haley Bonar, Heiruspecs, The Flops, and many other accomplished musicians. Currently, Matt and his band are working on a new album and steadily playing gigs around the Midwest.
