Mat Kearney's Musical Journey

 If Mat Kearney was born 200 years ago, he'd probably be an explorer.

"There is nothing I love more than exploring. I'm the kind of guy that gets off the bus and scours the city for bookstores, coffee shops, and music stores," Kearney said. "I love traveling. Maybe I should write a travel manual or something."      

The Oregon-orginated, Nashville-based singer-songwriter, revels in the journey of sharing his music with the world. "This whole thing is an exciting adventure. I moved across the country ten years ago. I was only supposed to be there for a month," Kearney explained. "It's exciting and I have no idea what the future holds."

Kearney, now signed to Columbia Records, is thankful for the journey and appreciates all the people who flock to his shows and listen to his music. Balancing life on road is not all fun and games though. "It's definitely a challenge. You miss the people you love, your community, the friends that give you life," he admits. "Being on the road is almost like living in a crystal snowball. You have to get used to it."

Some musicians have known that they are going to pursue the musical path from the time they are children. For Mat Kearney, it was different. Although the music was trapped inside of his bones, he didn't start singing and playing guitar until his second year of college. 

"I stole my roommate's guitar," he laughed. "I used to drive to the racquet ball courts and play music until 4 am. It didn't start out as me wanting a music career. It was about pouring my heart out into the songs. I made some demos, but it was just fun."

For Mat, success is writing a song that he truly believes in. He started out writing songs on his porch for himself, but this love of writing grew into something more when he moved to Nashville and became serious about his music. "Nothing is more satisfying than writing songs you love. That is when I really feel at ease," Kearney said.

Although song writing is Kearney's first love, he excels in the business side of the industry as well. As a descendent of a long line of lawyers, he knows how to crunch numbers when he needs to. "You have to count how many people are showing up to the shows, how many people you can afford to bring on the bus, you have to be able to pay your bills, heating, lights, and be able to buy sneakers every once and awhile," he said honestly. "but at the end of the day, I'd still be doing this whether anyone was paying me to do it or not."

Photo by Cherylyn Ebertz

Kearney's second album, City of Black and White, is a glimpse into his heart and the musical breakthrough that he needed for his music to reach the masses. 

"My sound is kind of difficult to pin down," he explained. "There are so many textures that I use. At the heart of it, I'm definitely a song writer and a story teller."

Incorporating his characteristic poetic rap and spoken word with addicting melodies and catchy beats, he displays even more maturity and thoughtfulness on his newest venture than on his debut album, Nothing Left To Lose. His love for combining words, harmony, and life was evident as he took the stage at The Norva this Sunday during his co-headlining tour with the equally brilliant and quirky Ingrid Michaelson. 

"I just tell stories, about struggle and finding hope in difficult times," said Kearney. "I love putting things and feelings into words. I was put on this earth for that."

His charming smile and playful stage antics slowly sneak up and tug on your heart strings as he tells stories through song. His smooth, rich vocals command attention in a quiet, unassuming manner, leaving listeners inspired and fulfilled. 

"There is nothing like walking off the stage after a show, knowing that you connected to the crowd," he said beaming. "It's something bigger than a song, bigger than yourself."