Matt Noveskey
Encyclopedia
William Matthew "Matt" Noveskey (born June 16, 1976 in Adrian, Michigan
) is an American singer, songwriter
, record producer
, guitarist
, and bassist
, best known for his work with the bands Blue October
and (a+)machines.
. His uncle played bass guitar and sang in a touring rock band, his brother plays drums
, and his grandparents played guitar
, piano
and accordion
. Inspired by his uncle, Matt started playing bass at age five and has been playing in bands since he was a teenager. His early musical influences were bassists James Jamerson
and Larry Graham
.
Matt graduated from Saint Francis High School
in Traverse City
in 1994. He attended various Michigan colleges and bartended
while playing weekend shows with a variety of local acts, including the bands Switch and Botfly. Acting on a tip from a booking agent friend, in late 1998 he relocated to Texas
and auditioned for Blue October
.
. He also created the artwork for the album and along with Justin Furstenfeld
, co-wrote the single "James" and the live fan-favorite "You Make Me Smile."
Noveskey toured extensively with Blue October in support of Consent to Treatment. He stayed with the band even after they were dropped from Universal Records
, but left due to health reasons at the end of the tour in late 2002. Blue October re-signed with Universal for the release of 2003's History for Sale
on which Noveskey contributed. Matt would eventually fully rejoin Blue October in late 2004. During his absence, Blue October never played the Noveskey-penned "You Make Me Smile" during a concert. The song was included as the opening track on the band's 2006 album Foiled
and is now a live staple.
and a live album
. The group have been on hiatus while Noveskey and Adams tour with Blue October. (a+)machines most recent show was June 16, 2007 in Austin
, although Noveskey and Holley have played several acoustic shows together since then.
to other recording artists, such as Wesley Lunsford & The Selfless Season. In January 2008 he formed a production company called 116 with producer/engineer Chuck Alkazian. The duo works with some of the brightest upcoming talent in the music business today, mainly recording out of Detroit and Austin. Matt also tours as a solo artist, often sharing the stage with Justin Furstenfeld
, Joseph King, Casey McPherson
, Paco Estrada, Johnny Goudie
, and longtime songwriting partner Ryan Holley. In November 2007 Noveskey and Holley announced they are forming a new project with the intent of writing and recording music for soundtracks and commercials. In addition to producing young talent, Matt is the proprietor of Wanderlust Artist Management and Promotion, a company that manages and promotes the artists he produces. His current roster includes the bands IAmDynamite and Language Room
.
Matt is also a celebrity endorser of Warwick
basses
, Fender basses, Aguilar bass amps, Michael Kelly acoustic basses, T Rex pedals, Krank guitar amps and Black Diamond strings.
With (a+)machines
With Wesley Lunsford (& The Selfless Season)
With DARBY
With MAHONEY
Adrian, Michigan
As of the 2010 census Adrian had a population of 21,133. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 84.1% white, 4.4% black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 5.9% from some other race and 4.0% from two or more races...
) is an American singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, and bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, best known for his work with the bands Blue October
Blue October
Blue October is a rock band from Houston, Texas. The band was formed in 1995 and currently consists of Justin Furstenfeld , Jeremy Furstenfeld , Ryan Delahoussaye , Matt Noveskey , and Julian Mandrake .-History:Blue October was formed by lead...
and (a+)machines.
Early life
Noveskey grew up in a very musical household in Northern MichiganNorthern Michigan
Northern Michigan, also known as Northern Lower Michigan , is a region of the U.S. state of Michigan...
. His uncle played bass guitar and sang in a touring rock band, his brother plays drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, and his grandparents played guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
. Inspired by his uncle, Matt started playing bass at age five and has been playing in bands since he was a teenager. His early musical influences were bassists James Jamerson
James Jamerson
James Lee Jamerson was an American bass player. He was the uncredited bassist on most of Motown Records' hits in the 1960s and early 1970s , and he is now regarded as one of the most influential bass players in modern music history...
and Larry Graham
Larry Graham
Larry Graham, Jr. is an African American bass guitar player, both with the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone, and as the founder and frontman of Graham Central Station...
.
Matt graduated from Saint Francis High School
St. Francis High School (Traverse City, Michigan)
St. Francis High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Traverse City, Michigan. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord.-Background:St. Francis School was established in 1877 by the Dominican Sisters....
in Traverse City
Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was 14,674 at the 2010 census, with 143,372 in the Traverse...
in 1994. He attended various Michigan colleges and bartended
Bartender
A bartender is a person who serves beverages behind a counter in a bar, pub, tavern, or similar establishment. A bartender, in short, "tends the bar". The term barkeeper may carry a connotation of being the bar's owner...
while playing weekend shows with a variety of local acts, including the bands Switch and Botfly. Acting on a tip from a booking agent friend, in late 1998 he relocated to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and auditioned for Blue October
Blue October
Blue October is a rock band from Houston, Texas. The band was formed in 1995 and currently consists of Justin Furstenfeld , Jeremy Furstenfeld , Ryan Delahoussaye , Matt Noveskey , and Julian Mandrake .-History:Blue October was formed by lead...
.
Blue October
Matt joined Blue October in 1999 after the departure of the group's original bassist, Liz Mullally. Noveskey played guitar, bass and sang backing vocals on Blue October's 2000 major label debut Consent to TreatmentConsent to Treatment
Consent to Treatment is the second album by Blue October. It was recorded at Bay 7 Studios in Valley Village and Media Vortex in Burbank, California, and released in the United States August 15, 2000, by Universal Records...
. He also created the artwork for the album and along with Justin Furstenfeld
Justin Furstenfeld
Justin Steward Furstenfeld is a record producer, artist, author, and the lead singer, guitarist, lyricist and frontman of the American rock band Blue October.-Personal life:...
, co-wrote the single "James" and the live fan-favorite "You Make Me Smile."
Noveskey toured extensively with Blue October in support of Consent to Treatment. He stayed with the band even after they were dropped from Universal Records
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
, but left due to health reasons at the end of the tour in late 2002. Blue October re-signed with Universal for the release of 2003's History for Sale
History for Sale
History for Sale is the third album by Blue October. The title of the album comes from a lyric in the song "Amazing". It was recorded at Sound Arts Studios in Houston, Texas, and at Stomp Box Studios in Arlington, Texas, and released in the United States on April 8, 2003, by Brando Records...
on which Noveskey contributed. Matt would eventually fully rejoin Blue October in late 2004. During his absence, Blue October never played the Noveskey-penned "You Make Me Smile" during a concert. The song was included as the opening track on the band's 2006 album Foiled
Foiled
Foiled is the fourth album by Blue October. The album was certified gold in the United States on August 9, 2006, and on February 22, 2007, was certified platinum. The album is also popular in Canada where it has also achieved platinum status....
and is now a live staple.
(a+)machines
During his absence from Blue October, Matt formed a second band with Blue October's drum technician Alan Adams. The new band, (a+)machines, also includes Ryan Holley and Chris Lynch. Noveskey and Holley are the primary singers and lyricists in the band, which have recorded a 5-track EPExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
and a live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
. The group have been on hiatus while Noveskey and Adams tour with Blue October. (a+)machines most recent show was June 16, 2007 in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, although Noveskey and Holley have played several acoustic shows together since then.
Other Music Projects
While not touring and recording with his bands, Noveskey lends his services as a bassist and record producerRecord producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
to other recording artists, such as Wesley Lunsford & The Selfless Season. In January 2008 he formed a production company called 116 with producer/engineer Chuck Alkazian. The duo works with some of the brightest upcoming talent in the music business today, mainly recording out of Detroit and Austin. Matt also tours as a solo artist, often sharing the stage with Justin Furstenfeld
Justin Furstenfeld
Justin Steward Furstenfeld is a record producer, artist, author, and the lead singer, guitarist, lyricist and frontman of the American rock band Blue October.-Personal life:...
, Joseph King, Casey McPherson
Casey McPherson
Casey McPherson is a singer/songwriter based in Austin, Texas. He is currently the frontman of the band Alpha Rev and formerly sang in the band Endochine...
, Paco Estrada, Johnny Goudie
Johnny Goudie
John Charles "Johnny" Goudie is a Cuban-American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumental musician, record producer, actor, and podcaster based in Austin, Texas...
, and longtime songwriting partner Ryan Holley. In November 2007 Noveskey and Holley announced they are forming a new project with the intent of writing and recording music for soundtracks and commercials. In addition to producing young talent, Matt is the proprietor of Wanderlust Artist Management and Promotion, a company that manages and promotes the artists he produces. His current roster includes the bands IAmDynamite and Language Room
Language Room
Language Room is an American indie/alternative rock band based in Austin, Texas. Its members are Todd Sapio , Scott Graham , Matt Graham , and Sean Alexander Hill...
.
Matt is also a celebrity endorser of Warwick
Warwick (bass guitar)
-Overview:Warwick basses were originally a premium brand offering a small range of models built from high quality and exotic tonewoods with 'Neck-through' design...
basses
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Fender basses, Aguilar bass amps, Michael Kelly acoustic basses, T Rex pedals, Krank guitar amps and Black Diamond strings.
Discography
With Blue October- Consent to TreatmentConsent to TreatmentConsent to Treatment is the second album by Blue October. It was recorded at Bay 7 Studios in Valley Village and Media Vortex in Burbank, California, and released in the United States August 15, 2000, by Universal Records...
(2000) - History for SaleHistory for SaleHistory for Sale is the third album by Blue October. The title of the album comes from a lyric in the song "Amazing". It was recorded at Sound Arts Studios in Houston, Texas, and at Stomp Box Studios in Arlington, Texas, and released in the United States on April 8, 2003, by Brando Records...
(2003) - FoiledFoiledFoiled is the fourth album by Blue October. The album was certified gold in the United States on August 9, 2006, and on February 22, 2007, was certified platinum. The album is also popular in Canada where it has also achieved platinum status....
(2006) - Teach Your Baby Well Live (2007)
- Approaching NormalApproaching NormalApproaching Normal is the fifth studio album by alternative rock band Blue October. The album was released on March 24, 2009. and debuted at number thirteen on the Billboard charts.- Background :...
(2009) - Ugly Side: An Acoustic Evening With Blue OctoberUgly Side: An Acoustic Evening With Blue OctoberUgly Side: An Acoustic Evening With Blue October is a live acoustic album by Blue October. It is their third live album, and eighth album overall. The album was recorded during a sold out three-day tour of Houston, Austin, and Dallas July 22-25, 2010 during which the band played two acoustic...
(2011) - Any Man In AmericaAny Man in America-Reviews:The album was released to mixed reviews, Allmusic rating the album with 2 out of 5 stars and stating "Justin Furstenfeld has no qualms about putting his domestic problems on display, and while heartache and ruin are well-worn rock & roll topics, self-indulgence works best when tempered...
(2011)
With (a+)machines
- (a+)machines EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
(2004) - Live @ Momo's (2006)
With Wesley Lunsford (& The Selfless Season)
- The Mixlab Demonstration (2007)
- The Selfless Season EP (2010)
With DARBY
- The Clearing EP (2007)
With MAHONEY
- Mahoney EP (2008)