Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Axton.
Hi Matt, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Lake Tahoe California to a deeply musical family and moved to Los Angeles at the beginning of the pandemic (great timing me!) to jump head-first into the entertainment industry and push my original music… I am proud to be a double legacy artist, my grandmother Mae Boren Axton (aka “the queen mother of Nashville”) was a songwriter and PR maven for some of music history greatest artists and my Father Hoyt Axton was an entertainment powerhouse in songwriting/singing/ TV and Movies. The past year has been nonstop gigging which has grown into no stop independent touring and eventually world domination (in a good way. ha).
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No trip worth taking goes exactly to plan. Although my youth was spent hopping on and off tour busses and traveling all over the universe, hanging with artistic characters of all styles. My father and grandmother passed in my early teens and I didn’t find my own musical voice until long after that when a major injury confined me to bed for months and I found the guitar to be my favorite companion. After years of grinding through the folk songwriting and bar scenes in northern California /Nevada, I decided to make the move to LA and then the pandemic hit. So that is still something I’m using as fuel for the fire.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a singer-songwriter and band leader based in Los Angeles. Focused mainly in Original Americana – country – roots – rock styles. Known for my Deep baritone voice, finger-picking guitar playing and hyper eclectic songwriting. Im proud to have a diverse musical background and the belief of music as a power for good. My mother Donna Axton was not only my father Hoyt Axtons piano player and musical director but is still a professor of music and psychology. So the “why and how” of musical theory has always been part of my process. I just want to give the music the voice it deserves, no matter what style. What sets me apart from other artists is the diversity of performance. The ability to carry solo songwriter showcases, headline bluegrass festivals and then setting up independent west coast tours and larger Nashville tours continuously throughout the year, filled with family legacy songs (Joy to the World, heartbreak hotel) and my original Americana – rock music. always centers around artistic community growth and the love of spreading joy though music!
How do you think about luck?
In the ever-changing world of an independent artist, luck is something we all need and must continually prepare for.. I was lucky and proud to be born into a well know multi-generational musical family. But unlucky in the fact that the professional connection from the legacy aspect have all but dried up in the 20+ years since my grandmother and father have passed. My music is a way to honor my families legacy but has not been funded or connected through the family. But just some more fuel for the creative fire.
Pricing:
- Solo folk performance – $300-$ 500
- 3 – 6 piece Americana/ grass – $800- $1,000
- 10+ piece Americana/ Legacy – $5000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mattaxton.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattaxtonmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattaxtonmusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MattAxtonMusic
Image Credits
@rachelZphotography @gilbertlouierey @joystrotzphotography @classicfantasticphotography @silversparkprintworks
