Check Out Matt Bunsen’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Bunsen.

Hi Matt, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I hail from Boston, where I was mainly a bass player and composer. I played everything – a season with the College Light Opera Company, jazz gigs at Copley Plaza, weddings in a band with matching tuxedos, a new wave band playing at the legendary Rathskeller (The Rat), and so on. I was busy!  I gigged and recorded with Gary Cherone of Extreme, Catie Curtis, Border Patrol, and many more.  I also wrote instrumental music, some of which made its way onto NPR, The Discovery Channel, and some indie films.

I was a founding member of Seks Bomba – one of Boston’s most popular bands in the 90’s. Seks Bomba got signed, toured, and made an impact in the modern lounge/rock genre, still receiving airplay/streams to this day. We played James Bond themes, Mancini covers, and surf-rock instrumentals that I wrote.

And then in 2001, I came to LA and did the singer/songwriter thing. I put together an Americana band called Matt Bunsen and the Burners. We developed an engaging repertoire of clever/humorous songs such as “Beer”, “We All Gotta Get High” and “Drugs Make Me Happy”. Sense a theme? We brought the party…

After three albums of being humorous, it was time to evolve.  I started writing more serious and meaningful songs. My newest album – I Am Consumed – deals with themes such as the search for enlightenment, and spiritual awakening.

These days I’m still busy as a bass player, and I now gig around LA doing solo/acoustic shows. 2023 was a great year for me musically.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The hardest thing about creating/performing original music is getting it out into the world to find its audience. It’s brutal in LA, with so many talented musicians around. It can be hard to keep motivated. I’m not the greatest musician in town, so I focus on being unique and creative. I have to be distinctive to compete.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My fans would say that my Christmas song – Stone Cold Santa – is my best. It’s a clever take on the holiday story with a minor key, old-school country vibe.

Others would say that I’m Yosemite Sam (also a minor key, old-school country vibe) is most impressive. I set the Wikipedia entry to Yosemite Sam to music, and the result is funny and engaging.

My most popular composition, with about 1.5 million streams, is an instrumental track called “Cal Tjader”.  There is a great live version filmed at the World Trade Center in NYC.

The next single from I Am Consumed is a track called The Buddha Hoop. It’s about seeking enlightenment. My songwriter friends dig it – interesting lyrics and chord changes. The Buddha Hoop video coming in Feb, and it’s amazing.  I Am Consumed should be my masterpiece. That’s what I’d like to be known for.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I’m adept at the art of song-craft, and I strive to be uniquely entertaining.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mattbunsen.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattbunsen/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattbunsen
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MattBunsen
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP-L8sqMsvo