They say, “You can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy.” Case in point, Matt Farris. Matt may be a cutting edge country singer from Nashville, but his roots run deep in Lake Havasu. Matt is riding high with his single, Redneck Radio, currently playing on country and western radio stations throughout the country. Matt took time to bring his musical talent back home to kick off the inaugural opening of the Flying X Saloon on June 21. Matt’s first album is currently on sale, and he recently wrapped up a three-day event at the Aquarius in Laughlin, Nevada on July 4-6. Quite a month for the local redneck that made it to Nashville.
Raised in Havasu and a 2005 graduate of Lake Havasu High School, Matt has worked hard to break into a market that is oversaturated with singer/songwriters. “It’s not easy getting that break into the world of country and western music.” Matt admits that it takes a lot of hard work, “One has to be mentally prepared—put together an electronic press kit, cut a demo, and walk in to labels with your demo.”
Matt’s road to Nashville started out with a side trip to NAU in Flagstaff and then Phoenix where he went on to become an Emergency Medical Technician and finally a Certified Firefighter. But the fires Matt loves fighting are the ones that involve his burning passion and desire to succeed in the country and western business—his love for country music is a flame that only continues to get brighter. A turning point in 2008 found Matt and his dad, Jeff, shot by thieves in a botched carjacking. During the recovery process, Matt asked his dad and grandfather to form a band—three generations—and thus, Kinfolk was born. Matt, his dad Jeff, and grandpa Tom played in venues around the Phoenix area. The next step in the process came when in 2010, Matt surprised Jeff and Tom by entering the band in the Colgate Country Showdown Arizona State Finals. The outcome: KinFolk finished second in the competition.
Matt recalls that moment, “It was sort of a surreal moment, playing with my dad and grandpa and finishing in second place; it was an incredible moment in time for my family.” Matt also recalls a label representative approaching him, “He told me that if I moved to Nashville that I had promise.” Five days later, in October of 2010, Matt Farris headed out to the country and music capital of the world.
Matt chuckled when asked about the television series, Nashville, “Pretty realistic. In Nashville everyone is a singer/songwriter and you play anywhere and anytime you can get a gig. It’s all about being heard.” Matt also described the process of breaking in and said that there’s no easy, overnight sensation success story. “If you see something that looks that way, you can be assured that a lot of time and hard work went into the mix.”
Matt signed on with Skytone Entertainment in Nashville in late 2011 and is working with veteran producer and president of Skytone Records, Frank Green. The process of going from signing with a label to producing an album is a very interesting process. Matt pointed out that the first step was to produce a single and then get some radio play. That first record for Matt was Redneck Radio, and it is doing extremely well. “Skytone Entertainment works with James Williams Promotions, the company responsible for getting Redneck Radio airplay—the song placed #62 on Music Row, #55 on Billboard, #10 on New Music Weekly, and spent four weeks at #1 on Indie World. So yes, Redneck Radio did very well—and that’s how you end up producing an album.”
Redneck Radio was written by Tony Lopacinski who, unfortunately, passed from cancer. “Portions of the sales of Redneck Radio are being used to help the family in their time of need.” Matt strongly believes in giving back and he does so through tirelessly performing for Make a Wish Foundation, the American Cancer Society and Breast Cancer Awareness. Matt has an annual cancer benefit in Lake Havasu called Denise’s Day, now in its 4th year.
Matt really enjoys the synergy of working in Nashville, “I have the privilege of working with some of the most amazing studio musicians in the world.” Matt mentioned Mike Chapman, the bass player for Garth Brooks and Adam Shoenfeld, the lead guitarist for Big and Rich that was on tour with Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney.
Matt’s love for country music stemmed from his mom, Sandra Schulzkump, singing country lullabies to him when he was young. By age 8, his parents bought him his first guitar (which now hangs in the Flying X Saloon in Lake Havasu City). Matt had a passion for Johnny Cash tunes when he was younger and moved on to play songs such as Sweet Home Alabama. In 2008 Matt auditioned for Nashville week on Nashville Star and placed in the top 50 out of over 40,000 auditions with his rendering of Walking in Memphis.
Matt truly is a country boy from Lake Havasu and really enjoys the family involvement in his music. While his dad and granddad play in the band, other family members have a part in the process. “My mom is my biggest supporter,” but Matt also pointed out, “Working with family has brought us closer—it’s a true family process.” That family process includes: grandma Carol Farris who handles merchandising, brother Josh who doubles as security and sound guy, and stepdad Richard Schulzkump as security. Currently Matt and his family are restoring what they call their, “Redneck Pickup” that they hope to use in their soon-to-be recorded music video.
Matt considered it a privilege to be the opener for the Flying X Saloon and is thrilled to see a real country and western style dance saloon open in his home town. In his “in-between” time, Matt enjoys returning to Lake Havasu to be with family—and the lake—and of course writing songs about his 14 month old son, Zander. “For me, it’s not about the money, but rather making people smile with my music. I like entertaining and taking people to a better place for a few hours.” Yes, Matt truly is that redneck country boy, and if you ask him, he will tell you, “I really am living my dream.”
Check out Matt’s website: www.MattFarrisCountry.com