Singer-songwriter Matt White's voice is so damn angelic that he could easily double as God's personal troubadour. The 28-year-old classically trained musician sounds like a cross between two of his inspirations: John Mayer -- to whom comparisons are also unavoidable -- and Jeff Buckley. And Matt, who grew up in a family of musicians in north New Jersey, actually saw the late artist perform live back in the day.
A guy who writes loves songs, sings like a meadowlark and has seen Jeff Buckley in concert? Paint us intrigued. And then it turns out he also looks like James Dean reincarnated.
Yet even raw talent and -- let's be real here, total hotness -- don't usually score one a record deal overnight. Not unlike Jeff Buckley himself, Matt did major time on the small-club circuit in New York City (in some of the same clubs Buckley toiled in), sometimes busking for bills in Washington Square Park. And he also logged serious hours online, garnering a rapt and eager fan base (both predominantly and unsurprisingly female) on MySpace.
Eventually a winning combination of tenacity, good fortune, and the kind of writing chops that produce pitch-perfect alt-pop songs -- the melodic, cinematic, heartfelt and honest types -- and attract music supervisors for shows like One Tree Hill and The Hills (perhaps you've heard of this?) paid off. After landing a spot on Geffen's roster, earning a place Rolling Stone's "10 Artists to Watch" list, scoring a single on the Shrek the Third soundtrack, and logging well over 100 live shows in 2006 alone, Matt upgraded from playing subway stations to playing gigs for fans whose intended destinations are the bigger clubs he's now headlining -- not just the next stop on the A train.
When we caught up with him at long-time hangout Cafe Dante (stalker types, take note!) in the Village, we were met with one of the most sincere, endearing and down-to-earth artists we've encountered in ages. Matt told us he's really into Flight Of the Conchords and A Shot Of Love With Tila Tequila (and no, we didn't prompt him), loves his grandma (who you'll see in his Artist of the Week on-air spots), and he was super enthusiastic about music -- his full-length debut, Best Days, was released in September and did a swift trade on iTunes -- but not in that creepy, egocentric way that Tom Cruise probably would be if you met him. He (Matt, not Tom Cruise) also told us he hasn't been recognized at all except for once in an airport, by a guy who read his name on his guitar case and put two and two together. But we have a feeling that's about to change.
But enough about us. This week it's all about Matt White.
Check out our exclusive photos, watch his "Best Days" video, check out all of his on-air promo spots (including his life story in 60 seconds, below) and catch Matt White all week on MTV.
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