Matt Gold Rush

Local musician Matt Gold has blended the styles of mainstream musicians and combined that sound with lyrics inspired by human emotion and feelings. Beginning his music career when he was 17, his style has grown with him. He's created his own coffee shop style niche. "It's not the top 40 and not the mainstream," Gold said.\nFriday, July 21, the singer, songwriter, and pianist is be performing at the John Waldron Art Center Auditorium. \nHe took piano lessons briefly at age eight, but has been self taught ever since. Gold describes his music as "intimate, personal, and somewhat alternative". Doing all his own promoting, Gold contacts the press and makes fliers. He describes his work as stressful, but that's ok with him. "It's all good" Gold said.\nInfluenced by such musicians as Tori Amos, Depeche Mode, The Cure, and Radiohead, Gold covered a Radiohead song "Nice Dream" on his demo c.d. \nHe has seen Alanis Morissette and Tori Amos live and has drawn comparisons to other musicians. \n"Imagine if Rufus Wainwright joined Depeche Mode and then had a baby with Tori Amos…Got the mental picture? That baby would be Matt," wrote Bil Browning on the Web site Bilerico.com.\nYou won't discover what political candidates Gold likes or dislikes from listening to his music because he does not write about world issues. That's not the reason people listen to his music. \n"I'm a performer," Gold said. "People want to hear my music, not my political or religious views". \nHe prefers to write his songs about human feelings. He also feels it is easier to write about things that have happened to him.\nMost of Gold's musical inspiration is derived from personal experiences and relationships. "We've all been dumped," Gold said. His current relationship is going well and has helped with his music. \n"My boyfriend kicked me in the ass and told me to 'get going,'" Gold said.\nThe calm music on Gold's latest CD is different from the kind of music he first started playing. Entering the world of music at the young age of 17 Gold has been through a lot of changes in his life that have always shown through in his music. "More aggressive, more angry" said Gold referring to his earlier work. Gold feels that his music has changed with him. When Gold first started writing music, he was growing up and frustrated. \n"You don't know who you're about," Gold said. "You're trying to find out who you are." His early music reflected those feelings. "It's interesting to see how you transform as a person," Gold said.\nOriginally from Ohio, Gold has been living in Bloomington for about 10 years. He came here because of friends, and felt the college town would help to "boost" his music. He plans on moving to Seattle, Washington soon, because he feels he needs to be in a bigger city. Gold wants to go to the west coast to get more exposure. \nGold has performed at the John Waldron Arts Center before and Collins dormitory. Folk guitarist Galia Arad will open for his July 21st. performance at eight. Admission is five dollars. Samples of Gold's work can be found at: www.music57.com/music75store2/index.php?manufacturers_id=1432.