Matt Thiessen
Matt Thiessen | |
---|---|
guitar pop | |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, piano |
Years active | 1998–present |
Labels | Gotee, Capitol, Mono vs Stereo |
Member of | Relient K |
Matthew Arnold Thiessen (born August 12, 1980) is a Canadian-born American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer known for being co-founder, lead singer, guitarist, pianist, and primary songwriter for the rock band Relient K. With Relient K, he has released eight full-length albums, including three that were certified Gold, and three that peaked in the top twenty on the Billboard 200. Outside of his work with Relient K, Thiessen leads a side project called Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes, which released its debut album Wind Up Bird on August 31, 2018. In 2009, he co-produced and collaborated on Owl City's album Ocean Eyes.
Musical career
Relient K
Thiessen founded Relient K in 1998, with guitarist
Thiessen has been the lead
Solo projects and collaborations
In addition to being in Relient K, Thiessen plays in his own solo piano project called Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes. Prior to 2018, the project had released a total of five songs on various
In April 2018, Adam Young of Owl City announced that Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes would be joining them on tour later in the year.[8] In June 2018, Thiessen announced that his debut album under Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes, Wind Up Bird, would release later that summer.[9]
Thiessen has occasionally collaborated with
In 2009, he contributed vocals, songwriting, and production to
Musical style and influences
Thiessen has received piano lessons since he was seven years old, with early interests in
Guitars
Though he has played several guitars throughout his career, Thiessen is best known for playing Gibson ES-335s and has also been seen playing a Gibson Tom DeLonge Signature ES-333 occasionally.[15]
Personal life
Thiessen was born in
Thiessen dated future pop star Katy Perry for a time from 2003 until 2005, and wrote several songs with her and Glen Ballard during her early recording sessions. One of the songs the three wrote, "Long Shot", would go on to be recorded by Kelly Clarkson on her 2009 album All I Ever Wanted.[17] Remaining on good terms with Perry, he also co-wrote "Dressin' Up from Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection.
In 2008, it was announced that Thiessen proposed to Shannon Murphy, a morning radio co-host of the "Mojo in the Morning" show based in Detroit. The couple planned for an August 22, 2009 wedding.[18] However, the engagement was terminated in December, after Murphy claimed that Thiessen had been unfaithful.[19][20][21]
Thiessen married Emily Wright on August 23, 2015, in New York City, with Matt Hoopes as his best man. They kept the engagement and marriage a secret from the public.[22] The couple divorced in February 2018.[23]
Solo discography
Studio Albums (as Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes)
Title | Album Details |
---|---|
Wind Up Bird |
Compilation appearances (as Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes)
Year | Album | Song(s) | Label(s) |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | Happy Christmas, Vol. 3 | "I Hate Christmas Parties" | Gotee Records |
2003 | The Revolution Will Begin in the Blink of an Eye, Vol. 1 | "Poison Ivy" | Mono Vs. Stereo
|
2005 | The Revolution Will Begin in the Blink of an Eye, Vol. 2 | "The Calendar, The Energy (If This Is You Then Woe Is Me)" | Mono Vs. Stereo |
2006 | My Other Band, Vol. 1 | "The Calendar, The Energy (If This Is You Then Woe Is Me)" " iTunes bonus track only)
|
Mono Vs. Stereo |
Collaborations
Year | Collaborator(s) | Contribution[24] | Song(s) | Album |
---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | Everyday Sunday | backing vocals | "The One" | Anthems for the Imperfect |
2005 | The Wedding | backing vocals | "But a Breath" | The Wedding |
John Reuben | vocals | "Nuisance" | The Boy Vs. the Cynic
| |
Katy Perry | songwriting | "Simple" | The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Music from the Motion Picture) | |
"Box", "Diamonds", "It's Okay to Believe" | ||||
2006 | The Fold | backing vocals | "I Believe You" | This Too Shall Pass |
2007 | Switchfoot | songwriting, vocals | "Rebuild" | |
2008 | Family Force 5 | remixing, vocals[25] | "The First Time" | Dance or Die with a Vengeance |
Rookie of the Year | piano | all tracks | Sweet Attention | |
vocals | "Danger Zone" | |||
Ace Enders and a Million Different People | vocals | "Bittersweet Symphony" | Bittersweet Symphony - Single | |
The Media Says | piano | "Summer Lovin'", "Keep Falling Down" | Forgive Us If We Make You Smile - EP | |
Ellington | piano | all tracks | More Like a Movie, Less Like Real Life | |
vocals | "In A Lonely Place" | |||
Katy Perry | songwriting | "A Cup of Coffee" | One of the Boys | |
2009 | Kelly Clarkson, (with Katy Perry and Glen Ballard) | songwriting | "Long Shot" | All I Ever Wanted |
Owl City | songwriting, production, vocals | "Cave In", "Fireflies", "Tidal Wave", "The Bird and the Worm" | Ocean Eyes | |
Deas Vail | vocals | "Birds" | Birds & Cages | |
2010 | TobyMac | vocals[26] | "Wonderin" | Tonight |
Rookie of the Year | piano | "Bizarre Love Triangle" | The Most Beautiful | |
2011 | Owl City | songwriting, vocals | "Plant Life" | All Things Bright and Beautiful |
Jack's Mannequin | songwriting | "Amy, I", "People, Running", "Platform Fire" | People and Things | |
Run Kid Run | vocals | "Sunburns" | Patterns | |
2012 | Katy Perry | songwriting | "Dressin' Up" | Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection |
Owl City | songwriting, production, vocals | "Shooting Star", "I'm Coming After You", "Speed of Love", " Good Time ", "Metropolis", "Bombshell Blonde"
|
The Midsummer Station | |
songwriting, production | "When Can I See You Again?" | Wreck-It Ralph | ||
William Beckett | songwriting | "Slip Away" | What Will Be - EP | |
blackbear | songwriting, vocals | "Cold Coffee" | Sex: The Mixtape | |
2013 | Kristian Bush | songwriting | "Love or Money | |
Big Time Rush | songwriting | "Get Up", "Untouchable" | 24/Seven | |
Owl City | songwriting | "Live It Up" | The Smurfs 2: Music from and Inspired by | |
Owl City, TobyMac | songwriting | "Light of Christmas" | Light of Christmas | |
2014 | The Fray | songwriting[27][28] | "Closer to Me", "Wherever This Goes", "Shadow and a Dancer", "500,000 Acres" | Helios |
R5 | songwriting | "Smile" | Sometime Last Night | |
Owl City | songwriting | "Kiss Me Babe, It's Christmas Time" | ||
2015 | Owl City | songwriting, vocals | "Verge" | Mobile Orchestra |
songwriting | "Unbelievable", "Back Home" | |||
Ben Rector | songwriting | "Crazy" | Brand New | |
2016 | Birds in the Airport | songwriting | "Dozing Off" | Domesticated Drowsiness - EP |
2017 | COIN
|
songwriting | "Don't Cry, 2020", "Hannah" | How Will You Know If You Never Try |
Vinyl Theatre | songwriting | "Fade Away" | Origami | |
Owl City | songwriting | "Clap Your Hands" | Featured in Everybody's Golf | |
TobyMac | vocals (as Relient K) | "Can't Wait for Christmas" | Light of Christmas | |
2018 | Gin Wigmore | songwriting | "Cold Cave" | Ivory |
Owl City | songwriting, vocals | "All My Friends", "All My Friends (Alt Version)" | Cinematic | |
Luthi | songwriting | "StealinLovin" | Stranger | |
Billy Raffoul | songwriting, background vocals | "1975" | 1975 - EP | |
Rusty Clanton | songwriting | "Takes One to Know One" | ||
2019 | Billy Raffoul | songwriting, vocals, guitar | "When We Were Young" | A Few More Hours at YYZ (Vinyl Version) |
2021 | Machine Gun Kelly | composition, lyrics | "Love Race" | |
2023 | Switchfoot | vocals (as Relient K) | "Ammunition (Relient K Version)" | The Beautiful Letdown (Our Version) [Deluxe Edition] |
References
- Allmusic. Retrieved August 11, 2008.
- ^ a b c "Relient K Album & Song Chart History". Billboard.com. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum Album Search Results: Relient K". RIAA. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
- ^ "Relient K signs with Mono Vs. Stereo". House of Heroes. Jesus Freak Hideout. March 23, 2009. Retrieved October 22, 2009.
- ^ a b c d Farias, Andree (May 2, 2005). "We're Not Goofballs". ChristianMusicToday.com. Christianity Today. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
- ^ a b c d Zulaica, Don (January 27, 2005). "liveDaily Interview: Matt Thiessen of Relient K". liveDaily. Archived from the original on November 23, 2009. Retrieved October 24, 2009.
- ^ Thiessen, Matthew (July 19, 2010). "Let the solo record begin. :)". Twitter. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
- ^ "Owl City on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- ^ "Matthew Thiessen on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- ^ DiBiase, John (March 10, 2007). "Looking Back...and Into the Future!". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
- ^ "Ocean Eyes - Owl City". Billboard.com. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
- ^ Pietroluongo, Silvio (October 29, 2009), Owl City's 'Fireflies' Lands at No. 1 on Hot 100, Billboard.com, retrieved November 12, 2009
- ^ Relient K News. "Some questions answered with Relient K". ReleintKNews.com. Relient K News. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
He looks like a little kid when he does
- ^ a b Smith, Bethany (June 24, 2008), Interview with: Matt Thiessen, Relient K, PopWreckoning, archived from the original on July 28, 2011, retrieved November 12, 2009
- ^ "Relient K - Matt Thiessen Guitar Rig Gear and Equipment".
- ^ Mansfield, Brian (November 29, 2004). "Can this punk-pop band make it big? 'Mmhmm'". USA Today. Retrieved April 30, 2007.
- ^ Dominic, Serene (December 12, 2009). "Interview: Relient K's Matt Thiessen". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
- ^ Miller, Rodney (August 7, 2008). "Relient K's Matt Thiessen Has Found "The Best Thing" A Wife". StereoTruth.net. Retrieved December 4, 2009.
- ^ Blum, Andrea (August 14, 2009). "On the mike". The News Herald. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
- ^ Nunez, Jessica (August 12, 2009). "Podcast: 'Mojo in the Morning Show' host Shannon Murphy talks about past relationship troubles". MLive.com. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
- ^ "Shannon Setting The Record Straight On Engagement To Matt Thiessen". StereoTruth.net. December 29, 2008. Archived from the original on December 9, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
- ^ "In depth with Relient K's Matt Thiessen". Canton Rep. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ^ "Divorce Notice (Section A - Page 8)". Ledger.
- ^ "Matthew Thiessen: Credits". Allmusic Guide. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
- ^ "Matt Thiessen: Credits". Allmusic Guide. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
- ^ "Tobymac: Tonight". MusiChristian.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
- ^ Helios - The Fray | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved May 28, 2020
- ^ The Fray – 500,000 Acres, retrieved May 28, 2020