Matt Thiessen

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Matthew Arnold Thiessen

Born:	August 12, 1980 St. Catharines, Ontario
Occupation:	Lead singer, guitarist, and pianist for the band Relient K
Website:	www.relientk.com

Matthew Arnold Thiessen (born on August 12, 1980 in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada) is the lead singer, guitarist, pianist, and primary songwriter for the Christian rock band Relient K. He founded the band with fellow guitarist Matt Hoopes and bassist Brian Pittman in 1997. His songs generally draw influence from both his Christian faith and adolescent past.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Guest Appearances 3 See Also 4 External links

[edit] Biography

His parents divorced when he was only six years old and living in Stevensville, Ontario. Later, his mother remarried and he moved to Canton, Ohio. Shortly after this, he met two of his best friends and future bandmates, Hoopes and Pittman. As a teenager Thiessen was well known for his very authentic goat impressions. The Beach Boys and The Beatles are two of his biggest musical influences. He likes wearing plaid, but doesn't like high-tops. He is loveable toward all animals (especially penguins). Thiessen is also known for being a prankster. Some of his favorite memories include getting massive sunburns and riding a yacht in Jacksonville, Florida. Some of his hardcore fans call him "Matty T" or "T-Sun."

In addition to being in Relient K, Thiessen plays in his own solo piano project called Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes. The songs are typically emotional and very personal. He currently has 6 songs produced for many different CDs, including various compilation albums. He also has a side project called "The Makeout Girls", which he performs with his friend, Kevan Pedan. They made the famous Relient K bonus track, "Silly Shoes".

Thiessen almost always plays the guitar with his thumb, and he is hardly ever seen using a guitar pick, if at all. For the Matt Hoopes Birthday Tour, Thiessen, Matt Hoopes, John Warne, and Jon Schneck were all given their own signature guitar picks. By the summer festival season, Hoopes, Warne, and Schneck had all run out their own signature picks, having tossed them to the crowd after every show. Since Thiessen never uses a pick, the others just began using his picks, and tossed them out to the crowd after shows.

While primarily seen playing the guitar and the piano, Thiessen can actually play ten instruments. The other instruments that he can play are the bass, drums, bells, organ, trumpet, french horn, trombone, and baritone horn.

[edit] Guest Appearances

Matt Thiessen has made guest appearences with several other artists. Some of these include:

• The bridge and background vocals for "I Believe You" by The Fold which can be found on their debut album This Too Shall Pass. (2006)
• The chorus and background vocals for "Nuisance" by John Reuben which can be found on his album The Boy vs. The Cynic. (2005)
• Background vocals for "But A Breath" by The Wedding which can be found on their self-titled debut. (2004)

[edit] See Also

• Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes
• Relient K

[edit] External links

• Official Relient K website

Relient K
Matt Thiessen – Matt Hoopes – Dave Douglas – John Warne – Jon Schneck
Discography
Albums: Relient K – The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek – Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do – Mmhmm - Five Score and Seven Years Ago
EPs: 2000 A.D.D. – The Creepy EP – Employee of the Month EP – The Vinyl Countdown – Apathetic EP
Other: All Work and No Play (Demo) – Open Mic Karaoke: Relient K, Vol. 1 (Karaoke CD) - Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand (Christmas CD) - The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek: Gold Edition (Re-release) – Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do: Gold Edition (Re-release)
Singles: Pressing On - My Girlfriend - Chap Stick, Chapped Lips, and Things Like Chemistry - The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything – Be My Escape – Who I Am Hates Who I've Been – Must Have Done Something Right - Forgiven