Matt Noveskey

Matt Noveskey
Born June 16, 1976
Genres Rock
Occupation(s) Singer-Songwriter-Guitarist-Bassist-Producer
Instruments vocals
Guitar
Bass
Labels Universal Records
Associated acts Blue October
(a+)machines
Lambs to Lions
Harvard of the South
Wesley Lunsford
Switch
Toast
Botfly
Language Room
IAmDynamite
Courrier (band)

William Matthew "Matt" Noveskey (born June 16, 1976 in Adrian, Michigan) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, guitarist, and bassist, best known for his work with the bands Blue October and (a+)machines.

Early life

Noveskey grew up in a very musical household in Northern Michigan. His uncle played bass guitar and sang in a touring rock band, his brother plays drums, and his grandparents played guitar, piano and accordion.[1] Inspired by his uncle, Noveskey started playing bass at age five[2] and has been playing in bands since he was a teenager. His first band was called Love Muscle and he also played in a band called Toast, which included his brother on drums. His early musical influences were bassists James Jamerson and Larry Graham.

Noveskey graduated from Saint Francis High School in Traverse City in 1994. He attended various Michigan colleges and bartended while playing weekend shows with a variety of local acts, including the bands Switch and Botfly. Acting on a tip from his booking agent, in late 1998 successfully auditioned for Blue October. His first show with Blue October was at Satellite Lounge in Houston, Texas in early 1999.

Blue October

Main article: Blue October

Noveskey joined Blue October in 1998 after the departure of the group's original bassist, Liz Mullally. Noveskey played guitar, bass and sang backing vocals on Blue October's 2000 major label debut Consent to Treatment. He also created the artwork for the album and along with Justin Furstenfeld, co-wrote the single "James" and the live fan-favorite "You Make Me Smile."

Noveskey toured extensively with Blue October in support of Consent to Treatment. He stayed with the band even after they were dropped from Universal Records, but left due to health reasons at the end of the tour in late 2002. Blue October re-signed with Universal for the release of 2003's History for Sale on which Noveskey contributed. Noveskey would eventually fully rejoin Blue October in late 2004. During his absence, Blue October never played the Noveskey-penned "You Make Me Smile" during a concert. The song was included as the opening track on the band's 2006 album Foiled and is now a live staple.

After the departure of Blue October's lead guitarist, C.B. Hudson, in 2010, Noveskey temporarily took over guitar duty during performances until the band hired Julian Mandrake as a full-time lead guitarist.

(a+)machines

During his absence from Blue October, Noveskey formed a second band [3] with Blue October's drum technician Alan Adams, who had previously been the drummer for the bands Falling Jupiter and Flywater Washington. The new band, (a+)machines, also includes Ryan Holley and Chris Lynch. Noveskey is the primary singer and lyricist in the band, which have recorded a 5-track EP and a live album. The band actively toured during 2004 and 2005 with such acts as Canvas, 7 Mary 3, Vallejo and the Burden Brothers, and played an official showcase at SXSW in 2005. The group have been on hiatus while Noveskey and Adams tour with Blue October. (a+)machines has periodically reunited to play live concerts, the most recent being June 2, 2012 in Austin, Texas.

Other Music Projects

While not touring and recording with his bands, Noveskey lends his services as a bassist, songwriter and record producer to other recording artists, such as Wesley Lunsford & The Selfless Season. In January 2008 he formed a production company called 116 Producers with producer/engineer Chuck Alkazian. The duo works with some of the brightest upcoming talent in the music business today, mainly recording out of Detroit and Austin. Several of the artists Noveskey produces have signed to major label deals, won awards and achieved chart success and had their songs placed in movies and television shows. In addition to producing young talent, Noveskey is the proprietor of Wanderlust Artist Management and Promotion, a company that manages and promotes the artists he produces. His current roster includes the bands IAmDynamite and Courrier. In 2012 Noveskey along with Blue October's guitarist C.B. Hudson, broke ground on Orb Recording Studios, a world class residential recording studio in Austin, which opened in 2013. In 2014 Orb Studios was selected as Austin's best recording studio in the Austin Music Industry Awards.[4]

Noveskey also tours as a solo artist, often sharing the stage with Justin Furstenfeld, Joseph King, Casey McPherson, Paco Estrada and Johnny Goudie, In 2014, Noveskey joined the band Harvard of the South with Steve Schiltz of Longwave and Justin and Jeremy Furstenfeld of Blue October. Harvard of the South has completed recording an album and plans to release it in 2014.

Noveskey is a celebrity endorser of Fender basses, Aguilar bass amps, Michael Kelly acoustic basses, Old School FX pedals and Black Diamond strings, and the first Moniker bass guitar was custom-built for Noveskey in 2013.[5] He also is a member of the advisory board for Black Fret, an Austin-based organization that finds and funds local music talent.[6]

Artist Discography

With Blue October

With (a+)machines

With Harvard of the South

Producer Discography

Interviews

References

  1. ↑ Rebecca Clark (2006). "Blue October: Q&A with Matt Noveskey".
  2. ↑ Rick Coates (2006-11-23). "Rock Star Odyssey".
  3. ↑ Becky West (2010-04-12). "Matt Noveskey Talks Life Outside Blue October".
  4. ↑ "Orb Recording Studios Wins AMP Austin Music Industry Award". 2014-02-28.
  5. ↑ "Matt Noveskey Of Blue October". Moniker Guitars. 2013-09-25.
  6. ↑ Alyssa Brant (2014-08-01). "FOR MUSICIANS, BY MUSICIANS". Austin Woman Magazine.