Matt Hires Returns With “The EP”
Atlantic Records put out this press release today. (I’m loving all the Matt news!):
F-Stop Music/Atlantic recording artist Matt Hires has announced details of his upcoming new EP, entitled simply, “THE EP.” The four-track collection will go on sale at all digital retailers on August 17th.
Produced by Eric Rosse (Tori Amos, Sara Bareilles), “THE EP” is highlighted by a newly recorded version of “Honey, Let Me Sing You A Song.” In addition, the EP includes the song’s original album version — first found on the Tampa-based tunesmith’s acclaimed 2009 debut, “TAKE US TO THE START” — as well as two brand new tracks. “Honey, Let Me Sing You A Song” will hit Hot AC radio outlets nationwide later this year.
To celebrate the release of “THE EP,” Hires is launching his official website, located at www.matthiresmusic.com. On July 28th, Matt will host a very special live webcast that will see him taking questions from fans and performing tracks from both his album and “THE EP.”
A tireless live performer, Hires is currently on tour with the Benjy Davis Project and will soon join up with Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers for a pair of two-night-stands at Hoboken’s legendary Maxwell’s and Vienna, Virginia’s famed Jammin’ Java.
Hires will then get his live band back together for the “State Lines Tour – Part 2,” slated to hit the road on September 3rd at Orlando, Florida’s The Social and then continue through a hometown return at The Orpheum in Tampa on October 22nd. Pre-sale tickets for the tour will go on sale July 14th at www.matthiresmusic.com, with all remaining tickets available to the general public on July 16th. The “State Lines Tour – Part 2″ follows Hires’ enormously popular “State Lines Tour,” which saw Hires & Co. barnstorming the country alongside fellow Atlantic recording artist Jason Castro.
Ticket bundles for the upcoming dates will be available for purchase at www.matthiresmusic.com and offer fans the chance to meet the singer and take home a laminate from the tour as well as a limited edition “State Lines Tour – Part 2″ poster. The posters in the first 100 bundles sold will be personally autographed by Hires himself.
The first full-length release from Atlantic’s new F-Stop Music imprint, “TAKE US TO THE START,” hit the top 10 on iTunes’ overall “Top Albums” chart and debuted in the upper half of the Billboard 200 upon its release last summer. The album — also produced by Eric Rosse — is filled with multiple delights, most notably Hires’ remarkable voice, an instrument striking in its warmth, expressiveness, and ability to convey a multitude of emotions within a single song. Tracks such as “State Lines” and “Honey, Let Me Sing You A Song” see the talented tunesmith fusing the intimacy of the great singer/songwriters with indelible pop-rock hooks and propulsive rhythms.
Among the highlights are a series of songs — including “Out Of The Dark,” “Turn The Page” and “Perfect Day” — which have been featured in recent episodes of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice. What’s more, “TAKE US TO THE START” has received extensive critical praise. People hailed the collection, noting “on the opening cut of his debut, Hires requests, ‘Honey, Let Me Sing You a Song.’ With his folky pop and aching croon, how could you deny him?” Creative Loafing commended the album as “cleverly-crafted and interesting, full of sincerity and catchy melodies highlighted by (Hires’) enveloping, gravelly tenor.”
A charming and charismatic live performer, Matt has spent much of the past two years on tour, both as solo star and with such like-minded acts as Paolo Nutini, Dave Matthews Band, Marc Broussard, Eric Hutchinson and O.A.R.
For up-to-the-minute news and information, please visit Matt’s official MySpace page at www.myspace.com/matthires or via Twitter at http://twitter.com/matthires.
