Tapped by Gotee Records (a division of EMI) while still in college, Matt made the move to Nashville to sign with them for his first EP, “Drown”. The title track featured soon after in a Quincy Jones indie film, “The Smokers”. A genre defying, prolific songwriter and lyricist, Matt also signed on as a songwriter for Nashville’s largest independent publisher, Tom Collins Publishing, adding more than 100 songs to their catalogue, joining their roster of distinguished and respected writers. The sale of Tom Collins Publishing ended Matt’s contract with them, just as artistic and directional differences brought an amicable parting of ways between Matt and Gotee.

Relocating from Nashville to Columbus, Ohio, Matt explored the local scene, performing at art houses, benefits, tribute shows (for Elliot Smith, Jeff Buckley, etc.), and other local venues. On his own, Matt’s ever evolving style seamlessly blended new sounds with old in two self-produced EP’s. New songs, “From the Summer” and “So We’ll Drive”, were snapped up by TV producers, airing them in episodes of ABC’s “Alias” and “Life As We Know It”, The WB’s “Felicity”, “Smallville”, and “One Tree Hill”, as well as “America’s Next Top Model”, “Higher Ground”, and “The Black Sash”. Even MTV sampled a few choice cuts of Matt’s work here and there.