Closer Look Summer Indie Artist Spotlight 2019: Cody Matlock Band
Twenty-three-year-old blues musician Cody Matlock joined “Closer Look” in studio for the 2019 Summer Indie Music series.
Grace Walker / WABE
At 23-years old, singer-songwriter Cody Matlock is already making waves in Atlanta’s music scene. He joined WABE this Friday in studio for “Closer Look’s” Summer Indie Music series finale.
Matlock, who picked up the guitar at 10 years old, is a “mostly self-taught” musician. He took lessons from a “dude in Adairsville” but learned more about playing music from his idols such as Barry Richman and Truett Lollis. The first time he tried singing Matlock says, “It really shook me up, and I just fell in love with it. When I was a little kid, in my room, I would sing Usher songs but I wouldn’t tell anybody because I was embarrassed.”
He lists James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, and Prince as major influences.
From graveyard blues classics to ’90s hits to his own song-writing, Matlock says he’s drawn to a variety of genres but blues holds a special place for him.
“I think it’s the simplicity of it — I think it’s the soulfulness,” he says. “[Blues] It’s not perfect, it’s not supposed to be perfect, and I think that’s what I love about it.”
The soul, funk and R&B musician says he feels at home at local venues such Northside Tavern, Blind Willie’s, Fat Matt’s, Vinyl, Darwin’s, and the the DeSoto Theater in Rome, Georgia.
For his Summer Indie Music in-studio performance he was joined by Jonny Norwood on bass guitar and Daniel Harper on drums. The band performed two unreleased songs “Too Far From You” and “Rains In The Summer”.
After recording and releasing his debut EP “Live at Eddies Attic” last year, Matlock is currently working on his first studio album. In the meantime, he’s performing with legendary acts like William Bell playing guitar and touring.
You can hear more from Cody Matlock’s here or follow him here for tour dates.
Correction: The spelling of Truett Lollis’ name has been updated.
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