Matt Zarley - Waving Through A Window (Dear Evan Hansen Cover)

There's no denying the universal appeal that is "Dear Evan Hansen". With it's five wins at the Tony's this year, there's no doubt that its a juggernaut that cant' be stopped. "Waving Through a Window" is Evan's song about watching the world pass by around him and how he wants to be part of something that he just can't seem to grasp and I feel that Matt absolutely captures that feeling with this cover. I think that doing it as part of a road trip where all he's able to do is watch the world pass by as he drives was a brilliant idea. Matt is one of the best voices in the industry today and I feel like he's done an amazing job capturing a lot of the emotion of the song without it just being a simple cover.

Matt Zarley - Tonight I Wanna Cry (Keith Urban Cover)

It always makes me happy when a cover surpasses the original. I've never been a Keith Urban fan but when I saw that Matt covered this song, I was cautiously optimistic. Needless to say, I'm blown away by this version of the song. He's amped up the emotion and he's made the track his own. He didn't deviate too far from the original but just the fact that his vocal styling is so different than Keith's the track didn't need much at all to sound so different than the original country track. There's pain, there's hurt. There's soul. There's a new life that's been breathed into the track that makes it just a gorgeous piece of work.

Matt Zarley - Fucking Perfect (with Jeb Havens)

I'm really proud of this cover.  I'm proud of both of these men singing the hell out of this song.  I am proud to know that they took this seriously and just made a damn fine recording while putting their all into it.  This song is important and to have 2 out gay artists doing one of the finest recordings to date means a tremendous amount and will make a huge difference to the young men and women that find themselves on the other end of the track.  P!nk's version will always and forever be the go-to version of this song and it's one of my favorite songs hands down but the impact this cover will have to it's not only a niche market of young gays and lesbians but to anyone that comes across it on the internet will hands down be staggering.

Matt and Jeb's vocals flow seamlessly together and they gorgeously compliment each other.  The earthiness to Jeb's voice is totally grounded in Matt's soulful tenor and they play to each other's strengths - never over powering each other and totally giving each other the space they need to stretch their legs as it were.  But then they come back and harmonize beautifully with each other like it's totally old hat.  They both bring enough attitude and atmosphere to the track that enables the song to not come off as just a patronizing rant but more like the advice of an old friend when you need it the most. 

These guys are fantastic and they make me adore them a little more each time they step out of the gate.

Matt Zarley - Gravity (Sara Bareilles Cover)

Longing.  The power of desire and need that you feel and experience when the feelings are just too strong.  Being drawn in and to feel so powerless is something that even if for the briefest of moments we've been a victim of.  That sorrowful feeling of knowing that what you want above all else; what makes you whole is the very thing that's poisoning you.  Those relationships that no matter what you do you just can't shake them.  Even when you're away from them, they are in your thoughts and everything you do.  The idea of them sends you into a tailspin of emotion.  This pattern of behavior is how we end up with no where to go and no one in our corner.  But it hurts so damn good.

Matt Zarley was built for this song and it was built for him.  Sara Bareilles created the boiler plate for this song and set the bar exceptionally high and Matt destroys it in his cover. This cover hits every feeling you have.  The raw power of emotion he conveys in this performance is staggering.  I've always known his voice was gorgeous but this... this is just powerful.  When he holds the "down" at the end of the song, you just want to crumble onto the floor because it's that good.  This is what music is supposed to do.  This transcends a simple song.  It's art. It invokes feelings and memories and washes over you and makes you part of something more.  I am honored to have had the opportunity to hear this cover.

Top 20 Musical Happenings of 2013

I came very close to not doing a list this year but in all good conscious, I determined that I really needs to.  It's something that I enjoy doing and it's a way that I go through the previous year and reliving things that were really amazing.  This year had a lot of media buzz around different artists and some of it was good and some not so good.  You'll find that this list is missing GaGa's Artpop and Beyonce's surprise album and that's by design.  There are other mainstream media outlets that are going to cover those and for all intent and purpose, I didn't like Artpop. It wasn't an impressive album and therefore, it didn't rate for me.  There are a ton of new artists in this list and some music trends and news so it, like my other year end articles, is a bit of the whole of the music industry and how if affected my life this year.

Matt Zarley - Hopeful Romantic

I've been a Matt Zarley fan for going on 4 years now.  He, unknowingly, helped me through the death of my boyfriend of 11 years in 2010 and since then he has been a mainstay in my record collection.  That being said, I implore you to find it in yourself to either contribute to this Kickstarter or share this with people that will because Matt has the ability to take things that you don't even know you're feeling at the time and put them to music.  His latest album, Hopeful Romantic will only get made if we help it get made.  When you think about it, if you're a fan of his music - you were going to buy the album regardless so why does this make it any different, only now; you get to say you had a hand in the creation of the finished product.  More than anything, he is a damn nice guy and he represents us, music fans, LGBT people, and everyone in between like not many other artists have.  I haven't gotten to know Matt as well as some of the other artists that I've reviewed over the years but trust me when I say the man is a genuinely decent human being with one of the biggest hearts I've ever seen.  So look at his campaign and watch his video and pledge something.  It's going to be worth it when the album comes out because I can already tell it's going to be beautiful and it will help me on the next part of my journey with a healed heart, and dreams in my eyes; I will be a Hopeful Romantic.

Click Here for the Kickstarter Campaign

Matt Zarley - Change Begins With Me

As fun as "Trust Me" was, and it was fun... this is why we pay the admission to see Matt Zarley.  When he is this vulnerable and this honest, you can get to the heart of him.  He is introspective and raw and has the power to just make you stop and listen.  His voice is so powerful and he has amazing control over it and when it's paired with this incredible message of self empowerment there is nothing better.  For me, this is a sermon.  I would go to this church and leave with my soul revitalized.  This is possibly one of the most difficult ideals for you to attain because everyone is so critical of themselves and if you just stop and listen, it can be just that easy.  You don't start from the outside, you have to dig deep and start with yourself.  When you do that, there is absolutely nothing you cannot do.

Matt has been inspiring me for going on two years now.  His music has helped me through some of the hardest times of my life and with him by my side, there isn't anything I can't do.  The gay community doesn't have enough role models and through his message and his devotion to equality, Matt is one of the finest examples of how to live your life not only for yourself but for others around him.  I know I'm gushing but he is important to me.  Plain and simple.

Matt on the web:

http://mattzarley.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattzarley
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mattzarley
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/Zarleysongs

Matt Zarley - Trust Me (TuffCub Sexy Mash)

I've said it before, I don't review remixes unless they are exceptional and this is one of those. TuffCub has taken the original material and accentuated every nuance and made something that is so much greater than the parts. From LMFAO and Akon to Justin Timberlake, there are so many additions to this song that just bring it to a whole new level.

I think he has an immense amount of talent and this remix shows off every minute of that. It's become theatrical and drama filled. I can hear this thumping through the speakers at a HUGE club and a sea of people just losing their collective minds to it. Everything he's added serves a purpose. He seems to have an incredible ear for editing and didn't take it to far (which is something that can be done quite easily).

The tempo is just right for Matt's vocals and they are never overpowered or harmed in any way.  It's really a brilliant mix and I think everyone should listen to it because it's great.  Support this artist because like so many other independent artists, he deserves our support.

Matt Zarley - Trust Me

This video is the epitome of sheer brilliance. It's one of the most entertaining videos I have seen in a long time. "Trust Me" is one of my favorite tracks off of Change Begins With Me and when I found out it was going to be a single, I was ecstatic. The treatment given to the video takes a super sexy song and makes it even sexier.  Take a modern presidential hopeful, embroil him in some hot man on man action and let the politicos loose.  From start to finish, this video is non-stop and by the 4:15 mark, you're like... "Where'd the rest of the video go"?  It's an absolute blast and it looks like the cast had an amazing time filming it.

The video has an uncanny way of taking what could potentially be too sexy and giving it just the right amount of naughtiness to keep it from being smutty. As fun and exciting to watch the 70s themed party is, I fully feel that Matt is at the highest level of smolder during the dance break because it shows a side of him that we haven't really seen a lot of in his videos.  With very little movement, he commands that group and just owns every bit of the choreography.  It energizes the video and the first time he says, "Trust Me" while sitting in the egg chair after the break...Whoa Mama!

I am super pumped about how great the video turned out and I am glad that in the story of the video they took the scandal and ran with it instead of trying to bury it. I think that between Tom Selleck in Magnum and Matt in this video, the porn-stache has never been worn with as much pride. Great shout out to the mover that gave Matt his number at the end of "WTF" as one of his "political advisors".

Awesome video! Going to be hard to top this one, Mr. Zarley.

Matt on the web:

http://mattzarley.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mattzarley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattzarley

Top 25 Musical Happenings of 2011

Last year I made a list of the top 25 different things in the music industry that made me stand up and take notice and I feel like I should keep the tradition going.  I don't really like picking strictly albums or singles because I don't think that's representative of what's happened in the industry.  I want to do more as far as live music next year so that I can post more about concerts so that's in my plans.  This blog has been a great part of my life and it's allowed me to hear music I might have never heard in the first place and I hope that you are able to learn about new artists as well from this blog.  If you've been reading my blog, you know I can be all over the place and this list is no different.  These aren't just albums or singles or anything in particular, just things that were pretty amazing.  Music is a super important piece of my life and I hope it's part of yours as well.

Matt Zarley - Perfect

Matt's follow-up single to W.T.F. is Perfect. a song about finding the "perfect" person.  Perfect takes on a very subjective meaning because the song isn't about physical perfection or mental well being or any of that.  It's about realizing that sometimes perfect isn't about traits and features, it's about those imperfections that you see and bring someone closer to being who they should be, not what you want them to be.  It's about meeting that person and realizing that outside of all their own perceived faults, they are the person that helps to make you, well...you and you help them to see they are everything they need to be in order to be a better person.  We aren't all lucky enough to find this person in our lives but when we do, it's a magical thing that can really never be duplicated.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.  Matt has an uncanny knack for taking everything that you feel and distilling it into an amazing piece of art.  The video for the song echos the sentiment laid out in the track and the visuals are pretty amazing.  Everyone looks amazingly happy and it just gives the song an injection of positivity that helps propel it to a higher plane.

Matt's next single is going to be Trust Me,  a super sexy anthem about letting your guard down and trying something new.  I hope that the video for that has a treatment as outstanding as what has been done for the previous two singles because it's one of my favorite songs on the album.  And Matt is quickly moving up in my estimation of my favorite independent artists.

Matt Zarley - Change Begins With Me

Every so often, there is an artist that has a sound that just wraps you up in comfort and warmth that you feel like you've known each other for years. Matt Zarley is one of those artists. I stumbled across him when I found his video for Had I Known on Youtube after my boyfriend of 11 years passed away. The first time I watched the video, I felt as if I had been hit by a truck because the lyrics resonated so deep with me. The song is directed more toward someone during a break up but it parallels the feelings I had after Sean passed away. The song is about the regrets of not knowing that things were going to come to an end and if he had known, things would have been done very differently. That regret and guilt was so overwhelming to me because I didn't know that he was going to pass away and I didn't know that I wouldn't have time for "a real goodbye". So after I picked myself up off the floor and process what I had just listened to, I proceeded to track down all the information and music from Matt that I could. I went back and bought his entire library and immersed myself in his music.

His new release, Change Begins with Me, is an album that will speak to every part of you. The cheated on part, the broken up part, the resilient part, the new love part, the grateful part. There is something honest and good about his music. The first single to be released was WTF which is an absolute fun ride of a song that takes a subject that is pretty serious in the form of infidelity and gives it a danceable beat.  The video for the single is big and splash and full of beautiful men that make you tap your toe and root for Matt as his new beau gets his comeuppance.  The album is put together so well and the songs and their placement in the line up are so thoughtfully arranged.  If you are having a bad day, there is a song that is there for you.  If you are having an awesome day and want to express how you feel about that person in your life, there's a song for that.  It's been a long time since I could put an album on that from start to finish, touches every part of me.

Matt has announced the next two singles as Perfect and Trust Me.  Perfect is and incredible ballad that expresses a feeling that most of us have probably had.  Even though you may not think so but there is someone out there that thinks you are perfect in every way.  Trust Me is a super sexy, sultry song about trying something new and letting your guard down with your significant other.  I can't wait to see both videos because they are going to be spectacular.

The album is so worth it and I am so glad that I took the opportunity to bring it into my life.  Matt Zarley has a beautiful heart and he has an uncanny knack for expressing feelings and emotions that we've all had at one point in time or another.  This isn't just a pop album it's a statement of caring and love and you can feel everything that has been put in to it as Matt has laid his soul bare for all to see.  Take the opportunity and pick up this album.  You won't regret it.

Matt Zarley - Had I Known

For those of you that know me, you know that my partner of 11 years died suddenly last January. It was a situation that came from out of the blue and I had no time to prepare. As time went on and the healing process kicked in, I started listening to music again. I started letting it back into my life and learning more and more about new artists. One of the things I learned was about gender specific pronouns. Up until that point, I was totally ok with love songs sung by a man to a woman as long as he didn't say girl or woman or she or whatever feminine pronouns he could find because I could easily subsitute myself in for said female. It wasn't until I heard Levi Kreis sing that I knew how important those pronouns were. So I became obsessed with gay artists and started buying up everything I could. Levi, Jay Brannan, Josh Zuckerman, Colton Ford, Brian Kent, Kendall...it didn't matter I wanted this in my life. I needed this in my life.

So it wasn't until tonight that I ran across Matt Zarley. I found him through a new blog I've started reading called Deep Dish. There was an exceptionally well written interview with him and it featured several songs/videos of his. I decided to watch the above video and much to my surprise, it was everything I've felt over the past year and some change. It amazes me how much someone can touch you when they don't even know you. How much they can express every thought and emotion you're feeling and they've never met you or your situation.

If I had watched this video 6 months ago, I think I would be in the floor as a puddle right now. The emotion, the videography, the meaning....I am in awe. All I can say is thank you for this song and I hope that you never have to experience these feelings.