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Matt Thiessen

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Matt Thiessen
Thiessen performing at Wonder Jam 2009
Thiessen performing at Wonder Jam 2009
Background information
Birth nameMatthew Arnold Thiessen
Born(1980-08-12)August 12, 1980(age 44)
St. Catharines,Ontario,Canada
OriginCanton, Ohio,U.S.
GenresChristian rock,alternative rock,pop punk,folk music,indie pop,guitar pop
Occupation(s)Singer, musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active1998–present
Member ofRelient K

Matthew Arnold Thiessen(born August 12, 1980) is a Canadian-born American musician known for being co-founder, lead singer, guitarist, pianist, and primary songwriter for the rock bandRelient K.With Relient K, he has releasedeight full-length albums,including three that werecertified Gold,and three that peaked in the top twenty on theBillboard200.Outside of his work with Relient K, Thiessen leads a side project calledMatthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes,which released its debut albumWind Up Birdin 2018. In 2009, he co-produced and collaborated onOwl City's albumOcean Eyes.

Career

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Thiessen performing with Relient K in 2006

Relient K

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Main article:Relient K

Thiessen founded Relient K in 1998, with guitaristMatt Hoopes,and bassistBrian Pittman,[1]and recorded the demoAll Work & No Playthe same year. The recording attracted the interest ofToby McKeehanwho signed the band to his labelGotee Records.Between the years 2000 and 2003, Gotee released three full-lengthalbums,one Christmas album, and fourEPswith Relient K. In 2004, their fourth albumMmhmmwas released on bothCapitol Recordsand Gotee, and peaked at number fifteen on theBillboard200.[2]After recording another EP in 2005,MmhmmandTwo Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do,their 2003 album, werecertified gold,followed by their 2001 albumThe Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheekin 2006.[3]In 2007, Gotee, Capitol, andEMIreleased Relient K's fifth studio album,Five Score and Seven Years Ago,which peaked at number six on theBillboard200.[2]After the release of thedouble EPThe Bird and the Bee Sidesin 2008, the band signed with Gotee'sMono Vs. Stereoimprint, on which they released their sixth studio album,Forget and Not Slow Down,again reaching the top twenty of theBillboard200.[2]Thiessen and the other members of Relient K have taken upA&Rpositions for the label as part of the record deal.[4]

Thiessen performing with Relient K in 2008

Thiessen has been the lead vocalist, frontman, guitarist, primary songwriter, and, along with guitarist/backing vocalistMatt Hoopes,the only member who has been in the band for its entire history. Because of this position of musical leader, he maintains the most creative and artistic control of the band members.[5]He has also served as co-producer on several occasions as well. As the band matured musically, Thiessen started being credited with piano in most releases, beginning withThe Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheekin 2001. Since the release ofMmhmmin 2004, his piano playing started becoming more prominent, and he began including a piano onstage as well.[6]

Solo projects and collaborations

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In addition to being in Relient K, Thiessen plays in his own solo piano project called Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes. Prior to 2018, the project had released a total of five songs on varioussamplersand compilation albums fromGoteeandMono Vs. Stereo,and several songs written for the project have been re-recorded on Relient K releases. In 2010, after the release and supporting tour ofForget and Not Slow Down,Thiessen announced that he would begin work on a full-length solo album.[7]Although he had previously expressed interest in recording a studio release, he had placed his priority on Relient K, and relegated his solo work to his free time.[5]

In April 2018, Adam Young ofOwl Cityannounced that Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes would be joining them on tour later in the year.[8]In June 2018, Thiessen announced that his debut album under Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes,Wind Up Bird,would release later that summer.[9]

Thiessen performing in 2008

Thiessen has occasionally collaborated withJon ForemanofSwitchfoot.After initial interest in recording vocals for a Switchfoot song, it instead worked out for Foreman to contribute vocals for the Relient K song "Deathbed" fromFive Score and Seven Years Ago.[10]He later contributed songwriting and vocals to the Switchfoot release "Rebuild"in 2007, in conjunction for theAppetite for Construction Tour.

In 2009, he contributed vocals, songwriting, and production toOwl City'smajor-labeldebutOcean Eyes,which has sold over 1,500,000 copies worldwide and reached the top ten on theBillboard200.[11]Lead single "Fireflies"reached number one on theBillboardHot 100in late October, and was a global success, topping the charts in many countries including Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.[12]Thiessen continues to work with Owl City's Adam Young and contributes vocals to "Plant Life", a song on the album, "All Things Bright and Beautiful". He also co-wrote "Good Time"with Owl City andBrian Lee.[citation needed]Thiessen has also made guest contributions on a number of releases with other artists, includingBlackbear,John Reuben,tobyMacandThe Fold.[citation needed]

Musical style and influences

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Thiessen performing with Relient K in 2022

Thiessen has received piano lessons since he was seven years old, with early interests inragtimeandScott Joplin,specifically the soundtrack fromThe Sting.He taught himself guitar at the age of 14 by learning to play songs bygrungebands likeSilverchairandNirvana.Thiessen does not use guitar picks while playing; he instead uses his thumb. According toMatt Hoopes,this is because he can't.[13]Since Relient K's early days, Thiessen's main influences have been in thepop punkgenre,[6]specificallyNOFX,Less Than Jake,Ghoti Hook,MxPx,[5]andGoldfinger.[14]He later introduced influences fromSimon & Garfunkel,Ben Folds,andThe Beach Boys,[6]whom he has named as his favorite band.[5]Thiessen has claimed that after years of writing and performing pop-punk songs, he now finds writing slower music more enjoyable.[14]He has described his Matt Thiessen and the Earthquakes side project as being influenced byRufus WainwrightandBen Folds.[6]

Guitars

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Though he has played several guitars throughout his career, Thiessen is best known for playingGibson ES-335sand has also been seen playing aGibson Tom DeLonge Signature ES-333occasionally.[15]

Personal life

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Thiessen was born inSt. Catharines, Ontario.His parents divorced when he was six years old and living inStevensville,Ontario.Later, his mother remarried and the family moved toBolivar, Ohio,where he met and befriended future bandmatesMatt HoopesandBrian Pittman.The three have said that they have known each other since first or second grade.[16]

Thiessen dated future pop starKaty Perryfor a time from 2003 until 2005, and wrote several songs with her andGlen Ballardduring her early recording sessions. One of the songs the three wrote, "Long Shot",would go on to be recorded byKelly Clarksonon her 2009 albumAll I Ever Wanted.[17]Remaining on good terms with Perry, he also co-wrote "Dressin' UpfromTeenage Dream: The Complete Confection.

In 2008, it was announced that Thiessen proposed to Shannon Murphy, a morning radio co-host of the "Mojo in the Morning"show based in Detroit. The couple planned for an August 22, 2009 wedding.[18]However, the engagement was terminated in December, after Murphy claimed that Thiessen had been unfaithful.[19][20][21]

Thiessen marriedEmily Wrighton August 23, 2015, in New York City, withMatt Hoopesas his best man. They kept the engagement and marriage a secret from the public.[22]The couple divorced in February 2018.[23]

Solo discography

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See also:Relient K discography

Studio Albums (as Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes)

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Title Album Details
Wind Up Bird
  • Released: August 2018
  • Format:LP,DL

Compilation appearances (as Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes)

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Year Album Song(s) Label(s)
2001 Happy Christmas, Vol. 3 "I Hate Christmas Parties" Gotee Records
2003 The Revolution Will Begin in the Blink of an Eye, Vol. 1 "Poison Ivy" Mono Vs. Stereo
2005 The Revolution Will Begin in the Blink of an Eye, Vol. 2 "The Calendar, The Energy (If This Is You Then Woe Is Me)" Mono Vs. Stereo
2006 My Other Band, Vol. 1 "The Calendar, The Energy (If This Is You Then Woe Is Me)"
"The Warmth of the Sun"
"Faking My Own Suicide" (Demo)
"Poison Ivy"(iTunesbonus track only) 		Mono Vs. Stereo

Collaborations

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Year Collaborator(s) Contribution[24] Song(s) Album
2004 Everyday Sunday backing vocals "The One" Anthems for the Imperfect
2005 The Wedding backing vocals "But a Breath" The Wedding
John Reuben vocals "Nuisance" The Boy Vs. the Cynic
Katy Perry songwriting "Simple" The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Music from the Motion Picture)
"Box", "Diamonds", "It's Okay to Believe"
2006 The Fold backing vocals "I Believe You" This Too Shall Pass
2007 Switchfoot songwriting, vocals "Rebuild"
2008 Family Force 5 remixing, vocals[25] "The First Time" Dance or Die with a Vengeance
Rookie of the Year piano all tracks Sweet Attention
vocals "Danger Zone"
Ace Endersand a Million Different People vocals "Bittersweet Symphony" Bittersweet Symphony - Single
The Media Says piano "Summer Lovin'", "Keep Falling Down" Forgive Us If We Make You Smile - EP
Ellington piano all tracks More Like a Movie, Less Like Real Life
vocals "In A Lonely Place"
Katy Perry songwriting "A Cup of Coffee" One of the Boys
2009 Kelly Clarkson,(withKaty PerryandGlen Ballard) songwriting "Long Shot" All I Ever Wanted
Owl City songwriting, production, vocals "Cave In", "Fireflies","Tidal Wave "," The Bird and the Worm " Ocean Eyes
Deas Vail vocals "Birds" Birds & Cages
2010 TobyMac vocals[26] "Wonderin" Tonight
Rookie of the Year piano "Bizarre Love Triangle" The Most Beautiful
2011 Owl City songwriting, vocals "Plant Life" All Things Bright and Beautiful
Jack's Mannequin songwriting "Amy, I", "People, Running", "Platform Fire" People and Things
Run Kid Run vocals "Sunburns" Patterns
2012 Katy Perry songwriting "Dressin' Up" Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection
Owl City songwriting, production, vocals "Shooting Star", "I'm Coming After You", "Speed of Love", "Good Time","Metropolis "," Bombshell Blonde " The Midsummer Station
songwriting, production "When Can I See You Again?" Wreck-It Ralph
William Beckett songwriting "Slip Away" What Will Be - EP
blackbear songwriting, vocals "Cold Coffee" Sex: The Mixtape
2013 Kristian Bush songwriting "Love or Money
Big Time Rush songwriting "Get Up", "Untouchable" 24/Seven
Owl City songwriting "Live It Up" The Smurfs 2: Music from and Inspired by
Owl City,TobyMac songwriting "Light of Christmas" Light of Christmas
2014 The Fray songwriting[27][28] "Closer to Me", "Wherever This Goes", "Shadow and a Dancer", "500,000 Acres" Helios
R5 songwriting "Smile" Sometime Last Night
Owl City songwriting "Kiss Me Babe, It's Christmas Time"
2015 Owl City songwriting, vocals "Verge" Mobile Orchestra
songwriting "Unbelievable", "Back Home"
Ben Rector songwriting "Crazy" Brand New
2016 Birds in the Airport songwriting "Dozing Off" Domesticated Drowsiness - EP
2017 COIN songwriting "Don't Cry, 2020", "Hannah" How Will You Know If You Never Try
Vinyl Theatre songwriting "Fade Away" Origami
Owl City songwriting "Clap Your Hands" Featured inEverybody's Golf
TobyMac vocals (as Relient K) "Can't Wait for Christmas" Light of Christmas
2018 Gin Wigmore songwriting "Cold Cave" Ivory
Owl City songwriting, vocals "All My Friends", "All My Friends (Alt Version)" Cinematic
Luthi songwriting "StealinLovin" Stranger
Billy Raffoul songwriting, background vocals "1975" 1975 - EP
Rusty Clanton songwriting "Takes One to Know One"
2019 Billy Raffoul songwriting, vocals, guitar "When We Were Young" A Few More Hours at YYZ (Vinyl Version)
2021 Machine Gun Kelly composition, lyrics "Love Race"
2023 Switchfoot vocals (as Relient K) "Ammunition (Relient K Version)" The Beautiful Letdown (Our Version) [Deluxe Edition]

References

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  1. ^Steve, Huey."Relient K > Biography".Allmusic.RetrievedAugust 11,2008.
  2. ^abc"Relient K Album & Song Chart History".Billboard.com.RetrievedNovember 17,2009.
  3. ^"Gold & Platinum Album Search Results: Relient K".RIAA.RetrievedJanuary 4,2009.
  4. ^"Relient K signs with Mono Vs. Stereo".House of Heroes.Jesus Freak Hideout. March 23, 2009.RetrievedOctober 22,2009.
  5. ^abcdFarias, Andree (May 2, 2005)."We're Not Goofballs".ChristianMusicToday.com.Christianity Today.RetrievedOctober 26,2009.
  6. ^abcdZulaica, Don (January 27, 2005)."liveDaily Interview: Matt Thiessen of Relient K".liveDaily.Archived fromthe originalon November 23, 2009.RetrievedOctober 24,2009.
  7. ^Thiessen, Matthew (July 19, 2010)."Let the solo record begin.:)".Twitter.RetrievedJuly 22,2010.
  8. ^"Owl City on Twitter".Twitter.RetrievedJuly 16,2018.
  9. ^"Matthew Thiessen on Twitter".Twitter.RetrievedJuly 16,2018.
  10. ^DiBiase, John (March 10, 2007)."Looking Back...and Into the Future!".Jesus Freak Hideout.RetrievedApril 2,2007.
  11. ^"Ocean Eyes - Owl City".Billboard.com.RetrievedNovember 13,2009.
  12. ^Pietroluongo, Silvio (October 29, 2009),Owl City's 'Fireflies' Lands at No. 1 on Hot 100,Billboard.com,retrievedNovember 12,2009
  13. ^Relient K News."Some questions answered with Relient K".ReleintKNews.com.Relient K News. Archived fromthe originalon December 27, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 4,2015.He looks like a little kid when he does
  14. ^abSmith, Bethany (June 24, 2008),Interview with: Matt Thiessen, Relient K,PopWreckoning, archived fromthe originalon July 28, 2011,retrievedNovember 12,2009
  15. ^"Relient K - Matt Thiessen Guitar Rig Gear and Equipment".
  16. ^Mansfield, Brian (November 29, 2004)."Can this punk-pop band make it big? 'Mmhmm'".USA Today.RetrievedApril 30,2007.
  17. ^Dominic, Serene (December 12, 2009)."Interview: Relient K's Matt Thiessen".The Arizona Republic.RetrievedDecember 19,2011.
  18. ^Miller, Rodney (August 7, 2008)."Relient K's Matt Thiessen Has Found" The Best Thing "A Wife".StereoTruth.net.RetrievedDecember 4,2009.
  19. ^Blum, Andrea (August 14, 2009)."On the mike".The News Herald.RetrievedMarch 9,2010.
  20. ^Nunez, Jessica (August 12, 2009)."Podcast: 'Mojo in the Morning Show' host Shannon Murphy talks about past relationship troubles".MLive.com.RetrievedMarch 9,2010.
  21. ^"Shannon Setting The Record Straight On Engagement To Matt Thiessen".StereoTruth.net. December 29, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon December 9, 2011.RetrievedSeptember 1,2012.
  22. ^"In depth with Relient K's Matt Thiessen".Canton Rep.RetrievedJuly 22,2015.
  23. ^"Divorce Notice (Section A - Page 8)".Ledger.
  24. ^"Matthew Thiessen: Credits".Allmusic Guide.RetrievedAugust 10,2011.
  25. ^"Matt Thiessen: Credits".Allmusic Guide.RetrievedAugust 10,2011.
  26. ^"Tobymac: Tonight".MusiChristian.com. Archived fromthe originalon January 8, 2010.RetrievedDecember 5,2009.
  27. ^Helios - The Fray | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic,retrievedMay 28,2020
  28. ^The Fray – 500,000 Acres,retrievedMay 28,2020
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