BOSTON — The music industry isn’t an easy industry to break into. It takes time, money, and pure determination for any artists to make their mark. Trying to make this mark is Matt Lowell and his band. But with a new four-song EP due out this summer, the band hopes to make an impact.
The band consists of Matt Lowell on lead vocals and guitar, Sam Wagner on drums, Garret Lynch on bass and Mark Cocheo on guitar. These four artists go under the name of Matt Lowell.
Lowell attends Berklee School of Music in Boston and has always been into music since the age of six.
“My dad constantly played music while we were in the car on the way to hockey practice,” he said. “I loved music from that point on, I started playing drums then switched to guitar in high school. I’ve been singing since 7th or 8th grade when I joined a local chorus and then I wrote my first song about 9/11 and my movement into the music industry began.”
Bassist Garret Lynch also attends Berklee, along with drummer Sam Wagner. These two met Lowell in a songwriting class. “Me and Sam were in this class with Matt and we really liked his tunes and his feel,” said Garret. “Obviously we all love music and thought it would be cool if we all sat down and played some tunes together and see what came of it.”
The trio liked what they heard and decided to start a band with Lowell as their front man.
“That decision was really easy to make the Matt the front man,” said Wagner. “In all bands, the guy who stands in front of the mic for all the songs and writes them is almost always the front man and you what? I would follow him anywhere.”
After a few months of trying different sounds with different instruments and members, nothing seemed to fit until the band found guitarist Mark Cocheo from the New England Conservatory.
Cocheo is long-time friends with Garret Lynch; both grew up neighbors in New Jersey. He has been trained as a Jazz guitarist, but with the band, he has more of rock feel. “Garret told me his band was looking for a guitarist and thought I would give it try and see how it felt. Obviously, it took some time to learn the songs and get the feel for them but I really like where we are as a band at this point in time.”
Though only being together for a short period of time, Lowell and his band have been getting their name out to the masses.
Over this past summer, they were part of the Camplified Tour sponsored by Gibson Guitars and toured camps in the Northeast. Right now they are touring prep schools and ski lodges, doing everything and anything to get their name out in the industry.
“The tour has been going great so far,” said Lowell.
“We are getting a bunch of people who hear about us and will come to the show, it’s great to be on that stage and seeing people getting into the music, which is what every musician wants to see.”
Through their great success, the band was able to get in touch with Crit Harmon, who has agreed to produce their new four-song EP due out this summer. Harmon has been named Boston’s #1 producer for many years.
“It really is an honor and a privilege to work with someone like Crit,” said Lowell, “hopefully he can help take this band to the next level. We really look forward to working with him.”