Matt Mays
Matt Mays is a Canadian indie rock singer-songwriter and was the lead singer of Matt Mays & El Torpedo, a rock music group based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and New York City. Previously, Mays was a member of a Canadian indie band The Guthries. Mays was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and grew up in Nova Scotia.
Career
The Guthries
The Guthries were a Canadian country rock band formed in 1998 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The band's first album, Off Windmill, was released in 2000. The band toured extensively throughout Canada and the UK. Mays subsequently left the band in 2002, just prior to the release of the band's second release, the self-titled The Guthries. However, following the self-titled release, the band members each began pursuing solo projects, and have not released another Guthries album.Matt Mays
At the 2005 Juno Awards, Mays presented an award, and was himself nominated for New Artist of the Year and Adult Alternative Album of the Year for his self-titled album.In February 2006, Mays appeared with the Symphony Nova Scotia in their Rising Star series on the Dalhousie University campus.
In April 2006, fellow Canadian rocker Sam Roberts released his new album titled Chemical City. Mays performed on the track "Uprising Down Under".
Matt Mays & El Torpedo
Matt Mays & El Torpedo consisted of Jarrett Murphy, Andy Patil, Tim Baker, Brad Conrad and later Jay Smith and Adam Baldwin.The band's self-titled album released in 2005 contained the single "Cocaine Cowgirl", which received saturation airplay on Canadian rock radio in 2005, and its video heavy rotation on MuchMusic. The album also contained the track "The Plan" with backing vocals from fellow Canadian musician Kathleen Edwards.
At the 2006 East Coast Music Awards, MM&ET were nominated for entertainer of the year, group of the year, radio rock recording of the year, album of the year, and single of the year, and won all of these but entertainer of the year award. They closed out the national broadcast of the event with "Cocaine Cowgirl". As he introduced the band, host Mike Smith said that they were one of his favourite bands. In Maclean's magazine, Ron MacLean of Hockey Night in Canada listed Matt Mays & El Torpedo among the artists whose music he "never leaves home without."
In 2006, Matt Mays & El Torpedo released a music video for their single "Time of Your Life ", directed by Drew Lightfoot. The video was filmed in Kensington Market, Toronto, Ontario. This particular video features the card manipulations of American comedian and magician Erik Tait. This video received notice in the magic world after it was pointed out that the card manipulation with the box is physically impossible. This particular manipulation was achieved by filming Erik's hands then playing the footage backward. The card work is also acclaimed in this video as members of the band perform some of the manipulations.
Matt Mays & El Torpedo performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in December 2006.
''When the Angels Make Contact''
Matt Mays' project When the Angels Make Contact, released on November 7, 2006, is a soundtrack to Mays' unfinished film of the same name. Regarding the origin of the idea, Mays stated: "I had this album that was based on the theme of an all-nighter. It started when the sun went down and ended when the sun came up. Then I thought, 'That would make a good movie.'" The album flows with the themes of the movie, following the character J.J. Carver, a motorcyclist on a quest. The music video for the title track and the "movie trailer" were both directed by Drew Lightfoot. Although much of the movie was shot in early 2006, production then stalled due to lack of financing. Sam Roberts has a cameo role as an Australian surfer. The album features Buck 65, Skratch Bastid, and Rose Cousins, among others.''Terminal Romance''
The last album, Terminal Romance, was released on July 8, 2008. The singles "Tall Trees" and "Building a Boat" have received heavy airplay on Canadian radio, including CBC Radio 3.Throughout July 2008, Matt Mays & El Torpedo toured with Kid Rock in support of their new album.
On December 12, 2008, Matt Mays & El Torpedo received 5 East Coast Music Association Nominations including Group Recording of the Year and Songwriter of the Year.