Eric Matthews

Eric Matthews (born January 12, 1969, in Compton, California, United States) is an American composer, musician, recording artist, and record producer.

Career Eric Matthews began his serious recording career as one half of the band Cardinal. Cardinal was formed with Australian singer-songwriter Richard Davies in 1992 while both lived in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1993, Matthews collaborated with Sebadoh's Lou Barlow and Bob Fay as Belt Buckle, releasing an EP on Sonic Bubblegum Records.

In 1995, Matthews released his debut solo record on Sub Pop Records. It's Heavy In Here, described as "a darkly luxuriant sequence of exquisitely arranged and executed orchestral pop", In 1997, the follow-up album The Lateness of the Hour was released on Sub Pop. It did not sell as well as It's Heavy In Here, but included orchestral instruments within its rock stylings.

Sub Pop and Matthews terminated their relationship in 1999, and he began working as a sideman for such groups as Tahiti 80, The Dandy Warhols, Ivy, Man of the Year, Elliott Smith, Paula Kelley, Pugwash, Volovan, and Bug 2000.

In 2004, Matthews began a relationship with Empyrean Records to re-issue the Cardinal record. He has since continued to release music under the Empyrean label.

In 2005, Matthews released his third solo record, titled Six Kinds of Passion Looking For An Exit, and in 2006 another album titled Foundation Sounds. In the summer of 2006, Matthews announced that he and a guitarist from Cleveland named Christopher Seink had formed a new instrumental band called Seinking Ships. In 2008, Eric Matthews and Empyrean Records released The Imagination Stage to a flurry of glowing reviews heralding Eric's return to the fully orchestrated sound of his Sub Pop releases. In March 2009, Eric ended his professional relationship with Empyrean Records. In 2013 Eric joined the band SheLoom.

Collaborations/guest musicians include: Richard Davies, Jason Falkner, Spookey Ruben, Elliott Smith, Gregg Williams, Tony Lash, Robert Harris, Christopher Seink, Mark Eitzel, Lou Barlow, Bob Fay, R. Stevie Moore, and Steven Hanford.

Discography

With Cardinal Toy Bell (EP) (1993) Flydaddy Records Cardinal (1994) Flydaddy Cardinal (album re-issue with eleven bonus tracks and expanded liner notes) (2005) Empyrean Records Hymns (album) (2012) Fire Records

With Belt Buckle Belt Buckle (EP) (1993) Sonic Bubblegum

With Seinking Ships Seinking Ships (EP) (2007) Empyrean Museum Quality Capture (LP) (June 8, 2010) S-Curve Records/EMI

Solo

Albums It's Heavy in Here (1995) Sub Pop The Lateness of the Hour (1997) Sub Pop Six Kinds of Passion Looking For An Exit (2005) Empyrean Foundation Sounds (2006) Empyrean The Imagination Stage (2008) Empyrean Too Much World (2017) Lo-Fidelity

Singles "Dream Figure" (1994) Flydaddy Records "Fanfare" (1995) Sub Pop (US) "Fanfare" (1996) Sub Pop/WEA (UK, Europe, and Asia) "Hop And Tickle" (1996) Sub Pop "My Morning Parade" (1997) Sub Pop (US) "Exactly Like Them" (2017) Lo-Fidelity