quick bio:

Born and raised in various Chicago suburbs, vocalist/producer Chris Mathien began recording solo material while still in highschool (1999-2003). When he started his college courses at Southern Illinois University he began passing out CDRs full of his songs to random people on campus, while recording constantly in various dormitories and apartments. By his junior year he and his backing band were regularly selling out college venues (Hangar 9), as well as packing some legendary clubs in Chicago (The Funky Buddha Lounge, Lilly's).

In 2009, Mathien is making the move back to Chicago where he plans to saturate a bigger market and tour nationally.

influences:

Bobby Womack
Bob Marley
Cee-Lo
The Pharcyde
Parliament-Funkadelic

sounds like:

Funky whiteboy soul with a touch of reggae and hip hop.

press clippings:

"With a thriving mixture of genres and soulful melodies, Mathien's music breaks the mold, creating an original and alluring sound."

-Studio A (PBS series)

"Mathien is undeniably talented. He is unique and timely without being trendy or derivative."

-George Howard (www.artistshousemusic.org)

"Mathien beats hip-hop while still smoothly pulling off jazz, rocks while softening with a little bit of pop, and gets crazy with a punk style but slows down with clear lyrical emphasis."

-The Pulse Magazine

contact info:

myspace.com/mathien

mathienmusic@gmail.com