MATT MAHER
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versus hardwired stuff. From playing so much
piano, there are certain styles of playing now
that don’t take up as much active thought, so I
can focus more on how I’m singing. I’m not that
strong of an instinctive singer. There are some
singers for whom it is completely effortless, and
the scope and breadth of their voice, and how
much control they have over it is remarkable…
but I’m not one of those people. I do what I can
with what I have.
[WM] Tell us about your partnership with
Martin Guitars now.
[Matt] This guitar has been super fun to play
live. I wanted something that was a little more
like a D16 or a D18, so I worked with Scott
Follweiler at the Custom Shop, and they built
[Matt] It’s sounding great! The enhanced say it’s similar to John Mellencamp. Who are
system is really cool. It’s basically 3 buttons: the guys in the Americana camp that have
volume, tone, and the enhance button. It took influenced you through their music?
a little bit to figure out, because in my older D18
all I had was an LR Baggs with a volume knob, [Matt] When I was growing up it was definitely
which literally was just plug-and-play. That’s my people like Bruce Springsteen and John
favorite Martin. It’s in my studio right now and I Mellencamp. Tom Petty as well, although his
don’t travel a lot with it currently. So, between thing is more desert rock and has a distinct L.A.
this new black smokeburn colored D17 Martin vibe to it. In recent years it feels like everybody
and that D18 Martin, those were the two guitars that Dave Cobb produces is someone that I
that I used on my whole new record. love. Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, who I think
is finally starting to get some of the recognition
The cool thing about this new D17 is that it’s that he deserves because he is a fantastic
a Mahogany body, so it’s a more affordable lyricist and songwriter. Patty Griffin was huge
guitar, and it’s light so it travels really well. along the way, along with Emmylou Harris and
I love that they put the battery in the bottom Joni Mitchell. I was really inspired by Joni’s life.
end of the guitar because it’s so much easier to She put out Blue when she was 36 years old,
change out than having to reach your hand into and that gave me a lot of hope! I worked at a
the soundhole. It’s a really fun guitar at a great church for 10 years, you know? When I was in
price point. my 20’s and in Phoenix, all of my friends were
loading up in vans and going to L.A. and playing
me this guitar. It has Martin’s new pickup
system in it.
[WM] Tell us about that. How does it sound
through the PA?
62
in bars, and I was doing Youth Retreats. I felt
[WM] The last thing I want to say is that I like following Jesus meant that I wasn’t going to
love the Americana that is just woven inside get to really play much anymore. I pinch myself
of your music. I’ve seen you perform live many now that I get to do what I get to do. In some
times, and the Americana is all in what you do. ways, it’s like God is giving me back something
Although you don’t sound like him, I would that I laid at His feet.
October 2017
WorshipMusician.com