Matt Mays
Matt Mays is a JUNO Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter known for his expansive, heart-on-sleeve rock anthems that echo with grit, longing, and wide-open space. Drawing from classic rock, folk, and indie influences, Mays has built a career on emotional honesty, sweeping soundscapes, and the restless spirit of a true musical wanderer.
Born in Nova Scotia, Mays first broke onto the national scene as a member of The Guthries, a roots-rock band that hinted at his love for Americana and storytelling. But it was his solo work—beginning with his self-titled debut in 2002 and followed by the critically acclaimed Matt Mays & El Torpedo (2005)—that revealed a bigger vision. With standout tracks like “Cocaine Cowgirl” and “On the Hood,” Mays delivered rugged, cinematic rock built for road trips, heartbreak, and the golden hour.
Known for his magnetic stage presence and gravel-edged vocals, Mays and his band El Torpedo quickly became festival favourites and rock radio staples. Their live shows blended Springsteen energy with East Coast soul, earning them a loyal cross-country following. The 2008 album Terminal Romance further cemented his reputation, showcasing a more layered, urgent sound.
In 2014, Mays won the JUNO Award for Rock Album of the Year for Coyote, an ambitious, deeply personal record that reflected the loss of longtime bandmate Jay Smith and the emotional terrain that followed. Albums like Once Upon a Hell of a Time (2017) and its acoustic companion Twice Upon a Hell of a Time (2018) continued to explore themes of loneliness, resilience, and the search for meaning in chaos.
Matt Mays is an artist unafraid to evolve. Whether he’s roaring through fuzzed-out guitar epics, delivering stripped-down ballads at a solo piano, or experimenting with psychedelic textures, he approaches music as a form of exploration—both sonic and spiritual.
When he’s not touring (which is rare), Mays can often be found surfing, painting, or chasing inspiration along the coastlines and deserts that so often inform his writing. His music isn’t just heard—it’s felt. And that’s what keeps fans coming back.
