This week’s spotlight is on one of my favorite Oklahoma artists, Chris Matthews. I first discovered Chris’s music while seeing him open up for Dylan Moss and The Middle Class back in August, and I quickly became a fan, so this is easily one of my favorite spotlights to do. I hope y’all get to learn who Chris Matthews is, because really, who is Chris Matthews?
Chris Matthews is a musician from Bristow, Oklahoma. When it comes to describing his sound, Chris said, “I think that depends on what a person feels when they hear my songs. You might think Americana, Modern Rural Folk, singer/songwriter, something along those lines.”
When did Chris first start playing music, and what drew him to it? He said, “I started playing music around 8 years old when I got my first drum kit for Christmas. I played drums up until I was 18, playing kit in jazz band, and then picked up guitar during my senior year of high school. Just the raw emotions it would make me feel was like a drug, and I was hooked from the start.” Who inspired Chris to start making music? He told us, “Really, my dad was the driving force of what got me into music at a young age. He played lead guitar and harmony vocals with some rock bands back in the ’90s, as did his two older brothers. There’s not a moment in my life where I haven’t been surrounded by music.”
Who are some artists that have influenced Chris the most? He said, “I first really fell in love with music when I got my first drum kit. I remember listening to a lot of Deftones because of my old man and really admiring Abe Cunningham. If I were to lean more towards vocals and front man, no doubt it would be Scott Weiland. STP will always be one of my favorites. As far as all being a musician all around, it would be Mac for sure. From the first time I heard ‘Nikes On My Feet’ in 8th grade, to the more jazz-, psychedelic-based projects he did, Mac was the one that really made me pursue music.”
What’s been Chris’s favorite venue to play so far? He said, “The Dirty Drummer in Phoenix holds a special place in my heart. Such a unique spot with some of the coolest people. Shout out DD.” What about dream venues, though? Chris said, “I think as far as bucket list venues, Whitewater Amphitheater has to be up there. Just a bunch of respectable names and absolute legends.”
What has been a major turning point in Chris’s career so far? He told us, “The moment that I fully trusted my intuition and really focused on my craft would have to be the biggest turning point for me. I know a lot of musicians that struggle with those things, but the moment you let go and believe in what you’re doing, that’s the moment things change for the better.” What’s something about Chris that people might not expect? He said, “I’m really big into reading, like a lot. And I’m a big hip-hop head. I probably listen to more rap than anything else, ironically enough, OutKast, Big L, Kool G Rap.”
What does Chris hope people feel when they hear his music? He said, “I hope they feel the truth, whatever that is, whether it’s a piece of emotion they are having trouble finding or it’s a good memory they remember. At the end of the day, I make music for me, and if people enjoy it, then that’s pretty cool.” What does success look like for Chris in music? He said, “I think success for me is knowing that at the end of it all, I put everything I had into it. I don’t care about being perfect, but I always want to be authentic. And I think that really resonates with people.”
How does Chris balance music with the rest of his life? He said, “I look for music all around me in my day-to-day life. Whether it’s taking calves to the sales or working on my pickup, I base my thoughts on creativity constantly, because to me, that’s my meditation.” What’s one piece of advice Chris would give to someone just starting out in music? His advice was, “Don’t give up. You’re going to get discouraged and frustrated, but just know that patience is always rewarded. Find your niche, your sound, and have fun.”
Does Chris have any upcoming releases or projects he can talk about? Yes, he said, “We have a full-length band album dropping in early to mid-2026 that is already recorded. We are just tweaking things and then will go through the mix and master process. We had a handful of songs that felt like they didn’t flow well with the project, that we didn’t really know what to do with, so we recorded a live demo EP at Hungry Hawk Studios and plan to drop that October 24th, solid listen if you ask me.”
As of now, that EP has been out four days, and it’s great, in my opinion, one of my favorite EPs from this year. Where can people find Chris’s music and follow his journey? He said, “We’ve got tunes out on all streaming, Apple Music, Spotify, all that good stuff. Best thing to do is check the website and you’ll see all our socials and shows coming up as well.” https://chrismatthewsandthewantedones.godaddysites.com/
Thank you for reading this week’s artist spotlight! I hope you enjoyed getting to know who Chris Matthews is behind his music. Go check him out, and go catch him at a show. As always, be good to yourself, stay western, and stay tuned!
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