Matt Urmy

Matt Urmy
Born
New York City, United States
OriginNashville, Tennessee, United States
GenresAmericana, folk, country, Singer-songwriter
OccupationsSinger-songwriter, poet, entrepreneur
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, drums, keys, bass, flute, percussion
Years active2000s–present
LabelsAcklen Records, Tritone Records, Artist Growth Records
Websitematturmy.com

Matt Urmy is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Artist Growth, a music management software company. As a musician, he has released several albums, including Out of the Ashes (2017) and South of the Sky (2021). He has also authored works of poetry and children's literature, including the poetry collection The Rain in the Bell (2015). He was included in the Rolling Stone's list of "Artists to Watch" in 2017.

Early life and education

Urmy was born in New York City and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. He studied poetry at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. He later completed a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing at Spalding University. He was also trained in Māori healing practices under Māori healer Hohepa Delamere.

Career

Music

Urmy began his music career performing as a solo artist and with bands, working across songwriting, recording, and live performance.

In 2017, Urmy released Out of the Ashes, an album recorded with producer Cowboy Jack Clement. The recordings were largely believed to have been lost in a 2011 fire at Clement's home studio, which Urmy witnessed, before some material was later recovered from surviving files. Urmy subsequently spent several years reconstructing the album. The project includes vocal contributions from Clement, and John Prine appears on the title track. Clement died in 2013 before the album was completed. The Nashville Scene described the album as "the most fascinating Nashville album of the past decade." Rolling Stone featured Urmy as an "Artist to Watch" in 2017.

In 2013, Urmy helped organise Honoring a Legend: A Tribute to Cowboy Jack, a concert featuring collaborators of Jack Clement, including Kris Kristofferson, Charley Pride, John Prine, and Emmylou Harris, with video tributes from Bono and Michelle Obama.

Urmy's album South of the Sky was released in 2021. Produced by Truck Roley and engineered by Brandon Bell, it is a concept work influenced by Willie Nelson's Phases and Stages. The recording combines electronic and acoustic instrumentation, with contributions from Mike Daly, Rachel Loy, and Nick Buda, and guest vocals by Jonell Mosser and Leticia Wolf. Singles from the album, including "Raging Hearts" and "Blind", were featured in New Music Friday playlists curated by NPR Music.

Entrepreneurship

Urmy co-founded Artist Growth in 2011 and continues to serve as its CEO. He developed Artist Growth as a cloud-based platform used to manage touring, scheduling, finances, and other operational aspects of music careers.

Artist Growth has been used by music companies and management organisations, including labels under Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. In October 2012, Urmy was named one of Forbes's "Up and Comers."

Published works

Urmy has authored works of poetry and children's literature. His poetry chapbook Ghosts in a House was published by Finishing Line Press in 2007. He later published the poetry collection The Rain in the Bell through Iris Press in 2015. In 2020, he published and illustrated the children's book Go Ask the Moon through Tritone Media.

His work has also appeared in literary magazines including The Minnetonka Review and Symposeum.

Bibliography

TitlePublisherYearISBN
Ghosts in a HouseFinishing Line Press2007978-1599242019
The Rain in the BellIris Press2015979-8503295597
Go Ask the MoonTritone Media2020978-1735100821

Discography

Albums

YearTitleArtist(s)Label
2006Shadow of a Lovely PlaceMatt UrmyIndependent
2011Sweet LonesomeMatt UrmyAcklen Records
2017Out of the AshesMatt Urmy, Cowboy Jack Clement & John Prine (guests)Tritone Records
2021South of the SkyMatt UrmyTritone / Artist Growth Records

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Parton, Chris (March 16, 2017). "Matt Urmy's Cowboy Jack Clement-Produced Album Rises Out of the Ashes". Nashville Scene.
  2. 1 2 Walthall, Catherine (October 2, 2020). "Matt Urmy Calls for Rock 'N Roll to Step Up in Forthcoming Album". American Songwriter.
  3. 1 2 "Morris & Urmy". University of Tennessee Libraries.
  4. 1 2 "10 New Country Artists You Need to Know: March 2017". Rolling Stone. March 14, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Bringin' It Backwards: Interview with Matt Urmy". American Songwriter. January 26, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Matt Urmy and Andrew Najberg at Writers in the Library". University of Tennessee Libraries. August 13, 2008.
  7. ↑ "Matt Urmy". Iris Books.
  8. ↑ Silverman, Jack (July 16, 2009). "Matt Urmy CD Release". Nashville Scene.
  9. ↑ Christian, Trevor (May 25, 2017). "Matt Urmy Celebrates Nostalgia & Late Cowboy Jack Clement On 'Out of the Ashes'". Glide Magazine.
  10. ↑ Inman, Davis (January 11, 2017). "Artist Growth Wants To Make Your Next Tour Smarter". American Songwriter.
  11. ↑ "Music Tech Special: Marketing, Distribution, Touring". American Songwriter. August 2, 2021.
  12. ↑ Peoples, Glenn (August 7, 2014). "Billboard Music Cities: The Future of Nashville". Billboard.
  13. ↑ Ehlinger, Maija (March 3, 2023). "Musicians need to think like startup entrepreneurs. This Nashville platform helps them do just that". Hypepotamus.
  14. ↑ "Forbes Up And Comers: Matt Urmy, Charley Moore, and Shawn Amos". Forbes. October 18, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Knoxville's Poetry Spring". Deep South Magazine. March 31, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Nashville Author/Poet Matt Urmy Unveils First Ever Children's Book Go Ask The Moon". Shore Fire Media. December 8, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Alumni Newsletter". Spalding University. March 2007.
  18. ↑ "Issue 4 – Trace". Symposeum. 2022.