Thrilled to announce my new single, “Coming Back”, is out today!
Listen where ever you get your music fix and turn it up.
CREDITS
Matt Ellis • Vocals & Electric Guitar
Joshua Norton • Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar & Piano
Tim Walker • Pedal Steel
Dusty Bookatz • Bass
Andy Kelly • Drums
Denny Weston Jr • Percussion
Mixed by Craig Schumacher
Mastered by J.J. Golden
Produced by Matt Ellis
Many thanks to all the players, J.D. Narro for the shots, J.J. Golden and Craig Schumacher, and his students; Joshua Luna, Camden Burgess, Jen Ben, Aspen Acuña, Wayne Napoleone, and Ron Marschall at Mesa Community College.
Recorded remotely at the tail end of Covid, “Coming Back” is a celebration song, kicking off America’s Summer in true, classic rock spirit. It’s an uplifting track that kicks you in the gut before Ellis leans in with his distinctive low croon, congratulating the listener for “making it”. It has all the drive and swagger of “Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers” with the pop sensibility of “Big Star” that begs the listener to hit play again and again.
The idea for the song came in 2020 when Ellis was searching for some light in the world.
““I THOUGHT, WE’RE GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS SOON ENOUGH, SO LET’S FOCUS ON THAT AND WRITE SOMETHING POSITIVE, FOR THE FUTURE”. ”
The next few years would see Matt chipping away at the track, along with a swag of other tunes that hope to be released later this year and next. Ellis recorded an arrangement to a rough drum sample at his home studio in the Mojave Desert, before sending the song down under to his mate, Andy Clockwise, who tracked Drums at his studio in Sydney. Dusty Bookatz and Joshua Norton picked up the song back in L.A., adding bass, lead guitars, and piano. Percussion was added by Denny Weston Jr at his home studio in 29 Palms, Ca before Ellis completed his vocals and guitar work back in the Hi-Dez. The finishing touches came with Tim Walker’s pedal steel, tracked at his home in Santa Clarita, Ca.
Matt reconnected with longtime collaborator Craig Schumacher at WaveLab Studios in Tucson, Az for mixing. Craig is not only a celebrated Producer/Engineer (Neko Case, Calexico, Giant Sand), but he’s also teaching his skills to a small class of young engineers at The Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona. The track became a class project for the students, looking over Craig’s shoulder as he mixed the track in several remote sessions.
Ellis recalls; “I’ve been “solo” for 23 years, but none of it would’ve been possible without constant collaboration with my longtime band and surrounding musicians and engineers. This track is proof of that, and having the students involved added even more of that synergetic energy, something I’m always seeking and encouraging.”
“Coming Back” is out now on all streaming platforms.