Somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere, in a city known for its gothic style architecture, a singer-songwriter was born whose life would change forever hearing a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers album which grew into a love for bands like The Jayhawks, Wilco, and Whiskeytown. Native of Dunedin, the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, Matt Joe Gow has lately been touring the Northern Hemisphere in Europe and the United States. With a sound reminiscent of Counting Crows meets Life is a Highway’s Tom Cochrane, he’s opened for Chris Isaak. Matt Joe Gow has already been a two time winner of the Music Victorian Awards, New Zealand Country Music Honors, and most recently he landed the esteemed title of official showcase artist at Americana Fest in Nashville. Here’s our interview with Matt Joe Gow.

Where did you grow up and where do you call home now?

Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand but I spent time as a kid living in Canada, the UK and even the States as my parents moved a bit.

How have the life experiences of where you lived affected your songwriting or the songs you choose to record?

I feel it comes through in my music. Certainly the weather as it’s cold and temperamental where I am from, so it is definitely something I lean on – the visceral elements, in regards to the rain, storms, cold and the figurative double entendres you can invoke in the listener with those elements and emotions.

What artists/songwriters have impacted or influenced your work the most?

I would say Dylan perhaps the most as I listened to him from a very early age… Nashville Skyline and Blood on the tracks I can see vividly sitting on the shelf behind the record player. But in later years I also love to listen to new music, ranging from hard rock, hip hop and folk and try to inject those elements on occasion subtly to keep my music authentic to who I am

When you perform, what do you hope is your audience’s biggest takeaway?

I hope they feel a connection to me our the music. Music is all about connection that is the main reason I play live.

Tell me a little bit about your latest project?

I am currently writing my latest album, that’ll be studio album 5 in my catalogue. I felt after a couple years of touring it would be best to take some time off the road, and go somewhere totally new and different. So I am currently holed up in Medellin, Colombia where I know absolutely nobody. Here I can sample a new culture whilst also being able to focus when I close the door of my apartment. (hopefully haha)

What was different or unique about your approach to this last project as compared to previous ones?

I’ve been based in Melbourne, Australia for some time, which has been wonderful. But with touring and a friend base and starting to produce other artists alongside the profile of my music growing, I found it hard to say no to opportunities that took me back on the road. So this project this album is different in that I have set aside time and a place to write it.

Was there ever a time you felt like you wanted to quit making music?

Yes, early on, about a decade ago now I took a hiatus. I was tired of touring and I felt people had very little understanding (in the southern hemisphere) about what Americana music was. I was constantly educating interviewers or trying to win over a crowd who hadn’t really heard of, or understood the concept of Americana music. People would line dance at shows trying to insult our band, and with that said I felt it wasn’t what I had signed up for in terms of being a musician, it wasn’t what I planned – to try educate folks to americana. So I took some time away and refocused, left my label and came back independent with more control. And that coincided with people in Aus and NZ becoming slightly more aware of Americana in the time I’d been away, and I have been releasing albums and touring ever since

What is your funniest or favorite “on the road” story when touring?

There are many! My favourite story is a gentleman coming up to me after a show with tears in his eyes, in New Zealand a few years back and telling me that the show was the first time he’d felt joy since his father had passed 2 months ago… pretty special moments like that.

Who or what keeps you grounded the most?

My good friend/engineer Chris. He’s been a part of my musical project since the beginning and I’ve known him since I was a kid. He’s very quick to tell me something is not up to scratch, and I trust and respect his judgement as he is probably my one friend who knows more bands than I do! I think everyone needs that quality control check.

What advice would you give artists just starting out?

Stay true to yourself.

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