Matt Laurence is a Nashville-based guitarist and producer who blends pop and R&B with a musician’s ear and a producer’s mindset.

Originally from New York, he moved to Nashville in 2016 and quickly became a go-to guitarist in the city’s vibrant live and studio scene, performing with artists like The War and Treaty, Tiera Kennedy, Dre Scot, Wyn Starks, Sarah Reeves, Amythyst Kiah, and many others. His work has taken him to stages such as Austin City Limits, the Grand Ole Opry, and the Troubadour — bridging worlds between emerging voices and established acts alike.

From Guitar Hero to Guitarist

Music has been a constant thread in Matt’s life. He grew up in a musical household, surrounded by the smooth jazz station (CD 101.9) out of New York City. At 12 years old, after spending endless hours playing Guitar Hero, he traded the plastic controller for an instrument and never looked back.

When he was a teenager, he discovered that studio musician was an actual job and that realization lit the path ahead. “I thought that was the coolest job in the world,” Matt says. “I wanted to be the guy who played guitar for other people’s records and gets to make music every day.”

In 2019, it turned into a full-on production career. He began recording guitar parts from home, sending loops to other producers, and gradually working on the crafts of bass, drum programming, production and mixing — one skill at a time.

Influences & Sound

As a lead guitarist, Matt’s playing draws from the phrasing of B.B. King, John Mayer, George Benson and Paul Jackson Jr. As a rhythm player, his rhythm sensibilities come from Bill Withers, The Meters, and Rufus.

On the production side, Matt takes inspiration from modern visionaries like Quincy Jones, Jon Bellion and Jack Dine — creators who blend storytelling and musicianship with emotional depth. His work sits at the crossroads of live musicianship and studio polish, balancing organic feel in a clean presentation.

Philosophy

Whether producing, mixing, or playing, Matt aims to make music that feels timeless — songs that hit emotionally and translate just as well on stage as they do in headphones. His background as a sideman gives him a unique producer’s perspective: collaborative, feel-driven, and rooted in serving the song.

As both a sideman and a producer, Matt approaches every song with two questions: would I want to learn this song and does the music tell the lyrical story?

“I want to make music that I’d want to listen to: songs that translate live but also could add to the soundtrack of someone’s life,” he says. “Being a musician first gives me a different perspective than a lot of producers. Quincy Jones always talked about how important it is for producers to study music/music theory. That’s a huge piece of blending the sensibilities of the classic recordings and bringing them into the new.”


Endorsements

Matt proudly endorses Rattlesnake Cable Company and Moody Leather, brands that share his dedication to craftsmanship, tone, and longevity.