Matt Jaffe Explained

Matt Jaffe
Instrument:Vocals, guitar
Genre:Rock, Power pop
Post-punk, New wave
Occupation:Singer-songwriter
Years Active:2009–present
Label:Elm City (ECI)
Associated Acts:Matt Jaffe & The Distractions

Matt Jaffe is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and founder of the band Matt Jaffe & The Distractions.

Biography

Jaffe learnt his first chords by watching David Byorno play in the Jonathan Demme–directed Talking Heads concert film, Stop Making Sense.[1] Four years later, Jerry Harrison, keyboardist and guitarist for Talking Heads, discovered Jaffe at an open-mic showcase.[2]

Harrison offered to record some of Jaffe's music. Before entering his junior year in high school, Jaffe had recorded 50 acoustic demos in Harrison's studio in Sausalito, California. During their collaboration, Harrison became a friend and advisor.[3] [4]

In 2013, Jaffe entered Yale University, but left school a year and a half later to continue to pursue music.[5] While touring to support the EP, the band has opened for Mavis Staples and The Damnwells. The band embarked on its first extensive U.S. tour in 2015, opening for Blues Traveler.[6] In 2018, Jaffe retired the Distractions name.

Discography

Blast Off (2015)

California's Burning (2017)

The Spirit Catches You (2018)

Undertoad (2021)

Kintsugi (2021)

White Roses in the Snow (2022)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Bose, Lilledeshan. "Dig Singer-songwriter Matt Jaffe's Intellectual Power Pop", Myspace Artist of the Day, May 15, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  2. Brown, Jacob. "Matt Jaffe's Rockin New Track Turns Out To Be His Carly Simon Moment", Blackbook, April 14, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  3. Liberatore, Paul. "Press Play: Matt Jaffe and the Distractions 'Blast Off'", Marin County Independent Journal, Marin County, April 23, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  4. Short, Steven. "Bay Area Beats: Matt Jaffe & The Distractions", KALW Radio, San Francisco, March 3, 2015. Retrieved on March 3, 2015.
  5. Vaziri, Aidin. "Mill Valley man quits Yale, charts new career path in music", SFGate, San Francisco, June 23, 2015. Retrieved on June 23, 2015.
  6. Steffen, Chris. (September 8, 2015) "Song Premiere: Matt Jaffe & the Distractions, 'Holding On,'" AllMusic. Retrieved on August 22, 2016.