Matt Pence Explained

Matt Pence
Landscape:	yes
Birth Name:	Matthew Louis Pence
Birth Date:	13 April 1972
Birth Place:	St. Louis, Missouri U.S.
Years Active:	1996–present

Matthew Louis Pence (born April 13, 1972) is an American recording engineer, producer, and drummer.^[1] He owns and manages The Echo Lab studio in Denton, Texas.^{[2] [3]}

Early life and education

Pence is from St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1990, Pence moved to Denton, Texas to study jazz at University of North Texas College of Music.

Career

In 1996, Pence did his first recording for a drummer friend on their record.

In 1999, musician and mastering engineer Dave Willingham created The Echo Lab studio outside the woods in Denton, Texas. In 2006, Pence and musician / engineer Matthew Barnhart became co-owners with Willingham of his Echo Lab studio.^[4] Pence is currently the full owner of The Echo Lab.^[5]

International bands from Australia, Britain, and other places, like Sweard from Spain and Horse Company from Holland, have all recorded at The Echo Lab.

From 1997 until 2014, Pence played drums in the alternative country band Centro-matic. He was also the drummer in the Centro-matic-fueled band, South San Gabriel.^[6]

Pence has also had a long-time collaboration with musician Sarah Jaffe, co-producing her 2011 record, The Way Sound Leaves a Room and her 2017 record, Bad Baby, as well as touring with Jaffe as her drummer.^[7]

In 2004, Pence mixed American Music Club's album called Love Songs For Patriots. He also recorded the song "Song Of The Rats Leaving The Sinking Ship".

Pence produced the forthcoming 2020 record by John Moreland, called LP5, which will feature contributions from Centro-matic's Will Johnson, as well as Bonnie Whitmore and Moreland's long-time bandmate, John Calvin Abney.^[8]

In addition to his work as a drummer, producer, and engineer, Pence is a photographer.^[9]

Honors

• 2011: Dallas Observer Music Awards, Producer of the Year (nominee)^[10]
• 2017: Dallas Observer Music Awards, Best Drummer^[11]

General discography

Drummer

• Adam's Farm
• Camerado
• Centro-matic
• Dan C
• Dooms U.K.
• Green Hour Residency
• Jason Isbell
• Jay Farrar
• Jonathan Tyler
• Justin Townes Earle
• Marie/Lepanto^[12]
• Nikki Lane
• Paul Cauthen
• Sarah Jaffe
• South San Gabriel

Production

• Breastfist
• Fishboy
• Here We Go Magic
• Isaac Hoskins
• Jonathan Tyler
• Rossif Sutherland
• Telegraph Canyon
• The Breeders
• True Widow
• Yuck

Selected discography

• 2001: Midlake, Milkmaid Grand Army EP (self-released) – recorded by, mixed by
• 2001: Jay Farrar, Sebastopol (Artemis Records) – drums, percussion
• 2002: Lewis, Even So (Deep Elm Records) – engineer^[13]
• 2004: Aqueduct, Pistols at Dawn EP (Sub Pop Records) – producer, drums
• 2004: American Music Club, Love Songs For Patriots (Merge Records/Devil in the Woods/Cooking Vinyl) – mixer
• 2004: Brave Combo, (Dentone Records) – engineer
• 2006: The Drams, Jubilee Dive (New West Records) – producer, photography^[14]
• 2006: Glossary, For What I Don’t Become (Undertow Music) – producer^[15]
• 2007: Robert Gomez, Brand New Towns (Bella Union) – producer^[16]
• 2009: Midlake, Acts of Man CD single (Bella Union) – mixed by
• 2009: Midlake, The Courage of Others EP (Bella Union) – mixed by
• 2009: Jason Isbell, Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit (Lightning Rod Records) – producer^[17]
• 2009: Jason Molina and Will Johnson, Molina and Johnson (Secretly Canadian) – recording engineer, drums
• 2009: Monsters of Folk (Conor Oberst, Jim James, Mike Mogis, M. Ward), Monsters of Folk (Shangri-La Music, Rough Trade Records) – mixer^[18]
• 2010: Glossary, Feral Fire (Liberty & Lament) – producer
• 2010: The Foxymorons, Bible Stories (self-released) – producer^[19]
• 2010: Micah P. Hinson, Micah P. Hinson And The "Pioneer Saboteurs" (Houston Party Records) – co-producer, mixed by, mastered by, backgrounds
• 2010: John Grant, Queen of Denmark (Bella Union) – mastering, mixing
• 2011: Sarah Jaffe, The Way Sound Leaves a Room (Kirtland Records) – engineer, co-producer
• 2011: True Widow, As High As the Highest Heavens and From the Center to the Circumference of the Earth (Kemado Records) – producer
• 2012: Dodgy, Stand Upright in a Cool Place (Strike Back Records) – mixing
• 2012: Jens Lekman, I Know What Love Isn't (Service/Secretly Canadian) – mixing
• 2012: Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker, and Yim Yames: New Multitudes (Rounder Records) – mixing
• 2013: True Widow, Circumambulation (Relapse Records) – producer
• 2013: Cody Jinks, Blacksheep EP (Late August Records) – drums
• 2013: Sean Nelson, Make Good Choices (Really Records) – drums
• 2014: Justin Townes Earle, Single Mothers (Vagrant Records, Loose Music) – drums
• 2014: The Bigsbys, Good Will Suitcase (Shiner Records) – producer^[20]
• 2014: Collin Herring, Some Knives (self-released) – producer^[21]
• 2015: Becca Stevens, Perfect Animal (Universal Music Classics) – mixed by
• 2015: The Foxymorons, Fake Yoga (Foxyphoton) – producer^[22]
• 2015: Denim Wonder (aka Daniel Hopkins, Carnation (self-released) – producer^[23]
• 2015: Justin Townes Earle, Absent Fathers (Vagrant Records, Loose Music) – drums
• 2015: Redeye, The Memory Layers (Lafolie Records/Microcultures) – producer^[24]
• 2016: Rodney Parker, Bomber Heights (self-released) – producer^[25]
• 2016: Midlake, The Trials Of Van Occupanther single (Bella Union) – "The Fairest Way" / "Festival" mixed by, mastered by
• 2017: Nikki Lane, Highway Queen (New West Records) – drums, engineer, percussion, producer
• 2017: BNQT, Volume 1 (Dualtone Records) – mixed by, mastered by
• 2017: Lift to Experience, The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads (Bella Union) – engineer, mixing^[26]
• 2017: Sarah Jaffe, Bad Baby (Kirtland Records) – producer
• 2017: Tomkat, Icarus (self-released) – producer^[27]
• 2018: Josh T. Pearson, The Straight Hits! (Mute) – engineer^[28]
• 2018: Claire Morales, All That Wanting (self-released) – engineer^[29]
• 2018: Maps & Atlases, Lightlessness Is Nothing New (Barsuk Records) – mastering
• 2018: Elle King, Shake the Spirit (RCA Records) – co-producer
• 2018: John Grant, Love Is Magic (Bella Union) – drum programming, engineering, additional production by
• 2018: Paul Cauthen, Have Mercy EP (Lightning Rod Records) – engineer
• 2019: Paul Cauthen, Room 41 (Lightning Rod Records) – mixed by
• 2019: E.B. the Younger, To Each His Own (Bella Union) – engineer, mixing, executive producer, drums, percussion^[30]
• 2020: John Moreland, LP5 (Thirty Tigers) – producer^[31]
• 2021: Fishboy, Waitsgiving (Lauren Records)- drums, mixing^[32]

Centro-matic and associated projects

• 1995: Centro-matic, Redo the Stacks (Steve Records) – co-producer with Will Johnson, drums
• 1999: Centro-matic, Navigational (Idol Records) – co-producer with Will Johnson, drums
• 1999: Centro-matic, The Static vs. The Strings Vol. 1 (Idol/Quality Park) – drums
• 2000: Centro-matic, All the Falsest Hearts Can Try (Idol/Quality Park/Munich) – drums
• 2000: South San Gabriel, South San Gabriel Songs/Music (Idol/Munich) – drums
• 2001: Centro-matic, Distance and Clime (Idol/Munich) – drums
• 2002: South San Gabriel, Welcome, Convalescence (Munich/Undertow Music) – drums, keyboards
• 2002: Will Johnson, Murder of Tides (Undertow Music) – producer^[33]
• 2003: Centro-matic, Love You Just The Same (Misra Records/Munich) – drums, engineer^[34]
• 2005: South San Gabriel, (Misra/Munich/Houston Party) – drums
• 2006: Centro-matic, Fort Recovery (album) (Misra Records) – drums
• 2008: Centro-matic/South San Gabriel, Dual Hawks (Misra/Cooking Vinyl/Houston Party) – drums^[35]
• 2011: Centro-matic, Candidate Waltz (Undertow Music) – drums^[36]
• 2012: Will Johnson, Scorpion (Undertow Music) – producer^[37]
• 2014: Centro-Matic, Take Pride in Your Long Odds (Navigational Transmissions) – engineer, producer^[38]

See also

• Centro-matic
• South San Gabriel

Further reading

• Book: Seman. Michael. What if Hewlett and Packard had started a band instead? Denton, Texas' music scene as economic cluster and its broader implications for the city's economy. May 2014. University of Texas at Arlington. Arlington, TX. Thesis/dissertation. 892517709.

External links

• • Matt Pence at The Echo Lab
  • Matt Pence at Undertow Music

Notes and References

1. News: Hopkins. Daniel. Seven of the Best Drummers in DFW. Dallas Observer. 30 August 2012.
2. News: Firstley. Ashley-Crystal. Recording studio gives bands creative freedom . North Texas Daily. 16 September 2010.
3. News: Jones. Abby. Little studio in the woods. North Texas Daily. Issuu. 4 May 2017. 6. en.
4. News: Sims. Dave. The Echo Lab Is An Extension Of Denton's Scene. Dallas Observer. 29 May 2008.
5. Web site: Willingham. David. David Willingham: About. 70 hurtz audio. 13 November 2019. en. 2 June 2012.
6. News: Freeman. Doug. Centro-Matic Packs It In. The Austin Chronicle. 12 December 2014.
7. News: Dearmore. Kelly. 4 musical stages of Sarah Jaffe, in honor of her excellent new album 'Bad Baby'. The Dallas Morning News. 5 July 2017.
8. News: Trigger. John Moreland Announces New Album "LP5" – Releases New Song. Saving Country Music. 18 October 2019.
9. News: Matt Pence & Will Johnson Photo + Art Show. Undertow Music. 6 August 2009.
10. News: Freedman. Pete. DOMAXXIII: Announcing Your 2011 Dallas Observer Music Awards Winners.... Dallas Observer. 19 October 2011.
11. News: North. Caroline. The 2017 Dallas Observer Music Awards Winners. Dallas Observer. 6 December 2017.
12. News: Blackstock. Peter . This week's music picks: Graham Reynolds, Flynt Flossy, Carolina Story. Austin American-Statesman. 25 August 2018. en.
13. News: Sutlief. Shannon. Even Handed. Dallas Observer. 20 June 2002.
14. News: Guarino. Mark. The Drams - Back from the Bone break. No Depression. 65. 31 August 2006. en.
15. News: Fahy. James P.. Band of the Week: Glossary. Paste Magazine. 20 November 2006. en.
16. News: Freeman. Doug. Robert Gomez: Brand New Towns Album Review. The Austin Chronicle. 20 April 2007.
17. News: Dansby. Andrew. Q&A: Jason Isbell. Lone Star Music Magazine. 1 February 2009. en.
18. News: Powell. Austin. The Sound and the Fury: Austin's own Monster of Folk, Will Johnson. The Austin Chronicle. 8 October 2010.
19. News: MP3 At 3PM: The Foxymorons. Magnet Magazine. 2 October 2010.
20. News: Dearmore. Kelly. The Bigsbys: "Good Will Suitcase". Lone Star Music Magazine. 1 March 2014. en.
21. News: Caligiuri. Jim. Collin Herring. The Austin Chronicle. 23 May 2014.
22. News: Dearmore. Kelly. Foxymorons Are a Local Band Who Aren't Really Local and Kind of Not Even a Band. Dallas Observer. 4 November 2015.
23. News: Jones. Preston. Lone Star Sounds: New music from Denim Wonder. 4 November 2015.
24. News: Basedow. Neph. Redeye: The Memory Layers Album Review. The Austin Chronicle. 21 August 2015.
25. News: Mooney. Thomas. Q&A: Rodney Parker. Lone Star Music Magazine. 19 September 2016. en.
26. News: Wood. Marie. Interview "This is for the love of the art": DiS Meets Lift To Experience. DrownedInSound. 2 March 2017. en. 12 November 2019. 12 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191112184910/http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4150829-this-is-for-the-love-of-the-art---dis-meets-lift-to-experience. dead.
27. News: Breeding. Lucinda. With first album, Denton's Tomkat ready for prime time. Denton Record-Chronicle. 11 October 2017. en.
28. News: Dearmore. Kelly. Former Denton musician Josh T. Pearson debuts new record on Friday the 13th ... before mankind is wiped out. The Dallas Morning News. 10 April 2018. en.
29. News: Smith. Nathan. Spotlight On… Claire Morales. Texas Music Magazine. 67. 24 August 2016.
30. News: E.B. The Younger announces debut album "To Each His Own". Bella Union. 2019. Press release.
31. News: Irons. Aaron. Still Belonging: John Moreland Shares Details On New Album. Sound & Soul of Central Georgia. 10 October 2019.
32. Web site: Matt Pence Credits . 2023-07-18 . AllMusic . en.
33. News: Chamy. Michael. Will Johnson: Murder of Tides Album Review. The Austin Chronicle. 1 November 2002.
34. News: Chamy. Michael. Centro-Matic Reviewed. The Austin Chronicle. 12 September 2003.
35. News: Field of Dreams: A nine-inning sampler of Johnson's best songs. The Austin Chronicle. 8 October 2010.
36. News: Markel. Jim. Centro-matic: Candidate Waltz. Swampland. 2011.
37. News: Mongillo. Peter. Will Johnson calls on longtime bandmate for solo effort. Austin American-Statesman. 11 September 2012. en.
38. News: Kelly. Jennifer. Beating the Odds: Centro-Matic. Blurt Magazine. 2 September 2014.