Matt Rouch & The Noise Upstairs

When someone decides to embark on a career in folk music, he or she better have something original to say. It’s a style of music that, along with genres like country and americana, is fairly strict musically in terms of common chord progressions and melodies. What sets certain acts apart is unique lyrical content and creative ways of gently stretching the genre’s musical boundaries. The Denver based group Matt Rouch & The Noise Upstairs worked their way toward that goal on their recent release The Beautiful and the Damned. The band employs a mostly conventional approach to songwriting on the album but they include engaging lyrics and show signs that they are cultivating an original sound that might soon break out of the folk music box.

Originally from Virginia, Rouch cut his teeth playing in several bands on the East coast before moving to the Rocky Mountains. It was at a Denver open mic night where he met songwriters Justin Catanzaro and Alex Fostar, who happened to play bass and violin, and The Noise Upstairs was formed.
The first song on The Beautiful and the Damned is the bright sounding “I’m No Angel,” which has somewhat introspective lyrics despite the bubbly music. Rouch comments on his tendencies in relationships, highlighted by the line in the chorus: “I’m no angel, but I’ve been trying.” There’s a theme of progress in the song, as if he is ready to be more serious in love. Later in the bridge, he writes, “I’ve held hearts of fragile glass and left the broken pieces in my path / but I’m all done with that.” So Rouch’s purposeful lyrics ultimately match up with the upbeat music and give it a depth that isn’t apparent in the music alone.

Another example of unassuming music with thoughtful lyrics comes on “The Man You See.” The song uses only Rouch’s voice and acoustic guitar. It’s another case where Rouch’s lyrics are what truly define the song. He sings about troubles in relationships, which has certainly been done before, but here he offers some interesting thoughts and analogies. He sings, “I guess it’s just easier to cut down a tree than getting down and pulling all the weeds / and sometimes the grass is greener, except when it’s not you who wants to leave.” Throughout the song, he plays the part of the weary romantic traveler with lines like: “Sometimes traveling the long road means knowing how to spot a dead end.” Although the song doesn’t necessarily offer any surprises, it’s a heartfelt tune that will resonate with many listeners.

One of the more musically original tracks on The Beautiful and the Damned is the quasi cowboy story “Riders from the Hillside.” The song’s composition in itself is not very creative, but the raw, driving style pops out against the rest of the album’s more gentle folky songs. The track points toward a direction of stylistic blending that could give Matt Rouch & The Noise Upstairs a more identifiable, original sound moving forward.

The band has the musical skills to take their sound to another level and really separate them from other music of similar style. The musicianship is strong on The Beautiful and the Damned and the three musicians clearly have a unified concept of their sound, evidenced by their cohesive playing. They appear ready to take the next step toward building a musical style that will be theirs alone. - 24Our Music

It’s happened to all of us at some point: You’re walking down your favorite Denver alley when all of the sudden, Matt Rouch & the Noise Upstairs surround you.

“Penny for a song, sir and/or madame?” Rouch always asks.

You search your pockets. Moth balls, a half a stick of gum and a crab leg — the same three things, every time. “Sorry,” you say for the third time this month, “snake eyes.”

Dejected, both you and the band hang your heads in disappointment.

Yes. Yes, you will. Thursday at the UMS, we tracked the band down and caught them playing “Walking Out of Tennessee” in that very alley.

Check it out above, and see Matt Rouch & the Noise Upstairs at the South Broadway Christian Church on Sunday, July 31 at 4 p.m. — no penny necessary. - Denver Post

Matt Rouch and the Noise Upstairs, winners of the Vertex Musical Championships’ “Best in Class” award, bring their unique style of country music to Colorado during a series of performances this fall. After a rousing performance at the Orchard Festival in Westminster, Colo. on Sept. 24, Matt Rouch and the Upstairs Noise will continue their fall tour with performances in Denver at Local 46 on Oct. 2 and then will head to Colorado Springs Oct. 15 for a performance at Public House.

As a recent Colorado transplant, Matt Rouch, has previously performed with a variety of different bands on the east coast. Matt Rouch and the Noise Upstairs combines the Rouch's iconic guitar-play with songwriter Justin Catanzaro and Alex Fostar on bass and violin respectively. Together, the band is already turning heads in the Colorado area and beyond.

After competing in the category of string musicians during the 2016 Vertex Musical Championships, guitarist Matt Rouch went head to head with violinist Matt Rottinghaus and harpist Anna Stezha. In the end, the judges awarded Matt Rouch with the “Best in Class” award for his category.

"Now those two are real string players, but this was a dream come true, I can't believe it, there were so many great musicians here for this event, it's truly an honor to be selected and I'm already incredibly excited to come back and play next year." said Matt Rouch of the competition on his blog.

Watch Matt Rouch and the Noise Upstairs perform in this video or watch them on the band's YouTube here. For more information on Matt Rouch, visit his website here. - Axs

Hailing from Virginia and growing up near Washington, D.C., Matt Rouch has now landed in Denver, CO and is diligently working his way into the music scene. A long-time member of several bands on the east coast, Matt recently started a project in his new Rocky Mountain town called Matt Rouch & The Noise Upstairs. The group formed as a result of the ever-popular Meadowlark open mic night. Matt met songwriters Justin Catanzaro and Alex Fostar, both of whom mentioned they played other instruments like bass and violin. Together they started working on a sound that would merge the best of their styles with Matt's.


Matt Rouch & The Noise Upstairs
September 16, 2016
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P.M.


Hailing from Virginia and growing up near Washington, D.C., Matt Rouch has now landed in Denver, CO and is diligently working his way into the music scene. A long-time member of several bands on the east coast, Matt recently started a project in his new Rocky Mountain town called Matt Rouch & The Noise Upstairs. The group formed as a result of the ever-popular Meadowlark open mic night. Matt met songwriters Justin Catanzaro and Alex Fostar, both of whom mentioned they played other instruments like bass and violin. Together they started working on a sound that would merge the best of their styles with Matt's.



Matt's style is a blend of new and old, listing contemporary acts such as The Decemberists, The Tallest Man on Earth, Iron and Wine, and The Milk Carton Kids as major influences, he still draws upon well of the golden age of country for inspiration from artists like Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, and Conway Twitty. Matt's music is dynamic, he can enthrall a crowd with passionate soaring vocals with a loud twangy country number, then mellow things out with a quiet intimate folk song. Storytelling has always been a passion of Matt's and it has permeated through his music, songs of lost loves and new loves are as old as time, however the honesty and intimacy with which Matt approaches his songwriting is what gives his music its charm.

"I guess my favorite quote about writing goes something along the lines of 'great writing isn't better than average writing, it's just more honest' and I try to always remember that when I sit down to write a song." - AllMusicTrends.com

If you’re looking for a new alt-country indie-folk group to listen to while you traverse the Rocky Mountains this weekend Colorado, we found ‘em. Meet Matt Rouch & The Noise Upstairs. Originally from Virginia, leader and founding member Matt Rouch moved to Denver, CO and has slowly been inserting himself into the Colorado music scene ever since. After many moonlit nights playing Meadowlark Bar’s open mic, Rouch met members Justin Catanzaro and Alex Fostar. Together, the trio has been making noise more than just upstairs, with mentions in Scene Magazine, The Marquee, and AXS.

Rouch’s style is a self-described “blend of new and old”, with influences that include The Decemberists, The Tallest Man On Earth, Johnny Cash, and Loretta Lynn. But above all, for Rouch it’s about the songwriting:

“I guess my favorite quote about wrtiting goes something along the lines of ‘great writing isn’t better than average writing, it’s just more honest’, and I try to always remember that when I sit down to write a song.”
Rouch recently released a new full-length album, The Beautiful and the Damned. It’s a well-composed release that is perfect for summer, with its strummy tones, blazing harmonica, and overall upbeat, but daring honesty on themes like heartache and finding oneself through travelling alone. It’s a release definitely worth checking out, and can be streamed on the band’s website.

Matt Rouch and The Noise Upstairs have several Colorado shows coming up, so make sure to stop over to one of their live sets and keep up with them here! - BolderBeat.com

Matt Rouch and the Noise Upstairs, winners of the Vertex Musical Championships’ “Best in Class” award, bring their unique style of country music to Colorado during a series of performances this fall. Colorado residents can get better acquainted with Matt Rouch in AXS' exclusive interview with the band,

AXS; Where did you come up with the name "The Noise Upstairs?"

Matt Rouch: We used to practice in my girlfriend’s apartment which was sandwiched right in the middle of her building so we’re pretty sure every neighbor heard it, I’m sure people below us were wondering what that noise upstairs was so we used it. I’m sure there’s still mixed feelings in that building about the noise upstairs.

AXS: Tell us more about your sneaky college practices and what school help contributed to your success.

MR: Well the first band I started began with just myself and a cellist. She lived about an hour away from me and there happened to be a little commuter school right in between us and we figured that would be a good place to practice. The first day we snuck into the music building and sure enough all of the practice rooms were unlocked so we just started to have all of our practices there.

AXS: Since you were awarded with best in class, how long have each of you been playing your instruments for?

MR: I’ve been playing guitar for about 15 years, it was just me solo at Vertex going up against real string players, I was very fortunate, there was no way I thought I’d win, especially given the competition.

AXS: What was the first song you all came up with together and have any of you been in other serious projects before this? If so how different was it from the style of music you all play now?

MR: We actually haven’t been playing together that long so we haven’t come up with anything organically yet. I put out a solo record earlier this year so the band has just been learning those songs, and we have a couple other songwriters in the group so we’re learning their songs as well.

AXS: Now that you're on the bill for next years Vertex Festival, how do you all plan to prepare for this show and have you any of you played and event at this big of a scale before?

MR: By gigging as much as possible to make sure we’re polished and ready to go next year at Vertex. I don’t think any of us have ever played an event this big, it will truly be a dream come true for all of us to play it.

AXS: Is your family musical? Describe your family member’s musical interests and abilities.

MR: Not really, I don’t think I know anyone else in the family that plays an instrument. The only person I know of was my great grandfather, who apparently was a brilliant guitarist.

AXS: Which famous musicians do you admire? Why?

MR: Colin Meloy, he’s the reason I’m writing and performing folk songs, for me he made it cool to be a nerd. So much of folk and alt-country is about the same subjects and he comes along singing stories about mariners and legionnaires, not to mention a vocabulary that would often send me running for a dictionary, but with these highly-arranged songs and some of the most beautiful melodies I’ve ever heard – it was everything that I didn’t know I was looking for in music. I’ve been a Decemberists fan for about 12 years now and their music was highly influential on me when I was first starting out. Even when I was starting to teach myself to sing (mostly in the car) I listened to Decemberists songs and tried to sing like Colin.

AXS: Which famous musicians have you learned from?

MR: And obviously Colin Meloy, with his narrative writing style, and following in his footsteps vocally, to this day I can still do a pretty darn good Meloy impression when covering his songs.

AXS: What are your fondest musical memories? In your house? In your neighborhood or town?

MR: When I was very young, I always remember the house being filled with music, whether it was my mom working out to Genesis or Peter Gabriel, or my dad throwing on his red bandana, blasting Bruce Springsteen and going out and working on his car, my parents both loved listening to music – loudly, which is the appropriate way to listen to music. My other memory is the day I got my first guitar, it was a crappy old right-handed acoustic guitar donated by our neighbor and strung left-handed for me (I’m a lefty). After many years in elementary and middle school band playing the clarinet and saxophone, in high school I joined the jazz band, and they had a spot for a guitarist, so my mom caved and finally got me my first left-handed electric guitar, I was in love.

AXS: What can fans to expect to come for the future of Matt Rouch & The Noise Upstairs

MR: Well I just recorded a new single, “Adelaide” which I’ll be releasing here shortly. We’re constantly playing in Denver and along the Front Range, hopefully next year we’ll get to branch out a little bit.

AXS: Matt Rouch, thank you for your time.

MR: Thanks so much talking with me, it was my pleasure.

Listen to Matt Rouch and the Upstairs Noise here. For more information on Matt Rouch, visit his website here. - Axs

The biggest key for an independent songwriter to reach an audience is creating songs that can connect with the listener. They must be willing to pour honesty and intimacy in their songs and be unafraid to share stories that hit close to home. Our recent find Matt Rouch has hit this right on the head with his music.

Born in Virginia and growing up near Washington, D.C., Matt Rouch has now crossed the country and landed in Denver, Colorado. He is now diligently working his way into the music scene.

A long-time member of several bands on the east coast, Matt recently started a project in his new Rocky Mountain town called Matt Rouch & The Noise Upstairs. The group formed as a result of the ever-popular Meadowlark open mic night in Denver. Matt met songwriters Justin Catanzaro and Alex Fostar, both of whom mentioned they played other instruments like bass and violin. Together they started working on a sound that would merge the best of their styles to form The Noise Upstairs.

After being together for only a few months, Matt Rouch and The Noise Upstairs has already released a full length album entitled The Beautiful and The Damned. The 9 track record puts it all together with touches of folk, country and intense storytelling. The opener “I’m No Angel” sets the peppy tone with some harmonica and a chugging beat that gets the heart pumping a bit. The lyrics show that Matt Rouch will put it all out there for everyone to hear. Both the good and the bad. There is a little rock n roll vibe on “Black Noon Dawn”. The sounds of many instruments fill the sonic space to create a lush tapestry of music.

The group shows they can slow it down just as well on “The Man You See”. This heavily folk-influenced number is an intimate one that creates the feel of sitting around a campfire as Matt Rouch and The Noise Upstairs performs just for you. The vocals bring a memory of Evan Dando on the Lemonheads sharing his feelings. The music dives a little darker on “Riders From The Hillside”. Both lyrically and musically we feel the dark side of the mind of the songwriter. The bouncy guitar melody of “This Side Of Paradise” will get your head bopping along. The powerful violin that comes in will jar you awake to focus on where the song is going. There is no rest for the wicked.

The album closes with the travelling song “Bus To Chillicothe”. It seems like a sad journey allowing the mind to wander to thoughts of loneliness and fear. There is hope though as the melody picks up to bring it all home, just like we all want.

Come join in the intimate journey of Matt Rouch And The Noise Upstairs on their WEBSITE for even more of the story. - Indie Band Guru

There’s a remarkable depth and subtlety to Denver-based Matt Rouch's work, a consistent gift for arrangements that enable his songs to resonate. And his appealing tenor has a human quality that might lure the ladies. “I’m No Angel” has banjo and harmonica licks that we dig, adding to an arrangement that builds patiently for impact. “Black Noon Dawn” paints a rustic scene, using a fiddle to suggest the wind and a piano riff that’s catchy. Perhaps most affecting is “Bus to Chillicothe,” a bittersweet love story where Rouch uses a lonesome steel-guitar and a mesmerizing celestial hum to engage the listener’s emotions. More folk than country, you can tell Rouch is an artist that has done his homework and can pass the test. - Music Connection Magazine

It can be hard (and expensive) for real folk songwriters to make waves in an over-saturated music market. Especially if you’re a transplant who recently moved to Denver from Virginia.
Matt Rouch, however, has found a way to leverage his genuine mix of talent, kindness, and deep emotional honesty to set strong roots in his new scene.
For one, Rouch’s debut album – The Beautiful and the Damned – shows a maturity and professionalism that sets Rouch apart. I could rave on about The Beautiful and the Damned, about its vintage feel and endearing songwriting. I could marvel at how the recordings are accomplished productions where smart arrangements support Rouch’s honest vocal performances and lyricism.
But I’ll restrain myself, because others have already taken notice. Music Connection Magazine raved about the record’s “remarkable depth and subtlety.” Where others have noted connections to James Taylor and Fleet Foxes, I hear hints of The Band, Johnny Cash, and modern indie folk acts like Iron and Wine, the Decemberists, and the Tallest Man on Earth.

In researching this piece, I found other reviewers struggle to find the language describing a mysterious, intangible something going on behind the scenes. StereoStickMan mused that something “so much more … than what can simply be heard,” was going on, and I could hear this something when I listened. It pulled me in. What was it?


As I conversed with Rouch about his recent successes, I came to appreciate Rouch’s talent and a potential competitive advantage in the sea of acoustic alt-country folk. There’s a kindness and honesty that pervades his work. BeachSloth called him “clever and kind.” Jamsphere called him “wholesome and honest.” I found this kindness to be woven into each track.
Rouch confirmed that there were deep currents of kindness in the recordings, and said that the record –a which started as an

Rouch confirmed that there were deep currents of kindness in the recordings, and said that the record –a which started as an unassuming four song live demo – wouldn’t have existed without the professional kindness and dedication of others. From his girlfriend, who made the tracking sessions logistically possible, to Jonathan Osborne, the Engineer at Imprint studios who referred the work to Joseph Chudyk at Mockingbird studios in upstate in New York, who took an immediate and involved interest in producing and mixing the record. The result is a polished piece of art, of a “grassroots effort reaching across singer-songwriter landscapes in folk,” as Rouch put it.
Rouch’s new band, dubbed “The Noise Upstairs,” has provided a more intimate kind of friendship, kindness and talent. He now lives with his bandmates Alex Fostar (violin and electric guitar) and Justin Catanzaro (bass and electric guitar), and everything is going along just swell.
He just won in Best in Class for Strings for the Vertex Musical Championships, and the full band will get to play an hour set at next year’s festival. In many ways, Rouch is on the up-and-up, and I suspect his disarming kindness and honesty are helping him get there.
Matt Rouch and his band perform at Moe’s BBQ on September 16. Show details online at www.mattrouch.com.
Sean Waters is a local musician with The Seers and a writing instructor at CSU. He can be reached (sean.waters@colostate.edu). - Scene Magazine

On his debut album, The Beautiful and the Damned, Matt Rouch oscillates between country, folk and acoustic rock in a totally satisfying way. There’s not much distance between these sounds, so the traveling is not especially hard, but Rouch makes the distance pass easily by never fully committing to any one sound. When he’s in folkster mode, he’ll throw in some chamber-pop cellos during the chorus. When he has a bouncy, swinging honky tonk track, he doesn’t feign a twang vocal, instead singing more acoustic rock, though a subtle twang would add more character to his vocals. All this sounds a bit like an identity crisis, but it’s not. Again, it’s satisfying, in the way The Avett Brothers are satisfying, in the way James Taylor is satisfying. This is not boundary-pushing, challenging music, but it doesn’t portend to be. Yet Rouch, in the arrangements, takes some risks by interjecting passages in the songs that defy the Americana standard you would expect, as when he uses cello and xylophone. These sections could be better integrated into the songs, but it’s a pleasant surprise to come across nonetheless. All in all, a promising debut, and it will be interesting to see where he settles. I’m hoping for country.

Studio: Imprint Studios, Thornton, CO

Recording Engineer: Jonathan Osborne

Mixed and Mastered at: Mockingbird Studios, Byron, NY

Producer, Mixing and Mastering Engineer: Joseph Chudyk

Released: March 1, 2016

3.5/5 Stars - Scene Magazine

Matt Rouch, the self-proclaimed “Virginia-raised southpaw guitarist” just started a new band called Matt Rouch & The Noise Upstairs. But just weeks before he did that, he released his solo Americana album The Beautiful and Damned — a straight-forward, storytelling songwriter project. The guitarist and vocalist was in several bands on the east coast, but as a challenge he’s set his sights on captivating a room all alone with his guitar. The Beautiful and Damned comes across like a seasoned soloist’s album and with his recent additions of The Noise Upstairs, Rouch and company will be able to fully flush out the already thorough compositions in the live setting. - Brian F. Johnson - Marquee Magazine

“Only dumb people try to impress smart people. Smart people just do what they do.” Chris Rock

In the mountains of Colorado Matt Rouch is perfecting the folk genre. His first album “The Beautiful and the Damned,” is expertly and subtly written. It’s a masterpiece in the amount of depth that is buried within such a simple, natural sound. The first listen of the album is like standing on the beach and marveling at the beauty of the ocean before fully realizing the majestic beings that call it home. Think about that movie you loved as a child and how watching it as an adult you picked up on things you never knew were there (raise your hand if you were confused how Forrest Gump ruined Jenny’s roommate’s bed sheets upon your first viewing). This album has that capability as it is such an easy going listen that it can be appreciated whether you delve into the deeper aspects or not.

The album begins with “I’m No Angel” and immediately draws you in with a foot tapping beat wrought by an acoustic guitar and harmonica. Rouch’s naturally smooth voice comes in 20 seconds later and effortlessly ties it all together. The aesthetics are easily there. While the song can easily be classified as a love song there is something a little darker going on here as the song discusses the mistakes and mistreatments of others in the past with a promise that “I’m all done with that.” With this opening track it quickly becomes apparent that at the heart of his music Rouch is a story teller. Rouch, however, is gifted with the ability to use his words to paint a spectacular picture which separates him from other story tellers. Then he takes it a step further with perfectly timed instrumental transitions which separate him from other singer songwriters. While these elements are present in each song, they are on full display in tracks like “Black Noon Dawn” and “Riders from the Hillside” which would earn a tip of the hat from Johnny Cash.

Rouch’s versatility is commendable. Each song builds on itself but in a different manner than the prior ones. Whether this is done via a mid-song introduction of a violin, keys, clapping, or just a good old fashioned bridge Rouch keeps it fresh through a 10 track album. This, combined with the clear amount of effort put into each song, leads to an album that is begging for multiple listens. 10 people who listen to this album can all walk out with a different favorite track. For me, “The Man You See” is it. The song is all about love lost, moving on, and hoping to find that person again. The track has a bit of an acoustic Jack White instrumental feel to it and Rouch’s vocals are delivered with the softness of James Taylor. In this song the pain accompanying the pleasing tones of the album are the most defined. In a nutshell that’s what the title of the album, “The Beautiful and the Damned,” is all about.

Possibly the most impressive thing about “The Beautiful and the Damned” is this is Matt Rouch’s first album release. His writing is detailed and chalked full of imagery. His delivery is flawless. And his voice is as velvety as they come. He has made quite the first impression and there will be a slew of people waiting to hear what Rouch has for a follow up.

Buy this album if you like The Fleet Foxes, James Taylor, The Decembrists

Connect with the artist on Facebook, Twitter, His Website

Buy the album at CDBaby, iTunes, Amazon - Hands Off Promotions

All in all. I'm very happy with it,” singer/songwriter Matt Rouch said about his debut album, The Beautiful and the Damned. “It was incredible how it all came together, I had never done a full album before and who knows if I ever will again so I felt like I had to go for it.” This past year has been an extraordinarily busy one for Rouch, who relocated to Denver from Richmond, Virginia while also completing his freshman album. Playing around town, including tonight at Declaration Brewing, Rouch shared his perspective on the Denver scene and more in this exclusive AXS interview.

AXS: Are you a Denver native? If not, where are you from originally?
Matt Rouch: I am not a Denver native. I actually moved here last July from Richmond, Virgina. I grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and played in a couple different indie/folk bands there for about 10 years, my DC band was called The Last Monarchs.

AXS: What inspired you to start playing music professionally?
MR: I always wanted to perform and have it be a side-career of mine ever since I started playing guitar. I think what inspired me to give it a real shot was encouragement from friends, family and other musicians. Most of my life I've been a shy, introverted, self-conscious kid so it took a long time to build up the confidence to take my music from my bedroom to the stage.

AXS: How long have you been performing music?
MR: Fifteen years, ever since high school talent shows and performances at family vacations when I was 13 or 14.

AXS: Where was your first show in Denver, and what was the experience like? Who else did you play with at the show?
MR: My first show in Denver was a Lion's Lair in October 2015. It was actually a pretty nerve-racking experience, I hadn't been on stage for almost a year and I remember I was so nervous I was in the alley dry-heaving about 10 minutes before I was supposed to go on. After I started playing it all came back fairly quickly and it felt really good to be back on stage. I played with a couple great bands, Amigo the Devil and Undlin and Wolfe, they drew really well and the place was packed so it was a great experience.

AXS: Have any Denver musicians inspired you?
MR: I actually didn't know a whole lot about the Denver music scene before I live here. I've been really impressed with some of the big names that have come out of here like the Lumineers, I recently found out I'm second cousins with Wesley Schultz's wife, Brandy. Also, the recent success of Nathaniel Rateliffe has been really fun to watch, I was listening to him when I was back east when he just a solo songwriter. My favorite local bands that I've played with while I've been here are Maxwell Mud, from Fort Collins, and Smokestack Relics, from Golden, both of those groups are made up of excellent musicians who are great performers with great songs.

AXS: Do you have a goal in mind for the sound the you produce? Are there certain influences or themes the you try to inject into its own music?
MR: I do try to produce and inject a mix of old country/folk with some more contemporary sound. As much as I love digging into all the new music that's out there, I always find myself going back to the golden age of country music and all the old folk singers. Basically I just try to stay within myself, know what I'm good at, and try to fill my music with as much honest passion as possible.

AXS: For someone who has never seen or heard you, what would you tell them to entice them to watch your set?
MR: Well if they like folk/country music that'd be a good start! I focus on having strong melodies, strong lyrics and overall just honest writing in my music, with a little folk and country twinge so if that sounds appealing to them I'd recommend they check me out.

AXS: What would your ideal live show look like? Where would it take place? Any particular time of year? Would a specific band/musician share the bill with or open for you?
MR: Well now that I'm in Denver, and if we're living in fantasy land, my ideal live show would be playing at Red Rocks in the summer time and playing with a few of my biggest influences - The Decemberists, The Tallest Man on Earth, and Iron & Wine. Also, if I could go back in time and open for Elliott Smith somewhere in Portland that would be pretty incredible.

AXS: What was the process like for creating your 2016 album, The Beautiful and the Damned?
MR: I worked with a couple great sound engineers and producers, Jonathan Osborne at Imprint Studios in Thornton, Colorado and Joseph Chudyk at Mockingbird Studios in Byron, New York. I worked with a great cellist as well, Julia Siegl, who performed beautifully on this record. All in all I'm very happy with it, it was incredible how it all came together, I had never done a full album before and who knows if I ever will again so I felt like I had to go for it.

AXS: What else are you involved in locally?
MR: So I moved here for a job as an environmental scientist with BLM, so I work at the Federal Center in Lakewood. I've always had a strong battle between my science-y analytical side and my creative side. Other than that I'm just trying to get more involved with the music scene here, meet as many musicians as I can, and play out as much as possible.

AXS: What do you enjoy most about Denver’s music scene, and why?
MR: I love how welcoming it is to new musicians, from both other bands and fans. There seems to be a lot of support for local bands here which is not the case in the big cities back east. People are just overall more friendly here and that translates to the music scene as well. - Alli Andress - Axs.com

Music business…
Honestly, I’m really not a fan of the music industry and a lot of people that work in it, and a lot of bands will know what I’m talking about. I won’t go into great detail, but it’s mostly 99% rejection and pain with about 1% joy so musicians be prepared for a lot of failures, but stay true to yourself and just play for the joy of playing.

Social media…
I like how engaged so many people are with social media. I’m kind of old school and didn’t use to participate in a lot of it, but now that I’m trying to put myself out there more I’ve received a great response so that’s been encouraging. The challenge I guess is keep up with ALL of the sites, you almost need a social media manager as a band these days.

Singles vs an album…
I like an album, it’s the toughest thing to make, at least a good one anyway, and a lot of bands and musicians I know never end up doing one. Again I love a lot of old music and if you listen to bands from the 60’s and 70’s they made complete albums where every song was great. I get the idea behind singles, because you only need one hit to make you famous worldwide overnight, I just prefer listening to groups that take the time to make great albums.

I would love to have 5 minutes alone with…
Colin Meloy of The Decemberists, he’s the entire reason I was drawn to folk and alt-country Americana music over a decade ago, he had this incredible voice, unbelievably clever and witty narrative writing style, and his songs were historical, with stories about legionnaires and mariners, he basically made it cool to be a nerd, he’s one of my idols for sure.

Do you find that there is to much emphasis on being current and trendy…
I think there is, but you have to play the game a little. I try to balance it out as much as possible. So many band and artists you meet are all trying to “out cool” each other. I personally would wear sweat pants and a mustard-stained undershirt every day if it were socially acceptable, but as performer there is pressure to look a certain way and dress a certain way, probably for the better in my case.

I am most afraid of…
Personally, giving into rejection and fear and giving up on music all together one day, or worse, having success and turning into a cruel and mean person.

My personal definition of success is..
Being able to do what you love, that old cliché, if I ever get to the point where this is my full-time gig and I can pay the bills and eat on a regular basis I would consider that success. As far as a success story, really anytime I book a gig, because a lot of the time it’s the touring headliner or their agent who approves the bands and recently a lot of people have been picking me to play with them and I can tell you how much that means to me, the same with winning over a new fan at a show, even if it’s just one, it’s overwhelming for me that someone likes my music enough to come tell me, I’m truly grateful for all of my fans.

My over all goal for my life & career is…
To be a good, smart, kind, caring, loving, human being. If I can do that, everything else is just a bonus.

3 Ways that I challenge myself …

1) Keep listening to more music, to people who are much more talented than myself, and instead of getting discouraged, get fired up and motivated to try to write even better songs.

2) Try to stay calm and collected and grounded as a person, I suffer from high-anxiety so I can get moody and really unpleasant to be around pretty quickly, so I challenge myself to stay positive and in a good frame of mind.

3) Practice kindness to everyone, even enemies.

My mom put me in band when I was in the 4th grade…
playing the clarinet so ever since then I’ve been in love with music, but even at a younger age my parents always had music playing throughout the house, whether it was my mom playing Genesis or my dad playing Springsteen. I always wanted to play guitar though so when I got to high school I started playing in the jazz band and everything took off from there.

This Side of Paradise…
As morbid as it sounds I think this song is about someone dying. Maybe not exactly a literal death, but if you lose someone special in your life and you know you’ll never see or speak to them again it certainly feels like they were dead. I heard a great quote from someone sometime who said, “The hardest thing you’ll have to endure as a human being is mourning the loss of someone who is still alive.”
It just kind of came out one day, I wrote it pretty fast and I really wanted to explore the idea of a breakup being like a death.

When we were shooting the video for this, Adam Reynolds, who runs Acentric Video Productions in Denver had brought his little daughter along. She was in the studio while the track was playing and she was dancing around all happy telling us how much she loved the song, but when I told her what it was about she stopped all of a sudden, looked at the ground, and said she was sad now and that it made her heart hurt, it was really touching, and I felt bad for bringing her down.

This is the first album I’ve ever done…
I’ve been in bands for over 10 years and never did anything more than a 5-song demo. The songs on here span that same length of time as well, it’s a good compilation and reflection on the last decade or so of my life. I just tried to write honest songs about love and loss and I hope I had made it slightly entertaining at the same time.

I live in Denver, Colorado…
I moved here last summer from Virginia, I grew up outside of Washington, D.C. The Denver scene is great, it’s really exploded recently from what I can tell, especially with bands like The Lumineers, The Fray, and Nathaniel Rateliff leading the way. One fun thing I like to do is get out to all the breweries and distilleries that are here, I love good beer, and I’m a Virginia boy so I love Bourbon even more. - American Pride Magazine

Matt Rouch’s album The Beautiful and the Damned is one of such a natural and organic sound, that you will feel like he and the band are right there in the room with you – for the entire performance of each and every song. The music is so pure sounding, the effortless beauty of folk, the lyrical magic of melodic poetry, and the lead vocal of such warmth and realness that you feel involved and welcomed from the very beginning. The title alone is so perfectly intriguing and captivating that it seems a crime not to listen, but in all honesty; it is the music and the song writing that will really draw you in.

I’m No Angel is a superb way to begin a release such as this. The song is beautiful, a great introduction to Matt Rouch if you haven’t heard his music before, and a great introduction to what will be a stunning collection of heart felt folk style songs. The harmonica weaves it’s simplistic artistry around you and fits so brilliantly with the surrounding music and melodies. You hear this song and immedietly feel like you know it from somewhere, like perhaps it was the theme tune or backing music to one of your favourite films.

A lot of the songs in this album have a similar feeling actually, that the music is so real, so accessible, the word organic comes to mind again, that it just has to be used here, there, and everywhere – to brighten up the corners of an otherwise quieter alternative art form. It feels like the soundtrack to a well traveled and hard working life.

The feeling continues throughout the album; Bus to Chillicothe has that same shine of the storyteller, that same personal element, but in addition to this there is a sudden and strong sense of emotion and honesty. The vocal performance is gentle and smooth, the lyrics are thought provoking and deep, the guitar work is sublime – the sound, the performance, the recording style and mix – it all sounds fantastic. This song gives you that sense of oneness you only get from real, genuine music; like the artist knows how you feel, has felt it too, and has written about it – just for you.

“My thoughts won’t quiet down and sleep..”

Heartache in My Bones is the fifth track of the album, and was a personal favourite for a number of reasons. The simplicity of the instrumentation, that country twang and riff, rotating and gently reeling you in, that beautiful vocal melody and lyrical poetry of a sort of Leonard Cohen style – it all works so well together, and is so well placed within the track-list that you may find you were craving exactly this kind of song by now, without even realizing the desire.

The strings come in, the additional twang style riff, the big bass drum – the atmosphere this track creates is just fantastic. It transports you somewhere far away from your current moment; unless of course you’re already standing and reflecting on your life outside some desert-side bar in the states – which I am not, but securely felt as if I was, quite effectively, for the extent of this song. It’s one you’ll find yourself returning to again and again, the reason the repeat button was added to life and music.

Matt Rouch has everything going for him when it comes to making music, he has everything you’d hope for in an acoustic artist, or a song writer, whether it’s folk or indie or country music you’re after. The Man You See is yet another example of glorious writing; soft and seductive melodies, the simple picking of guitar strings, the beautiful warmth of those flawless and effortless sounding harmonies.

The strength is in the writing and the performance, and nothing else is needed to keep that fire burning. The Man You See gave me a little hint of Eddie Vedder, in fact, the Into The Wild soundtrack in particular – again, that soundtrack sort of sound, like there is so much more going on than what can simply be heard. The vocal is stunning on this one too, really stepping out into the spotlight for a few minutes and standing tall among the minimalist musical backdrop.

If you’re looking for an album to see you through an evening of quiet contemplation, or one for those evenings spent relaxing and catching up with old friends, or one for that long car journey back to wherever it is that you feel you need to be – this is the one. Head over to Matt Rouch’s Website to get hold of a copy. In the meantime, here’s the official video for This Side of Paradise – an incredibly honest and gorgeous sounding song, accompanied by the simplistic beauty of an acoustic performance and an array of hypnotic visual art. Everything is as it should be; press play and let it take you away – from the hectic, somewhat overly fast paced world – for a couple of minutes at least.

Find out more about Matt Rouch and grab your copy of The Beautiful and the Damned over on his Website. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Soundcloud to show your support and to stay updated. Real music is alive and well – let’s keep it that way. Get involved. - Stereo Stickman

Hailing from Virginia and growing up near Washington, D.C., Matt Rouch has now landed in Denver, CO and is diligently working his way into the music scene. A long-time member of several bands on the east coast, Matt is taking on a new challenge – performing solo as a folk and country singer. Though influenced by contemporary acts such as The Decemberists, The Tallest Man on Earth, Iron and Wine, and The Milk Carton Kids, Matt still draws from the golden age of country and artists like Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, and Conway Twitty.

Matt Rouch has now released his 10-track album, “The Beautiful and the Damned”. You’ll find this melodic, harmonic and acoustic-infused full length album is a little bit country and a little bit folk and singer-songwriter, with both an independent streak and just the right amount of popular appeal – for fans of earnest American music.

Matt Rouch does sound a little like some of the artists that are very popular now, but there’s a reason for that. It’s because he is approaching his listeners from a place of authenticity, a place where country meets city, old meets new, and independent artistic effort meets widespread popular appeal. “The Beautiful and the Damned” is a terrific set of ten songs that features anything a person would want out of a modern-day folk album: soaring melodies, heartfelt lyrics, fast-paced build-ups and cool come-downs.

There is a very old quality to his songs, and an intensity and emotion that is missing from so much of today’s music. Matt can just wrench every piece of emotion from a line, and together with his acoustic guitar can grab your heart and squeeze. He achieves this easily on three tracks in a row – “Heartache in My Bones”, “Riders from the Hillside” and “Keep on Riding”.

If you like authentic folk instrumentation, soulful vocals and honest songwriting, then you’ll probably love “I’m No Angel”, “Black Noon Dawn”, “This Side Of Paradise” and “If I’ve Told You Once”. But there is something about all of the songs on “The Beautiful and the Damned” that transcends time and genre.

The music is totally infused with the sound of great acoustic folk, and even Country traditions and melded with contemporary lyricism and vocal intonations. Matt Rouch is cut from a more complex cloth than that of most of today’s cookie-cutter artists. His songs are very finely crafted; something which could easily be overlooked if one listened only superficially to them. And this reveals what is best about them: they are so wholesome and honest. The simplicity is beguiling, because real artistic prowess makes what is actually very difficult, seem so simple.

Matt Rouch’s music seems to fall seamlessly into the timeline of American roots music. Matt seems intimately connected to the best of what American folk music is all about and in the most sincere way. Apart from being meticulously conceived, executed and produced, it feels authentic! - Jamsphere

Continuing on the relaxation for Sunday, we have another tune from Denver singer/songwriter, Matt Rouch. After being a long-time member of several bands on the east cost, he is undertaking a new challenge — performing solo as a folk and country singer.

Matt’s style is a blend of new and old, listing contemporary acts such as The Decemberists, The Tallest Man on Earth, Iron and Wine, and The Milk Carton Kids as major influences, he still draws upon well of the golden age of country for inspiration from artists like Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, and Conway Twitty.

You can hear all these influences on the tune he sent over called “This Side of Paradise.” Peep the track below and leave your thoughts in the comments, if you dig, check out more of Matt Rouch on his website. - BOOMBOOMCHIK

Matt Rouch is a singer and songwriter currently based in Denver, Colorado. Boasting a great deal of experience with several bands and stage acts, Matt finally set out on his solo journey, leaving the saturated textures of indie rock in favour of the minimal, gentle and personal aesthetics of folk and country music.

His songs are vivid and provide a personal take on the Americana genre, particularly striking for Matt’s poignant lyricism and storytelling. The chosen title of his recent album, “The Beautiful and The Damned” belies a bittersweet dualism that is also found in his songs. Although his tunes sport the spirit and soul of classic artists such as Neil Young or Johnny Cash, Matt’s melodic sensibilities and inventive arrangement remind of contemporary alt-folk performers the likes of AA Bondy, The Tallest Man on Earth or Slaid Cleaves, just to mention but a few.

As a songwriter and performer, Matt Rouch remains refreshingly understated and earnest in his approach. Songs like ‘Heartache in my bones” showcase how Matt fills his music with visually striking lyrical fragments, as well as universally appealing themes. Sonically, Matt excels at building scenery that feels like pleasantly dreamy wanderlusts, while at the same time, understanding the value of minimal and bare arrangement, whether he is bringing the pace down with a soft and intimate ballad like “Keep on Riding” or he’s going for an uptempo country number like “Walking out of Tennessee”.

“The Beautiful and The Damned” is a contextually deep album with songs that stretch the mood of the release towards different extremes; from engaging country stomps to diluted and relaxing folkie delights. Every song also features some intuitive pop and rock sensibilities that are veiled and understated, yet they reveal Matt’s background. This artist seems to be thriving as a solo act, as he treasured the song-writing and performing lessons accumulated over years playing with bands and channeled within his own solo imprint. There’s nothing that speaks louder than a passionate singer armed with a trusty old guitar and a song-book full of great tunes. - Ben Corke, Music Blogged

Matt Rouch’s “The Beautiful and the Damned” weaves together country and folk with a penchant for storytelling. Throughout “The Beautiful and the Damned” Matt Rouch touches upon the tried and true ways of country legends like Johnny Cash. His arrangements are impeccable: crystal clear and soothing, they help to emphasize his emotive laid-back vocal style. Weaving these many songs and narratives together, his lyrics emphasize the poetic, the tender moments that define a life.

Wasting no time Matt Rouch dives right into things with the sweet sounds of “I’m No Angel”. The song moves into a jaunty rhythm, full of heart and soul right down to the pitch perfect harmonica which leads into the song. Continuing down this path is the cinematic sound of “Black Noon Dawn” with a giddy stomping rhythm serving as the backbone of the song, with the piano’s nimbleness working wonders. Languid in approach is the celebratory “Walking out of Tennessee”. Stripping things down to the essentials is the intimate “The Man You See”. Reminiscent of the Decembrists is the highly articulate “Riders from the Hillside”. Utilizing a careful buildup is the elegant “This Side of Paradise” with the strings adding to the overall warmth of the piece. Ending the album on a high note is the reflective sound of “Bus to Chillicothe” whose sunlit sparkling energy brings things to a gentle close.

Clever and kind, Matt Rouch’s “The Beautiful and the Damned” shows how good folk can be. - Beach Sloth

Hailing from Virginia and growing up near Washington, D.C., Matt Rouch has now landed in Denver, CO and is diligently working his way into the music scene. A long-time member of several bands on the east coast, Matt is taking on a new challenge - performing solo as a folk and country singer,
​
"I think entertaining and captivating an entire room solo is one of the most difficult things to do in music."


Matt's style is a blend of new and old, listing contemporary acts such as The Decemberists, The Tallest Man on Earth, Iron and Wine, and The Milk Carton Kids as major influences, he still draws upon well of the golden age of country for inspiration from artists like Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, and Conway Twitty. Matt's music is dynamic, he can enthrall a crowd with passionate soaring vocals with a loud twangy country number, then mellow things out with a quiet intimate folk song.



Storytelling has always been a passion of Matt's and it has permeated through his music, songs of lost loves and new loves are as old as time, however the honesty and intimacy with which Matt approaches his songwriting is what gives his music its charm.

Hey Matt, thanks for coming on with us,



What´s the name of your solo project?
My project is named after me, Matt Rouch, I'm a solo act. I've played in bands for years and recently decided to try the solo route. Over the years I've written a lot of songs that haven't worked with a band so this has been a good outlet for them.

Where are you from?
I grew up in Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C. and recently moved to Denver.

How old were you when you first got into the music scene? What got you started in music?
Actually my mother got me started in music, she put me in band when I was in 4th grade playing the clarinet. Deep down I always wanted to play guitar but it was hard to convince my mother to buy me one. I played in band through elementary and middle school moving from the clarinet to the saxophone. I was also learning guitar on the side, my friend gave me their guitar to practice on, I'm a lefty so I had to play it upside down and string it lefty. Finally when I got to high school I joined jazz band because you could play guitar and my mom finally bought me my first guitar, a real lefty guitar and the rest is history.

What were your ambitions when you first started?
I really just wanted to be a guitar player. I was very shy introverted kid, I never had any desire to be a front man and to get all the attention. In high school and college I played in a few bands as a guitarist and really didn't have too much ambition, I was just happy to get to play a few gigs here and there.


Where was your first gig?
My first gig was at a small bar with my band in college, I don't even think we had a singer, we just kind of jammed out for a while.

Where was the latest gig?
My latest gig is actually on St. Patty's Day at the Hi-Dive in Denver, I'm really excited to play that venue, I've seen a lot of great shows there.

What are your good and bad traits as an artist?
Well starting with the good, I'm very focused when writing songs, I like structure and composition, which can be bad as I've been in bands where the other musicians are much more laid back, not as focused, don't practice as much and I sort of crack the whip and get labeled as a tight-ass but I just want to put the best product out there as we can.

What genre do you feel you are?
I guess I'd consider myself indie folk/country, I think I'm a mix of old and new styles. I'm heavily inspired by the golden age of country -
Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, etc., but I also love some of the more modern folk acts like The Milk Carton Kids, The Avett Brothers and The Decemberists

Why did you pick that particular style? Or what about that style called to you?
I was drawn to folk music by The Decemberists, after college I started listening to them and quickly became obsessed, I thought their first few albums was the best music I had ever heard, they had these great melodies over these narrative historical stories about mariners and legionnaires, Colin Meloy basically made it cool to be a nerd. He's actually who I listened to when I was teaching myself to sing, I can still do a mean Colin Meloy impression.

Have you released any albums?
I actually just released my first full-length album called The Beautiful and the Damned, it's a collection of folk/country songs I've written over the past 10 years.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-beautiful-and-the-damned/id1090571467
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mattrouch

Do you have any clips on YouTube?
Yes I do




How old are you now?
I am now 30

How old were you when you first stood on a stage? How did it feel?
I was 15, I remember it felt like home, although I was so nervous I was dry-heaving backstage.

What was you Best/worst gig you've played?
The best gig I've played, or the one I was most excited about was my last show with my DC band, we played the main stage at The Black Cat, the main indie venue in the city.
I had seen all of my heroes on that stage, it was an incredible experience. The worst gig I've played was probably a Battle of the Bands in college, our band wasn't very good
and we were destroyed by the critics, that was a painful experience.

What places will you be playing in in the near future? Where would like to perform in the future?
I'm constantly booking gigs around Denver, I'm playing at Cervantes and Lion's Lair soon, my goal is to play at some of the bigger venues in town someday like The Bluebird and The Ogden

Which band is the best that you've seen live? What made their show so good?
The Avett Brothers, hands down, best live band I've ever seen. They're so great because they give 100% every show, I've seen them 4 or 5 times and every time they're drenched in
sweat by the second song, they're running around, getting the crowd into it, you can really feel their passion, it's intoxicating.

What has been your most promising gig so far?
This upcoming gig at The Hi-Dive seem pretty promising, I booked it a few months ago, hopefully there will be a great turnout on St. Patty's Day, or at least the hardcore alcoholics
should be there and hopefully they'll think I sound great.

Any plans of touring?
Not as of right now, possibly someday, for now I'm happy playing around the Denver area

How big was the biggest crowed you preformed for?
I got to play a festival one time for a couple hundred people, that was exciting.

What are the plans for the rest of the year music wise?
I'll be playing as many gigs as possible, trying to get more into the festival scene and trying to promote my album.

How do you typically get psyched up for a gig?
To this day I still dry-heave in an alley before each show right before I go on, but I usually practice for a couple of hours before I head to the show.

Is it easier to get your inspiration from older bands or from bands more modern?
I think it's a mix of both, I love the modern stuff, but it's great going back through the old music, it's much simpler and it was all about the talent, people played instruments, people wrote great songs, people sang well, that's it.

What are your sources of inspiration?
Mainly the people in my life and the interactions I have with them, relationships, love is a big one, wasn't it John Lennon who said he only wrote
about love because there was nothing more interesting to write about?

What's the first step when writing a new song?
Usually writing the guitar part and melody, I have hundreds of unfinished songs where I have the parts but just sing gibberish over it, lyrics are last, they
are the most difficult to write.

How do you feel about the downloading of music instead of buying albums in today's digital world?
The music business has certainly changed drastically and it's certainly made it tough on artists now that album sales are not their primary source of revenue, but I think any exposure is good exposure, if someone likes your music enough to find a way to download it for free I'll take it, that's a fan, and hopefully they'll support you in other ways like coming to your shows.


What would be your dreams performance/venue?
Well now that I live in Denver my dream is to play Red Rocks, I feel like it's the most well-known outdoor venue in the entire country, I couldn't name a venue in
most other cities, but everyone knows Red Rocks.

Besides your own music, what genres and bands do you listen to?
Mainly folk and country, my favorites are The Tallest Man on Earth, The Decemberists, The Milk Carton Kids, and The Avett Brothers

Has stage fright ever been a problem for you? What advice can you give to aspiring musicians with this problem?
Of course, I remember the first time I sang with my band in DC I think I was 10 feet away from the mic with my eyes pinched shut and I was barely whispering let alone singing. It just takes time and practice, the more you do the less it becomes scary and the more it becomes exciting.
You have to learn to not think about the crowd, forget they are there and just relax and find a level of comfort on stage and be yourself, people can tell when you're honest and passionate and that will draw them to you.

Are you a part of any other musical projects?
Not currently, although I have been toying with the idea of starting a band.

Have you been in any other bands before this one?
Yes I was in a band in DC called The Last Monarchs for years, and a band in Richmond, VA.

Do you have a job other than your music career?
I do, I'm actually an environmental scientist with the Bureau of Land Management, nerdy scientist by day, wannabe rock star by night.

How often do you rehearse?
Daily, I play guitar and sing for a couple hours every single day.

Where do you typically rehearse?
Usually in my kitchen or in my bathroom, good acoustics in there.

Do you have any webpages?
Why, yes I do,
www.mattrouch.com
www.facebook.com/mattgrouch
www.instagram.com/mattrouch

What is your favorite instrument?
Cello, it's the most beautiful instrument in the world.

Describe your show, visually and musically? How do you interact with the crowd?
I usually just play songs without much talking, I may reference my love of bourbon, or make a joke about a song that I thought I wrote
as a sweet love song but now just sounds like a desperate guy in a bar trying to get laid.

Any pearls of wisdom for all other bands out there with less experience than you?
Don't worry about anything else other than writing the best songs you can possibly write, play as many shows as possible and be great
live, be absolutely captivating live.


What advice would you give less experienced band, that you wish someone had given you?
Don't try to be anyone else, be yourself, I know that sounds cliche, but when I started out I wanted to be Colin Meloy, I wanted to dress like him, write
songs like him, and it took away from I did best.


How would you describe your sound in one sentence?
Passionate, dynamic folk songs that are as honest as they are catchy.

Matt, thank you so much for coming on and doing our interview. We wish you the best of luck and everyone out there, show your support. Follow the links below and Like, Follow, and Subscribe!

www.facebook.com/mattgrouch
www.instagram.com/mattrouch
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi2JpwzZcH-mhtuGBpUehkQ - TWT Music

“Matt Rouch is the real deal, with an impressive attention to detail in his songwriting, vocals and lyrics.” - James Moore - Independent Music Promotions

Hailing from Virginia and growing up near Washington, D.C., Matt Rouch may not originally be from Colorado, but he is easily another one of Denver’s best kept secrets. His alt-country indie-folk band, Matt Rouch & The Noise Upstairs caught our attention a few months ago due to their timeless, easygoing sound and Matt’s soulful vocals. Matt Rouch & The Noise Upstairs only released their new album, The Beautiful and the Damned in March, but they’re already hard at work writing new music, currently teasing their new single, “Adelaide” coming soon! - Prelude Press