Paul Michael Matthews (born 24 October 1978) is a New Zealand musician, songwriter, and record producer based in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

(UK). He co-founded

I Am Giant I Am Giant is a rock band based in London, United Kingdom. They formed in West Auckland, New Zealand in late 2008 and released their debut album '' The Horrifying Truth'' on 1 August 2011 in Australia and New Zealand, where it has been certifie ...

in 2008 and is the band's bass guitarist and songwriter. He was also the bass guitarist for New Zealand bands Stylus and

Tadpole A tadpole is the larval stage in the biological life cycle of an amphibian. Most tadpoles are fully aquatic, though some species of amphibians have tadpoles that are terrestrial. Tadpoles have some fish-like features that may not be found i ...

. Matthews also began producing records in 2002 with Blindspott's Self-titled Triple Platinum debut album. Matthews has since produced music for Six 60, Opshop and Setting Fire to Stacey among others.

Life and career

Early life

He was born in England, and his family moved to New Zealand when he was years old. Matthews attended Rutherford High School (Now known as Rutherford College). It was here that Matthews began playing bass in a high school band called Rigmarole which would later evolve into the band Stylus. Matthews studied Audio Engineering at

SAE Institute The SAE Institute (SAE, formerly the School of Audio Engineering and the SAE Technology College) is a Private college, private For-profit higher education in the United States, for-profit college with campuses and facilities, including license ...

and Contemporary Music Performance at Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand (MAINZ)

Stylus

Stylus was born from Matthews' high school band Rigmarole. In 1999 Rigmarole won an opportunity to record a single during a local Rockquest competition, the song So What was recorded at Auckland's Revolver studios and went on to get play-listed on The Rock and student radio throughout New Zealand. At the start of 2000 Stylus went on hiatus leading to Matthews joining fellow Auckland rock band

Tadpole

In 2000 with Stylus going into Hiatus, Matthews joined Tadpole as bass guitarist. Tadpole had already released songs on New Zealand radio when Matthews joined the band. Tadpole released their debut album ''The Buddhafinger'' in mid-2000 which immediately debuted at #2 on the New Zealand Charts eventually going double platinum. After touring with the band for two years Matthews left Tadpole to return to former band Stylus.

Stylus Return

Near the end of 2001 members of Stylus began writing new material, Matthews left Tadpole at the beginning of 2002 to concentrate solely on Stylus. Stylus released their debut album ''Painkillers'' in October 2003 which received rave reviews. Stylus toured with Alien Ant Farm and Blindspott during this time before releasing their sophomore album ''Gain Control'' in 2006 produced by Matthews and Stylus drummer Dave Rhodes. 2007 would bring about the end of Stylus. Matthews relocated to London with former Blindspott drummer

Shelton Woolright Shelton Woolright is a drummer, musician and photographer. Born and raised in Auckland, he became the drummer of alternative rock band Blindspott in 1997, before leaving the group in 2008. Later that year, Woolright formed the group I Am Giant in t ...

I Am Giant

In 2008 Matthews as bass guitarist alongside Woolright on Drums formed

. I Am Giant's first two albums with singer Edward Martin charted at #2 in the New Zealand Music Charts. I Am Giant ultimately would call it quits in 2018 after releasing third album Life In Captivity with their third singer, long time guitarist Aja Timu.

Other works

Matthews Produced, engineered and co-wrote

New Zealand Idol (season 1) The first season of ''New Zealand Idol'' was produced by Fremantle Media subsidiary Grundy Television in association with UK company 19TV, and was broadcast on TVNZ in the early half of 2004. The judges were Paul Ellis, Fiona McDonald and Fra ...

runner-up Michael Murphy's #1 Single " So Damn Beautiful" from his 2004 album No Place to Land In 2010 Matthews alongside

produced

Six60 Six60 are a New Zealand pop rock band formed in Dunedin, Otago in 2008. The band consists of Matiu Walters (lead vocals, guitar), Ji Fraser (lead guitar), Chris Mac (bass guitar), Marlon Gerbes (synthesiser), Hoani Matenga (bass guitar) and E ...

debut single Rise Up 2.0 It reached number 1 on the New Zealand Singles Chart and has been certified 2× platinum. Matthews co-wrote "Arms" (2018) & "Aurora" (2020) the fourth & fifth studios album's from German

post-hardcore Post-hardcore is a punk rock music genre that maintains the aggression and intensity of hardcore punk but emphasizes a greater degree of creative expression. It was initially inspired by post-punk and noise rock. Like post-punk, the term has been ...

band

Annisokay Annisokay (stylized as annisokay, pronounced ''Ann is okay'') is a German post-hardcore band from Halle, Saxony-Anhalt. Currently consists of scream vocalist Rudi Schwarzer, guitarist/clean vocalist Christoph Wieczorek, bassist Norbert Rose an ...

Discography

As Musician

Tadpole

* ''

The Buddhafinger ''The Buddhafinger'' is the debut album by New Zealand rock group, Tadpole A tadpole is the larval stage in the biological life cycle of an amphibian. Most tadpoles are fully aquatic, though some species of amphibians have tadpoles that ...

'' (2000) * ''

The Medusa ''The Medusa'' is the second studio album released by New Zealand rock group, Tadpole on September 15, 2002. It was recorded over late 2001-early 2002 and was produced by Malcolm Welsford via Antenna Recordings. Cover art The cover art featur ...

'' (2002)

Stylus

* ''Pain Killers'' (2003) * ''Gain Control'' (2006)

I Am Giant

* '' The Horrifying Truth'' (2011) * '' Science & Survival'' (2014) * '' Life In Captivity'' (2018)

As producer

* '' Tadpole - The Buddhafinger'' (2000) * '' Blindspott - Blindspott'' (2002) * '' Mighty Scoop - Sunny Daze'' (2002 EP) * '' Tadpole - The Medusa'' (2002) * '' Foamy Ed - A Moments Need'' (2002 EP) * '' Stylus - Painkillers'' (2003) * '' Opshop - You Are Here EP'' (2004) * '' Michael Murphy - No Place To Land'' (2004) * '' Stylus - Gain Control'' (2006) * ''

Redline - Trapped Inside Redline refers to the maximum engine speed at which an internal combustion engine or traction motor and its components are designed to operate without causing damage to the components themselves or other parts of the engine. The redline of an en ...

'' (2007) * '' Just 1 Fix - The Price of Sellvation'' (2007) * '' Take The Willing - Fight Music'' (2008) * '' Taye Williams - Turn It Up (Single)'' (2008) * '' Plastic Soup - King Of The Train EP'' (2009) * '' I Am Giant - City Limits EP'' (2010) * '' Six60 Rise Up 2.0 Single'' (2010) * '' Setting Fire To Stacey - Love & War'' (2015 EP)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Matthews, Paul New Zealand musicians 1978 births Living people People from High Wycombe