vivrant genesis intro

Mancunian pianist, composer, and producer Matt Wilde returns with 'Smile Today' – an uplifting new single with a feel-good groove, serving as a reminder to smile and the benefits of doing so.

A playful back-and-forth between upright piano and trumpet mirrors the positive feedback loop we experience when we smile – lifting moods and, according to some studies, even boosting physical health. “This tune came from a moment where I needed that,” Matt explains. “I just wanted to make something that was light, kind… Something that says: Hey, I know things are a lot, but maybe just smile today. Even for a bit”.

The track was recorded in close collaboration with trumpeter and composer Aaron Wood, improvising upright piano and trumpet over intricately programmed beats to capture the spontaneity that makes jazz feel alive, but with the forward-facing touch of Ableton live production.

Guided by values of accessibility and creativity, Matt has become a key voice in the UK’s boundary-pushing jazz and beats scene. His music has been championed by the likes of BBC Radio 1, Jamie Cullum and Soweto Kinch (BBC Radio 2), ‘Round Midnight (BBC Radio 3), and across BBC 6 Music, Jazz FM and Worldwide FM. He has performed headline shows at Band on the Wall (Manchester) and The Lower Third (London) and showcased his music at Brick Lane Jazz Festival and London’s iconic Jazz Café.

Written by Matt Wilde and Aaron Wood

Keys - Matt Wilde
Production - Matt Wilde
Trumpet - Aaron Wood
Bass - Stan Scott

Mixed by Matt Wilde
Mastered by Peter Beckmann, Technology Works
Artwork by Ollie Macdonald Oulds

Stream or buy

Smile Today

Official Music Video: https://youtu.be/cV7NMot_1bA (premieres alongside CMJ Music Marathon Feb 8)

This song comes from wilderness. Olena and Marko found me aimless and wandering in Krakow, which somehow led, two days later, to an evening spent by the Western Carpathian mountains surrounded by a larger group of friends. Guitars around a campfire, melodies sung into the night. After leaving them, I wrote the main theme in trying to capture the mood we'd found.

I forgot about the song until a year later, when it seemed a good idea to gather all the “postcard” songs composed during journeys afar. Many of the themes seemed to want to stay simple and untouched, but “Foot of the Carpathians” presented a deeper mystery. I felt it was worth trying to expand the track’s primary statement into a few different but related harmonies, and introduce it to Nir Sabag (drums) and Hugo Reydet (bass) with room for melodic and rhythmic improvisation. I hoped a trio in musical conversation would be fitting for a song born from a small gathering.

We, together with longtime production friends Virgil Segal and Brian Trahan, recorded the track at TRIXX Studios in Berlin, Germany. The soundscapes were meticulously scored later, combining sounds found separately. This could not have been accomplished without Brian’s impeccable sound engineering. Full sound credits are listed at http://travelpoems.com/#about -- however, the primary contribution to the vibe of the soundscapes in this track is a recording of a Tibetan singing bowl, made in Duisburg, tuned to the frequency of the asteroid Ceres. 

If hearing this song evokes for you any memories, or fantasies, or other stories, I would love to know -- just message me here, or at eric@travelpoems.com. The live Travel Poems show features immersive storytelling, so it may be possible to weave your story into the musical experience.

First single “Foot of the Carpathians” premiered by JAZZIZ Magazine (longform interview at https://www.jazziz.com/qa-eric-pan-travel-poems/)

BANDCAMP: http://ericpan.bandcamp.com
GORGEOUS ALBUM SITE: https://travelpoems.com
ALSO NICE ARTIST SITE: https://ericpan.org

“Chapter 1 . Secret towns” full album released 28 Aug 2020 on Falling Sea (https://fallingsea.com)- and featured with longform interview on national radio, PRI’s “The World”: https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-08-31/travel-takes-new-meaning-jazz-pianist-s-latest-album

Chapters 2 and 3 release with tour and live storytelling, plus roving art exhibition soon

“Foot of the Carpathians” features Nir Sabag (drums) and Hugo Reydet (bass). Trilogy album recorded in various countries by Eric Pan and Brian Trahan, mixed by Brian Trahan in New York and Berlin. Mastered by Ruairi O’Flaherty in Los Angeles. Photography by Eric Pan. Calligraphy by Jitesh Patel.

Scored with found sounds — credited to these curators:
spt3125 freesound.org/people/spt3125/sounds/24806/
stefanhoevenaar freesound.org/people/stefanhoevenaar/sounds/50651/
colinsullivan (California) freesound.org/people/colinsullivan/sounds/189451/
unfa freesound.org/people/unfa/sounds/269344/

Travel Poems . Chapter 1 . Secret towns

Foot of the Carpathians

When At Night - Demo 2019 - 03 - The Wretched Nothing

no big deal

For me, this is an upbeat guitar track. I composed this tune around August 2019, recorded bass guitar on Boxing Day 2020 and finally recorded rhythm and lead guitar in May 2020 adminst COVID-19 lockdown. The track is not as progressive as my other pieces and a little more 'mainstream'.

Thanks Leo J. Russlan for the cool picture and of course your awesome compositions.

Skip

Marshall Douglas