24 year old, Eli Mattson is one of the busiest singer/songwriter/pianists on the Chicago music scene, where he plays to capacity crowds weekly at Davenport’s and The Gentry. His new EP “All I’ll Be” showcases Eli’s unique and exciting musical abilities. His blend of personal songwriting, power-pop piano playing and his rich, soulful baritone voice makes for an emotional and inspiring listening experience.
"Eli Mattson's songwriting is tight yet with an irony of expansiveness that is in the feeling of the music itself; the arrangements have restraint and allow the sound to breathe and project beautifully."
-- Greg Debonne
Music Supervisor
MTV, Lifetime Network
Eli Mattson Bio
24 year old, Eli Mattson is one of the busiest singer/songwriter/pianists on the Chicago music scene, where he plays to capacity crowds weekly at Davenport’s and The Gentry. His new EP “All I’ll Be” showcases Eli’s unique and exciting musical abilities. His blend of personal songwriting, power-pop piano playing and his rich, soulful baritone voice makes for an emotional and inspiring listening experience.
Eli grew up in the tiny rural community of Cotton, Minnesota (pop. 25) and playing the piano was simply in his blood, as he inherited a battered upright grand from his great, grandfather when he was 5 years old. With some guidance from his mother, he essentially taught himself to play by creating his own music since music instruction books weren't readily available in Cotton. When Eli's family moved to Green Bay 3 years later, Eli received his first formal piano training, and while he impressed his teachers with his abundant natural talent, he wasn't too impressed with what they were offering him.
“ I hated to practice and would keep adding notes and riffs to the lessons because I thought they were boring.”
Thankfully, Eli’s mother knew that formal training would serve her son well and convinced him to practice every day and pay attention in his lessons. At age14, Eli visited his aunt in Chicago who took him to see a blues act at Rosa’s Lounge. He was startled when the lead singer approached him and said, “I hear you are a piano player”. Eli took the opportunity to play the blues with the band through the night. From this first onstage experience as a young teenager, he knew for certain performing music would always be the main focus of his life.
When Eli was 19, he was awarded a prestigious grant of $30,000 from the Peninsula Arts Association in Wisconsin to help further his music career.
While listening to Eli's music you will be rewarded with influences from a wide spectrum of pop, rock and blues. You might hear hints of Elton John, Creed, Billy Joel or Van Morrison, but most of all, you will hear someone original, someone worthwhile.