An unforgettable and dynamic sound; introducing El Paso’s next up: Matt U Johnson

BY JANIECE CAMPBELL

Music is universal, a power that stretches to all corners of the globe. This edition, we’re introducing you to rising star Matt U Johnson, a multi-dimensional artist bringing a well-rounded sound and a worldwide understanding of the art to the industry.

Born in Staten Island, New York, Matt U offers a musical experience far beyond the realms of his hometown. He has moved around quite a bit, living in Ontario from 2018-2020 and now currently residing in El Paso, Texas, a few places that have exposed him to various cultures and connections. His remarkable talents have allowed him to open up for reggae superstars including Buju Banton and I-Wayne as well as Canadian rapper Jazz Cartier.

Matt U is a lyrical force to be reckoned with, bringing a uniquely seasoned musical style to the table. With roots in Jamaica, as a native of New York and as an avid traveller, he flawlessly fuses solid elements of Pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, Reggae and EDM to make an earth-shatteringly irresistible sound that compels you to move.

“What I do is take a little bit of my cultural background, the West Indian culture, and I blend it with the world music sound. I’ve been to so many places around the world, I bring the things that I’ve learned from England, Canada, Jamaica, the stuff I got back home on Staten Island and the EDM from Jersey Shore. My style is a world eclectic pop island vibe,” he says.

Matt U adored music from a very young age. Growing up with it all around him, he witnessed his father in action as a promoter and spoken words activist in the 80’s and 90’s. He would attend many of the reggae shows that his dad produced, as well as many other live concerts with his family. He knew all along that it was something he wanted to pursue for the rest of his life, and eventually studied music as well as psychology in New York and England.

“I’ve always loved music since I was around 10 years old. I had to wait until I was 13 to pursue it professionally and get a manager, but I always liked to sing, go to shows with family, and watch entertainment shows on MTV. Those kinds of things always caught my eye and my ear, that’s what drew me in. Soon, I went for vocal training and music theory and continued that into college.”

Matt U has received a lot of positive reception for his latest released single “Pon Fire” featuring iconic appearances from American rapper Snoop Dogg and Canadian singer Karl Wolf. The high-energy tune has captivated the attention of numerous dancehall and hip-hop fans around the world and is proving to be a successful hit on streaming platforms.

“Working with Snoop was amazing,” he says. Matt U explains that he met Snoop Dogg in 2013 and continued to see him at industry parties and music festivals. After a few collaborations with other artists, a buzz was generated around his name which led to Karl Wolf following him on social media and showing interest in creating music together. “From that, friendships started to build and the rest is history.”

Matt U has plans to do a few shows in Toronto in upcoming months, potentially around the same timeframe as TDOT Fest and the Toronto Caribbean Carnival. Until then, he continues to work towards putting an EP together and hoping to collaborate with different producers. He also recently started to create vlogs on YouTube under the channel name, “Ja-Merican Life.”

To fellow emerging artists, his final piece of advice is: “be yourself and be unique to you. Be genuine. Never give up on your goals and aspirations, no matter how long they take.”