Daily Inspiration: Meet Matt Laird

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Laird

Hi Matt, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in Durham, NC in a house constantly surrounded by music and instruments. My dad is a high school orchestra conductor and violinist, and my mom is a preschool music teacher. I started studying violin with my dad at about five years old, but was always encouraged to play other instruments around the house. At ten, I began playing bass guitar and quickly found inspiration in funk and groove music through mentors and YouTube videos. In high school, I performed in numerous orchestras, solo recitals, competitions, rock bands, and “jazz bands.” I also began experimenting with recording and producing in my dad’s home studio. I eventually attended UNCG for Music Education, focusing on classical violin studies. Through my degree, I became proficient in playing all bowed string instruments (violin, viola, cello, bass) from teaching private lessons, and performing with the university’s string orchestra. During this time, I joined the band Reliably Bad as a bass guitarist. This experience created some of my most cherished memories and taught me about the music industry. After graduating, I stayed for an additional year to focus on upright bass and study jazz through their certificate program. However, this was cut short due to COVID, and I ended up teaching middle school orchestra in Chapel Hill for two years, returning to the Triangle region. During this period, I connected with Kurt Stracener and Charlie Garnet, forming the Halo Trio. We have been hosting sessions at The Cave in Chapel Hill for nearly three years and recently released a self-titled EP. Although I loved teaching, as the world began to reopen, I received numerous opportunities to work with local artists who inspired me. Over COVID, I refined my skills as a bass player, string section arranger, and engineer.
In the following years, I performed and recorded with artists like Big Something, William Hinson, Victoria Victoria, Dashawn Hickman, Maia Kamil, Charlie Hunter, Drew Foust, Bobby Previte, Caique Vidal, George Sluppick, Elora Dash, Taylor Aaron Parker Williams, Daron., Kelly O’Hara, Adrian Duke Project, Simon Dunson, Boulevards, and many others.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve been very fortunate to grow up in a privileged environment, with supportive family, mentors, and resources that have provided me with opportunities to succeed. I am aware that I’m living a dream many people, often more talented than me, haven’t had the chance to experience. That being said, I would not consider the path of a musician/artist to be easy by any standard. I take a lot of pride in my work ethic and commitment to maintaining high standards for myself, both musically and personally. This dedication is a strength but can also lead to overcommitment and feeling overwhelmed. I’m continuously working on creating a balanced lifestyle while still striving to learn and grow.

Touring life has presented many new challenges. Being away from my partner, friends, and family for extended periods is tough. Additionally, touring often disrupts a healthy lifestyle, affecting sleep, diet, physical activity, and mental health. Over the past year, I’ve learned to establish routines within the touring framework that promote well-being and to listen to my body’s needs more effectively.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
A large part of my time is now spent touring with the rock group Big Something. We recently completed a two-month tour, playing over 60 shows in 30 states. Performing across the country at legendary venues and festivals with musicians I’ve admired since high school has been a dream come true. When I’m not on the road, I stay very active in the regional music scene and work with many artists.
I frequently play bass guitar and upright bass in local combos and improvisational settings, focusing on groove music and American Songbook standards. I deeply love studying my favorite bassists and do my best to honor the music’s tradition. I am particularly inspired by legendary bassists like James Jamerson, Willie Weeks, Jerry Jemmott, Duck Dunn, Leroy Hodges, Ray Brown, and Israel Crosby. From studying these bassists, I always strive to emphasize groove, feel, tone, and melody. While I love improvising and am always working to improve, I feel most at home composing bass lines that elevate songs and discovering how to execute those lines to facilitate special musical moments.
Additionally, I do a lot of string section work for artists’ recorded projects. I begin by writing and arranging parts for a combination of violin, viola, cello, and upright bass in a way that I feel best serves a song. The artist, producer, and I then make any necessary edits to fulfill their vision, and I record the parts at my home studio. I play all the instruments and layer them to create the sound of a full string section. More recently, I’ve been using my electric violin and effects in combination with the traditional orchestral instrumentation to create unique soundscapes, offering a modern take on the classic string section sound.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I am always interested in collaborating with artists in live and studio settings! For studio recordings, I do most of my string arrangement work remotely and am always willing to send out samples of my past work as references to see if it will work for a new artists project. On bass guitar and upright, I have extensive experience doing remote tracking and live tracking sessions depending on what best serves the project and resources available. In live settings on bass guitar and upright, I have played in many different genres (pop, rock, funk, folk; all extensions of Black American Music) and feel comfortable learning tunes by ear and reading any iteration of written out charts/parts.

Pricing:

• Dependent on project!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mattslaird.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattslaird/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfN30DolQNzLZFtrGW9wdfg

Image Credits
Rob Roane
Ryan Bell
Kimberly Meers
Isaiah Pete