CAPE BRETON
Facebook post helps Cape Breton musician get his big break with Classified
Cape Breton musician gets big break.
RIVER DENYS, N.S. — Brett Matthews sounds a bit in awe of how his music career has unfolded since May 2019.
That’s when award-winning rapper Classified (Luke Boyd) made a post on Facebook that changed his life.
“It’s a weird transition right now,” Matthews said during a phone interview with the Cape Breton Post from his River Denys home.
“Coming from being, I don’t know if I’d call myself shy, but someone who doesn’t put themselves out in the spotlight… Going from that to flying out to Alberta for shows and (starting to record an EP), it’s been a strange transition. It’s kind of surreal.”
The Facebook post Boyd made asked fans if they knew any acoustic musicians for a new tour he was working on. Matthews was tagged in that post and the mostly selftaught musician thought it wouldn’t hurt to email Boyd, who has produced charttopping hits for himself and artists like Rea Mae.
Matthews then took things a step further and shared Boyd’s post to his timeline and asked his followers to like the reply that tagged him if they thought Matthews would be a good fit.
Boyd asked Matthews to make a video performing two of his songs then invited Matthews to jam with him and his band.
Taking Matthews under his wing, Boyd then had him play a few live shows to get him used to bigger shows with a full band.
Now, along with being a part of Classified’s upcoming acoustic tour (which has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Boyd is also producing an EP for Matthews.
“From the first time (the three artists on the acoustic tour) sat down and jammed, myself, Classified and Owen O’Sound .... It felt good,” said Matthews who plays multiple instruments. Matthews completed the recording arts program at Nova Scotia Community College 10 years ago but started a career in the trades before focusing on his music again
About eight years ago, Matthews started posting covers and original songs on his Instagram account and has amassed a following of 10,500 people to date.
“I guess it kind of caught on,” he said.
As he continues his transition from part-time musician to touring and studio sessions, Matthews currently works 50 hours a week as a heavy equipment operator then 20 hours on top of that in studio writing and recording music.
This summer, Matthews is playing at the Blueberry Jam in Mabou on Aug. 15 and working on his EP until pandemic health safety orders are lifted enough the nationwide acoustic tour can kick off.
And he seems to be getting used to the idea that his music career is on its way to a level he’d never dreamed of.
“I’m really glad the way things have turned out.”