On Friday 28th February, Parisian pianist Matt Wilier will release his new single ’Together (In A Train Station)’, a beautiful homage to chance encounters. The release also features a live version.
Matt Wilier began improvising on piano at the age of 5, with no knowledge of music other than his own feelings and sensations. After practicing for a few years, it was at the music conservatory that he discovered technique and then classical music.
From the age of 12, he would fall asleep listening to Keith Jarrett’s solo piano albums, including ‘The Köln Concert’ and ‘La Scala’. During the same period, after having studied the Romantics (and Chopin’s rubato), he was captivated by impressionist music and became fascinated by the French movement ‘Les Six’. But ultimately, he considers ‘Gaspard de la Nuit’ by Maurice Ravel to be one of the most beautiful piano works.
While retaining his initial desire for improvisation, he threw himself into minimalist and repetitive music, freeing himself from judgement and taking an interest in sonic resonances, frequencies and vibrations of the piano as proof of the passage of time.
In 2019, he released his first EP ‘Jours’, a collection of older improvised recordings, and chose to regularly release tracks resulting from his process of creation with the French label, Bruit Blanc.
‘Variations’, his 11-track album, was released on 28th June 2024. The recording of this album was no exception, with Matt once again focusing on resonances. ‘Variations’ is built in the same way, with changing melodies, harmonies and rhythms.However, this time the piano is not alone, with strings, string layers, ensemble and analog bass frequencies as accompaniment.
This album is built like an original movie soundtrack. Images flash by as you close your eyes and listen to it.
1 Together (In A Train Station)
2 Together (Live In A Train Station)
3 My Hand Lovingly Caressed Her Face, She Awoke Softly And
4 A Suspended Moment
5 Milestone
6 Triptych Session
7 As You Walk Through the Light – Live Session
8 Another Part Of You
9 Feeling Numb, Pt 2
10 Feel The Slowing Of Time
11 The Intensity Of Resonances
In September 2024, he recorded some solo piano tracks after a series of improvisational recordings, which he released in short bursts: ‘Burning Through The Ground’ and ‘A Suspended Moment’ (a two track EP which also included ‘My Hand Lovingly Caressed Her Face, She Awoke Softly And Fixed Her Gaze Upon Mine’).
Feb. 28, 2025 – He releases two versions of the song “Together”, one of which was recorded in a train station while waiting for departure time. In the studio, he added powerful strings, giving this track two very different worlds, as two people can be to each other.
More releases are planned throughout 2025…
