Matthew Colless

Matthew Colless
Name	Matthew Colless
Background	solo_singer
Birth date	1970s
Birth place	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, producer, composer
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active	1990s–present
Labels	Independent, ABC Music

Matthew Colless is an Australian singer, songwriter, producer and composer known for his work in folk, pop and indie rock scenes, and for contributions to film and television soundtracks. He emerged from the Sydney music circuit in the 1990s and built a career that spans recording, live performance and media production, collaborating with performers, producers and institutions across Australia and internationally.

Early life and education

Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Colless was raised in a family with connections to the arts and community organizations. He attended local schools in Sydney and later pursued tertiary studies in music and media at institutions that include the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales, where he studied composition, performance and audio production. During his formative years he participated in ensembles and community choirs associated with the Sydney Opera House and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and trained under teachers linked to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Australian Institute of Music.

Music career and productions

Colless began releasing material in the late 1990s and early 2000s on independent labels and through outlets connected with ABC Music and community radio networks such as Triple J. His recorded output includes albums and EPs produced in studios that have hosted sessions for artists associated with Mushroom Records, Sony Music Australia and EMI Music Australia. He worked with engineers who had credits alongside artists from the ARIA Awards milieu and producers who collaborated with acts related to the Big Day Out, Splendour in the Grass and Bluesfest circuits. Colless's songwriting has been featured on compilations alongside performers connected to the National Film and Sound Archive, the Australian Performing Rights Association and community festivals in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. His arrangements often incorporate instrumentation common to recordings supported by the ABC Classic and community arts grants administered by Creative Australia.

Film and television work

Colless has composed music for documentaries and television productions broadcast on networks including ABC Television, SBS and Network Ten, and for independent films screened at the Sydney Film Festival and Tropfest. His soundtrack work involved post-production houses and music supervisors who have collaborated with production companies associated with Screen Australia and Screen NSW. He contributed original cues and licensed tracks to programs linked to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the Special Broadcasting Service and independent producers who have screened content at the Melbourne International Film Festival and the Adelaide Film Festival.

Collaborations and notable performances

Throughout his career Colless has collaborated with a wide range of artists, ensembles and organizations. He performed with musicians connected to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and chamber groups that have worked with the Bangarra Dance Theatre and the Bell Shakespeare Company. He has shared bills and collaborated with singers and songwriters who have associations with Midnight Oil, Crowded House, The Whitlams, Powderfinger and Paul Kelly, and has performed at venues and events including the Enmore Theatre, the Sydney Opera House, the Melbourne Recital Centre, Vivid Sydney and the Sydney Festival. Colless also contributed arrangements for projects involving artists associated with ARIA Hall of Fame inductees and community music initiatives supported by the National Cultural Fund.

Awards and recognition

Colless's work has been acknowledged through nominations and awards administered by bodies such as the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), the Australasian Performing Right Association and state-based arts councils. His film and television compositions have been finalists in screen music competitions that include the APRA Screen Music Awards and have received funding through grant programs administered by Screen Australia and Create NSW. He has been recognized in critics' lists published by music outlets that cover the Australian independent scene and has received community awards for contributions to regional music development and industry mentoring.

Personal life and influences

Colless cites influences that span Australian and international traditions, naming artists associated with Nick Cave, Paul Kelly, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell and contemporary songwriters with ties to the United Kingdom and the United States. He has been active in mentoring programs linked to the Australian Music Centre and has participated in workshops at institutions such as the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Australian Film Television and Radio School. Outside music, he has engaged with cultural organizations tied to the Biennale of Sydney and community arts festivals in New South Wales and Victoria.

Category:Australian singer-songwriters Category:Australian record producers