GRAVEN (Matty McKechnie) is an independent folk-rock singer-songwriter from Ottawa, Canada.  An innovative Nepean-born songmaker with a key focus on cultivating joy and wonder in Canadian geography, Matty (Graven) is a wiley wordsmith whose passion is to create a highly accepting and inclusive community of music lovers.

 

Although exposed to classical tunes with piano lessons during childhood and playing the alto sax in Grade 9 - none of that moved the needle. Hearing his dad spin endless vinyl through the floorboards to the tune of Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Whitney Houston, Neil Diamond and many others in his childhood, however, was the spark in Matty's musical fire. In his preteens, he was enthralled by the rhymes and rhythms and wordplay of Hip Hop and rap music, with Run DMC, Beastie Boys, LL Cool J and the Fat Boys kicking open a door in his subconscious mind. Lyrics have always been Matty's true north and they provide the canvas for the rainbow-coloured paint spatter of his heart-sleeve songs. Whether he's firing up the machine with his ferocious five piece band,  playing in a trio or duo with his talented side-players (AKA Tom Thompson on pedal steel and baritone electric guitar and Gideon Yellin on atmospheric electric lead), or completely exposed in a solo setting, Matty is a versatile performer who brings an earnest and passionate thunder and lightning along with somber ponderous post-storm thought-drizzle to every live setting.

 

Graven's first release was a basement project in 1999 (recorded on a TASCAM digital 8 track), and since then, he's been on a creative rampage. In September 2021, Matty started a popular podcast entitled Graventown, and he has interviewed many unique creators including Juno Award winners Jill Barber, Matt Mays, Jenn Grant, comedian Seth Morris (from Curb Your Enthusiasm) and NY Times acclaimed Anishinaabe writer and journalist Waubgeshig Rice. He also uses the title "Graventown" as an umbrella term for his community (it was also the name of his popular campfire-esque IG livestream during lockdowns and it's now the name of his Ko-Fi subscription service). 

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With 24 albums, EPs and singles under his belt,  Nepean, Ontario-born Matty (Graven) is an innovative, imaginative and  passionate wordsmith of song who wears his heart on the sleeve of his melodies. Graven’s newest self produced album “Always Everything” came out in July 2024 and has been his most streamed and downloaded to date. It debuted at #15 on the NACC streaming charts. Recorded mostly in his own basement studio and partially at Raven Street studios in Ottawa, the 8 songs soar softly and sweetly with some heavy layered cinematic soundscapes and overtures, focusing on the societal pressures of relationships. Graven’s last album Simple Complex (2022) was recorded at Fang Studios in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and mixed by Joel Plaskett. Bouncy, jangly and thick with chunky acoustic strumming and fuzz layers, SC charted across many college radio stations in Canada and the USA and was #3 on CKCU FM’s top 50 albums of 2022 (and he was also nominated for a FACES Ottawa award for “Country Artist”. )

 

Graven’s 2020 record Years was produced by Jim Bryson (singer songwriter, collaborator with the Tragically Hip and producer of Kathleen Edwards award winning album “Total Freedom”) and helped put his music into new realms. Having toured across Canada thrice, he always has uplifting words and self-love promoting songs of support for anyone at his shows and his dedicated fan-base (who have dubbed themselves as  “Graventown”). Whether solo, duo, trio or with his magical 5 man band (dubbed The New Band), Matty’s performances are raw, entertaining and warm. He has shared stages and opened for acts such as Jim Bryson, Sloan, The Killjoys, Steve Poltz, Danny Michel, Sarah Harmer, Elliott Brood, Wintersleep, Kathryn Calder (New Pornographers), Great Lake Swimmers, Melissa Payne, Stephen Stanley and Ron Hawkins (Lowest of the Low) and many more. Graven always tries to create a highly accepting and inclusive community and his music has become a safe-haven for anyone and everyone who wants to be their real-self without judgement.

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Graven is currently preparing to record and release a new album while touring throughout Southern and Eastern Ontario, Southwestern Quebec, the Maritimes, the Golden Horseshoe, and growing his dedicated fanbase, who follow him primarily on Instagram, as well as Facebook and Twitter.