Arizona Songwriter Showcase

<– Back to songwriter profiles

Name: Matthew Moran 
Website: http://www.MatthewMoranOnline.com
Musical Genre: Acoustic Pop, Country-ish, Americana…

Influences:
Jim Croce, Shawn Mullins, James Taylor, James McMurtry, John Mellencamp, Lyle Lovett, Stevie Nicks (I like twirling)… Who am I missing?  Just about everyone..  I hear things I like daily that influence my writing.  I try not to copy as much as let idea percolate and hopeful become something new or interesting - at least for me.

What is the first song you learned to play?
The Crawdad Song, from a Pete Seeger Banjo book - The Red Book

What is the first song you ever wrote?
I wrote something called "Sad Eyes" back when I was about 14 or 15.  It was overly melancholy but recently I started playing around with a couple lines that I actually like from that song.

Do you still play it?
Not really…

Who is an unexpected influence - someone others might not expect that you liked?
Prince - or whatever his name currently is.  I saw him in concert years ago and he impressed the heck out of me.  Not so much as a songwriter or stylistically but his performance, he can put on a show.  Uh, and Boy George - I don’t know who wrote Karma Chameleon but I think the song is genius.