On this episode, we are chatting with Matt Goodwin. You may recognize him from The Movement, but this dude’s musical résumé runs deep, as does his love for the outdoors.

Matt Goodwin is an American musician, composer, record producer and engineer. Born in Naples, New York, he is best know for his contributions within the American Reggae scene having engineered/performed on 7 albums that debuted #1 on the Billboard and iTunes Reggae Charts.

After studying classical piano for several years Ithaca College he switched his focus and was later awarded the first ever undergraduate degree in Ethnomusicology after studying music in Ghana, West Africa and Jaipur, India through The School For International Training.

*Photo Credit:* *Autumn Layne Photography*

While in Ghana in 2002, Matt worked with producer Panji Anoff to record the album Sankofa Roots Revival at Pidgen Music Studios in Accra with international recording artist Dela Botri and Hewale Sounds.

In 2003, he lived with All India Radio recording artist Nissan Hussain Khan in Jaipur, India studying the classical Indian traditions of Tabla and Voice.

In 20014, after his return to the states, he finished his Undergraduate Degree by studying Gamelan and Middle Eastern Music through the Eastman School of Music in Rochester NY.

From 2006-2012, Matt performed as the keyboardist for internationally acclaimed Boston based future roots reggae band John Brown’s Body. After the group's 2008 release of Amplify, which debuted #1 on the Billboard Reggae Charts, the band received international acclaim while touring throughout Europe, the U.K., New Zealand, Hawaii and the Caribbean.

While on a break with JBB, Matt joined Toronto based, Juno Award winning trio Bedouin Soundclash. Playing guitar and keyboards, he toured throughout Canada, the U.K. and U.S. performing parts recorded by Money Mark (Beastie Boys) off the bands certified Platinum record Sounding a Mosaic and Street Gospels.

Matt is also a long time collaborator with Rochester based reggae band Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad. He engineered and produced tracks off of their third studio album In These Times which peaked at #5 on the Billboard Reggae Album Chart. He recorded keyboards on their #1 Billboard charting 2014 release of Steady. Additionally he performed keyboards, trumpet, guitar and percussion while also engineering the bands 2016 release of Make it Better, which debuted #1 on Billboard and iTunes Reggae Charts.

In 2014, Matt teamed up with Grammy Award Winning producer Matt Marrin (Beyonce, Rage Against the Machine, Foo Fighters) to record an album of independently released original pop-rock tunes under the name Axis Armada.

In 2015, Matt signed on as keyboardist for NYC reggae collective Easy Star All-Stars. He continues to tour throughout the U.S., Mexico, U.K., Europe, and Southeast Asia performing selections off their internationally acclaimed records Dubside of the Moon, Radiodread, Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band and Thrillah.

In 2016, he went in the studio with Columbia, SC based reggae band The Movement at White Star Sound (Chris Keup, Jason Mraz) to work with Producer Danny Kalb (Beck, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson). Performed keyboards, trumpet and programmed drums on the album Golden, which debuted #1 on Billboard and iTunes Reggae Charts.

In 2017, Matt collaborated once again with Danny Kalb at Seahorse Sound Studio in L.A. and recorded keys, xylophone and percussion for San Diego based band Hirie’s sophomore album Wandering Soul, which also debuted #1 on the Billboard Reggae Charts. In September of 2018, Matt reunited with Danny Kalb at Sonic Ranch Studios studios to co-write, co-produce, and play keyboards, guitar and trumpet on Hirie’s much anticipated 3rd full length record Dreamer.

Since 2018, Matt is back out touring as a full time member with The Movement playing keyboards, guitar, trumpet and background vocals. He was most recently credited with producing, mixing, and engineering their latest record Always With Me, which also debuted #1 on the Billboard Reggae charts in July of 2022.

Today, Matt continues to work as a freelance touring musician in addition to being a session musician, producer, composer, and engineer with his company Riot City Sound. When not on the road he continues to work with artists such as Steve Gadd (Paul Simon, Eric Clapton), Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel), John Lithgow (voice over work on Pitch Perfect 3), Kamilah Marshall (Taylor Swift), and Ms. Monet (Faith Hill, Queen Latifa, Boz Scaggs) out of the historic Black Dog Studios (where Metallica recorded their debut album Kill 'Em All) in downtown Rochester, NY.