BIOGRAPHY

Matt MacKellar is one of the bright young drumming prospects to come out of the North East of England. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1998, Matthew always had an interest for music, having been raised in a church where music was an integral part of services. Through the encouragement of the members and family friends, he embarked on his road into music, beginning formal training at the age of 6. 

 

Matt has always been attracted to the rhythmic aspects of the drums, capturing his interest and pointing him towards more complex music exposed to him by family members and friends. This involved the influences of early gospel music as well as more modern funk and rock fusion from bands such as Jamiroquai to Steely Dan. In his later years, Matt experienced a life-changing trip to New York City, where he first encountered Jazz music, which shaped his path to current day. With such drum icons as Art Blakey and Max Roach entering the forefront of his interest, he switched his studies to improvisational music for the next few years, quickly becoming an obsession. 

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This fascination helped in Matt's journey to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where he was able to study under John Ramsey, Ralph Peterson and James Murphy to name a few. Matt has since ventured back into the realms of Gospel and more groove oriented studies, with an ambition to make this into his career in the future. With a very promising future ahead of him in the music industry, Matt is determined to turn what was once a hobby, into his lifelong dream.