Matt Wilier began improvising on piano at the age of 5, with no knowledge of music other than his own feelings and sensations. After practicing for a few years, it was at the music conservatory that he discovered technique and then classical music. From the age of 12, he would fall asleep listening to Keith Jarrett’s solo piano albums, including ‘The Köln Concert’ and ‘La Scala’. During the same period, after having studied the Romantics (and Chopin’s rubato), he was captivated by impressionist music and became fascinated by the French movement ‘Les Six’. But ultimately, he considers ‘Gaspard de la Nuit’ by Maurice Ravel to be one of the most beautiful piano works. While retaining his initial desire for improvisation, he threw himself into minimalist and repetitive music, freeing himself from judgment and taking an interest in sonic resonances, frequencies and vibrations of the piano as proof of the passage of time.
In 2019, he released his first EP ‘Jours’, a collection of older improvised recordings, and chose to regularly release tracks resulting from his process of creation with the French label, Bruit Blanc. ‘Variations’, his new 11-track album, released in June 2024. The recording of this album was no exception, with Matt once again focusing on resonances.
‘Variations’ is built in the same way, with changing melodies, harmonies and rhythms.
However, this time the piano is not alone, with strings, strings layers, ensemble, and analog bass frequencies as accompaniment. This album is built like an original movie soundtrack. Images flash by as you close your eyes and listen to it.
Same year in September, Matt recorded a few piano-solo tracks after a series of improvisational recordings, which he released in short bursts: ‘Burning Through the Ground’ and ‘A suspended Moment’ (two tracks: ‘A Suspended Moment’ – ‘He hand lovingly caressed her face, she awoke softly and fixed her gaze upon mine’).