Matthew Bair (born June 2, 1987),[1][2] known professionally as Matthew Koma, is an American singer, songwriter, DJ and record producer. Songs written by Koma include "Spectrum" and Grammy Award-winner "Clarity", both performed by Zedd. Koma has collaborated with Hardwell, Zedd, Miriam Bryant, Sebastian Ingrosso, Alesso, Afrojack, Tiësto, Vicetone and Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic.
Matthew Koma | |
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 Koma in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Matthew Bair |
| Born | June 2, 1987 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Website | matthewkoma |
Early life edit
He was born on 2 June 1987. Koma was born in Brooklyn and raised in Seaford, New York, on Long Island.[3][2] His father, Gerald D. Bair, was a singer/songwriter and Koma first performed on stage with his father when he was four years old.[4] Koma wrote his first song when he was nine years old and credits Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen for his inspiration at a young age.[5] Koma attended Seaford High School.[6] His older half brother, Kris Mazzarisi, is also a musician.
Musical career edit
In June 2011, Jimmy Iovine signed Koma to Interscope Records after watching an acoustic performance of the record "She".[1]
In May 2012, Koma released his first EP, Parachute, in which he wrote, produced and co-produced all four tracks with collaborators Twice as Nice, Alex da Kid, Sam Watters, Louis Biancaniello, and Ari Levine.[7]
Also in 2012, he performed at the Sorry for Party Rocking Tour with LMFAO and Far East Movement,[8] In the fall of 2012, he toured with Owl City.[4]
In March 2012, Bruce Springsteen released "Rocky Ground", a remix that Koma co-produced with Ron Aniello as a single from his album Wrecking Ball.[9]
In July 2012, Koma did the main vocals for the song "End of Pretend" by Black Cards.[10]
In April 2013, he toured Europe supporting Ellie Goulding alongside Charli XCX.[11]
In November 2013, Koma and DJ Hardwell released the single "Dare You",[12]
In March 2014, Showtek's "Cannonball (Earthquake)", featuring Koma, was released.[13] In April 2014, Koma appeared on RAC's debut album, featuring on the single "Cheap Sunglasses".[14] In May 2014, Koma was featured on Audien's single "Serotonin".[15] Also in May 2014, Afrojack's album Forget the World, which featured two songs written and sung by Koma, "Keep our Love Alive" and "Illuminate", was released.[16]
In January 2015, Koma was featured in Kia Motors' online video series Rediscovered, where he recorded a cover of The Miracles' "The Tracks of My Tears" before Smokey Robinson made a surprise visit in the studio.[17]
Koma collaborated with The Knocks on "I Wish (My Taylor Swift)", which was released as a single in September 2015 and later appeared on the Knocks' 2016 album, 55.[18]
In 2016, he worked with Britney Spears on her album Glory producing the song “Swimming in the Stars”, which was released in 2020.[19]
In June 2017, Koma produced several tracks for Shania Twain's fifth studio album Now, including the lead single "Life's About to Get Good".[20]
In November 2017, he was featured on the Downes Braide Association album Skyscraper Souls.[21]
In August 2018, he premiered "On the 5", both single and video under his new project, Winnetka Bowling League via RCA Records.[22]
In August 2020, he co-wrote and co-produced the single "Change Your Mind" by Keith Urban.[23]
Personal life edit
Relationships and family edit
From 2012 until 2015, Koma dated Carly Rae Jepsen, after meeting while they were working on her album Kiss.[24]
In May 2019, he got engaged to Hilary Duff and they were married in December 2019 at their home in Los Angeles, after three years of dating.[25][26] They have two daughters, Banks Violet Bair, born in October 2018[26] and Mae James Bair, born in March 2021. He is also a stepfather to Duff's son, Luca, from her previous marriage to ice-hockey player Mike Comrie.[27] On December 12, 2023, Bair and Duff announced that they were expecting their third child.[28]
Anorexia edit
In May 2017, he released "Dear Ana", a song about his anorexia and confessed that the disease almost killed him.[29]
Awards and nominations edit
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMI Pop Awards | 2014 | Award-Winning Song | "Clarity" | Won | [30] |
| Billboard Music Awards | 2012 | Top Dance/Club Song | "Spectrum" | Won | [31] |
| International Dance Music Awards | 2013 | Best Progressive Track | "Years" | Nominated | [32] |
| 2016 | Best Dubstep/Drum & Bass Track | "Emotional" | Nominated | ||
| MTV Video Music Awards Japan | 2012 | Best Dance Video | "Spectrum" | Nominated |
Discography edit
References edit
- ^ a b Gamboa, Glenn (July 27, 2011). "LI's Matthew Koma signs with major label". Newsday.
- ^ a b Pearce, James. "Matthew Koma Biography". AllMusic.com. Archived from the original on February 25, 2016.
- ^ Farley, Rebecca (June 8, 2018). "I'm Sorry, But Who Is Matthew Koma?". Refinery29.
- ^ a b "For Matthew Koma, collaborations carry him to top". USA Today. September 13, 2012.
- ^ Salud, April (November 27, 2017). "Matthew Koma Credits Bruce Springsteen & Elvis Costello for His 'Foundational Upbringing'". Billboard.
- ^ Gamboa, Glenn (June 27, 2017). "Matthew Koma has big homecoming at Coliseum". Newsday.
- ^ "Newcomer Matthew Koma to Release Four-Song Debut – Parachute EP – on Cherrytree/Darkchild/Interscope Records May 29th" (Press release). PR Newswire. May 16, 2012.
- ^ Gamboa, Glenn (January 31, 2012). "Matthew Koma lands Cherrytree European tour slot". Newsday.
- ^ Gamboa, Glenn (July 3, 2012). "Springsteen picks Koma remix for new single". Newsday.
- ^ Greenwald, David (July 16, 2012). "New Song: Black Cards, 'End Of Pretend' Featuring Matthew Koma". MTV News.
- ^ Robbins, Caryn (April 2, 2013). "Matthew Koma Premieres 'One Night' Video Today". BroadwayWorld.
- ^ "Hardwell Feat. Matthew Koma - 'Dare You' (Tiësto vs. Twoloud remix): New Music". Capital Xtra. February 2, 2014.
- ^ "Showtek – Cannonball (Earthquake) Lyrics". Genius. April 13, 2014.
- ^ Sawdey, Evan (June 4, 2014). "20 Questions: RAC + Matthew Koma (Video Premiere)". PopMatters.
- ^ Medved, Matt (May 29, 2014). "Code First Play: Audien & Matthew Koma, 'Serotonin'". Billboard.
- ^ Woodruff, Chase (May 22, 2014). "Afrojack: Forget the World Review". Paste.
- ^ "Premiere: Watch Matthew Koma Meet Smokey Robinson, Cover 'Tracks of My Tears'". Billboard. January 12, 2015.
- ^ Carley, Brennan (September 25, 2015). "The Knocks Dream Big With Matthew Koma On 'I Wish (My Taylor Swift)'". Spin.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (December 2, 2020). "Hear Britney Spears' Previously Unreleased Track 'Swimming in the Stars'". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Freeman, Jon (June 14, 2017). "Hear Shania Twain's Optimistic New Song 'Life's About to Get Good'". Rolling Stone.
- ^ "Downes Braide Association: Skyscraper Souls". November 16, 2017.
- ^ Gamboa, Glenn (September 9, 2018). "LI Sound: Seaford's Matthew Koma returns to his rock roots". Newsday.
- ^ "New Keith Urban" – via Instagram.
- ^ GUNN, TAMANTHA (July 29, 2022). "Hilary Duff Wins the "Early Pics" Couples Challenge With Photo of Matthew Koma and Ex Carly Rae Jepsen". E!.
- ^ Sinha, Charu (December 22, 2019). "Hilary Duff Goes Full Cinderella Story, Marries Matthew Koma". Vulture.com.
- ^ a b Stone, Natalie (December 22, 2019). "Hilary Duff Marries Matthew Koma at Their L.A. Home: 'It Was Small and Low-Key,' Source Says". People.
- ^ Calvario, Liz (November 12, 2019). "Hilary Duff's Fiancé Matthew Koma Gets the Sweetest Tattoo of Kids". Entertainment Tonight.
- ^ Koma, Matthew. "baby #4 is loading…". www.instagram.com. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ Nelson, Jeff (May 2, 2017). "Matthew Koma Says Coming to Terms with Anorexia Was a 'Living Hell': Hear the Haunting Song About His Eating Disorder". People.
- ^ "Stevie Nicks and Top Songwriters Honored at 62nd Annual BMI Pop Awards". Broadcast Music, Inc. May 14, 2014.
- ^ "Rock On The Net: 2012 Billboard Year-End Chart-Toppers". rockonthenet.com.
- ^ "WMC 2013, Day 3: IDMA". March 21, 2013.