Multi-instrumentalist-turned-songwriter Mathis Hunter has been a journeyman in the Atlanta music scene and beyond for decades. When looking for ways to categorize his music, it is hard to ignore the diversity of ideas and the endless genre experimentation that characterize his discography. While this approach may at one time have seemed puzzling, in today’s musical landscape it proves to be Hunter’s overarching strength as a songwriter. Woven through his albums are threads of clever melodies, hypnotic riffs, prominent grooves, and earworm-inducing hooks from an artist that can pull from, and operate within, various genres. Hunter is seemingly able to find inspiration from the past and the future simultaneously, while crafting songs and a sound that, while hard to pin down, offer a great deal to the willing listener.
Despite Hunter’s history of broad experimentation, his solo albums have taken a somewhat more probable path where sequencers and samplers give way to a more traditional “rock band” setup: two guitars, bass, and drums. Influences still reign in from all angles, however there is a strongly traceable guidance from UK rock of the ‘60s through the ‘90s such as The Stones, Small Faces, Traffic, Wishbone Ash, Iron Maiden, The Verve, Primal Scream…and there and back again.The band will perform to celebrate the release of Hunter’s new album The Way In Is Not The Way Out at the Bird Room 22 March 2025.
Hunter’s active and prolific musical odyssey began on bass guitar with mid-90s punk rock luminaries Quadiliacha, while the latter half of the ‘90s saw him as a guitarist, and later as drummer, of the space rock outfit Good Friday Experiment. In 2006, he co-founded his longest lasting project, the cosmic disco entourage Noot d' Noot. In 2007 he joined The Selmanaires as a percussionist/guitarist where remained until 2009. 2010 saw the release of Hunter’s first solo album, Soft Opening, on which he performed most of the instruments but also utilized many members of his other bands for overdubs. After the release of Soft Opening Hunter remained focused on Noot d' Noot until it disbanded in 2014. It was at this time he also began a somewhat parallel career as a DJ.
In 2015, Hunter formed Frosted Orange with former Noot d' Noot members along with drummer Lee Corum and guitarist Andy Morrison. After the release of Frosted Orange's debut album Hunter became a full-time DJ and then went "solo" again, bringing Corum and Morrison along for 2017's Countryman album, 2019’s Mother Tongue, and 2020's Mood Lighting. Frankie Sparks joined the group on bass in 2020, just in time for the pandemic to shut down operations.
Three more albums and an EP followed- 2023's V and Can't Stay, and 2025’s The Way In Is Not The Way Out. The new album Relentless is set to be released 30 April 2026 and the band will be performing relentlessly over the summer to support it’s release.
