Quotes

About Lushcamp

Brooklyn, NY-based indie rock outfit Lushcamp makes alternative rock music that captures the bittersweet flow of memories. Each tune ignites the senses with catchy guitar hooks, powerful vocal melodies and heartfelt lyrics that time travel through bandleader, singer, guitarist and songwriter Paul Matarelli’s own experiences. While the tales told by the group’s songs are honest and relatable, these songs are far from simple; the “lush” moniker perfectly describes the group’s layered recordings as well as Matarelli’s visual lyrics and raw, pouring-his-heart-out vocal performances. The band’s debut album, Lushcamp features 10 tunes that explore the joyful, heartbreaking,lonely and emotionally-charged moments of life and human relationships.

Lushcamp mastermind Matarelli plays not only guitar but also bass, drums and piano, which has always allowed him to write songs with poignant melodies and harmonies and a multitude of textures.Raised within a family of musicians in the Midwest, rock n’ roll by classic powerhouse bands like The Who, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles gave him goosebumps early on, and he basked in the electrifying riffs of hard rock guitar gods like Eddie Van Halen and Jimmy Page until he finally picked up the instrument himself. He started to perfect his technique and learned the ins and outs of song structure by studying the well-written work of acts like The Beatles and Nirvana and performing cover songs.

Setting his sights on the vibrant music scene of New York City, Matarelli used his knack for well-crafted rhymes and on-the-fly storytelling and began to write his own material.At 21, a summer internship at Epic Records brought him to his dream city, and he started playing open mics and small gigs in the West Village. Inspired by artists like The National, Jack White, The Shins and others, his writing evolved into pieces that reflected his own scars and truths.In 2003, he met composer and producer Eran Westwood, recording a demo at his studio. The duo clicked creatively during the process and reunited to write and co-produce all the material on Lushcamp’s debut.

As a solo artist, Matarelli has fallen in love with the historic stages of Brooklyn and New York City, performing at historic venues such as The Bitter End, Kenny’s Castaways, CBGB’sand many others and has also co-written music for film and television. In addition to being an experienced media sales executive for over a decade, Matarelli can add author to his resume. In 2012, he published the novel All Roads Lead West about a man who changes course in order to follow his true passion. It was this project that re-whetted Matarelli’s appetite for making fresh music that comes from his soul and laid the foundation for Lushcamp.

In 2013 Matarelli released the solo EP Someday and began to collaborate with Westwood on material for Lushcamp’s first full-length album. This debut is a study of the dark and light in people and the colorful dimensions of vulnerable, flawed anti-heroes and the choices they make that shape their journey. Fronted by Matarelli and produced by Westwood, the band will be playing venues in New York City in support of the release throughout 2016. Lushcampwill be available soon.

Photos

Videos