Vancouver’s piano man, Matthew Presidente is a bold rock/pop songwriter. Whether performing solo or with his full band, the high-energy piano-based performer connects with the crowd through passionate performances.
Referred to as “one of — if not — the best singer/songwriters our LGBT scene has” by Xtra Magazine (Vancouver), Matty left his career to pursue music full-time in 2022 – since then, he released 8 singles, toured BC, and received a Creative BC Career Development grant to fund a new recording. In 2023/24 he performed over 200 shows, including notable venues The Fox, The Rickshaw, The Chapel, Guilt & Co, The Shipyards and The Hollywood. He has been enthusiastically recognized on Pride stages across BC and Alberta. He co-wrote/performed a musical for Kelowna Fringe with drag artist Toddy.
Matthew’s full-length 7th album ‘Chosen Sun’ came out January 24th, 2025, with songs speaking of life changes, queer empowerment and personal evolution. You can hear the first singles ‘The Rhythm’ and ‘Rainbow Tree’ now on all streaming platforms.
Name:
Matthew Presidente
Genre:
Piano Rock / Pop
Founded:
Early 2000s
# of Albums:
7
Latest Album:
Chosen Sun
Latest Single:
Latest Video:
Favourite musician growing up:
I can’t pick one!!! I was very much into the cool / queer-friendly women of the 90s: Sleater Kinney, Tori Amos, Patti Smith, PJ Harvey, Liz Phair, Sonic Youth
Favourite musician now:
I go to Cat Power most of the time now
Guilty pleasure song:
HOT2GO!
Live show ritual:
A shot of tequila before hitting the stage!
Favourite local musician:
Runner (the band) – female fronted with beautiful songs and lush performances. There is something so classic and understated about this band that makes them incredibly captivating.
EP or LP?
LP… I want a journey!
Early bird or night owl?
Night owl – that’s when all of the exciting stuff happens!
Road or studio?
Road – I enjoy performing live and getting the energy from the crowd. Especially when you can travel to different cities and share your songs.
Where can we follow you?
Instagram is where I’m most active, lots of BTS content @mattyprez
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Rapid Fire Local Questions:
What is your favourite local restaurant?
Bao Bei! I love heading to this historic area of town, having a cocktail at Keefer and then on to Bar Bei for the great service and fried rice!
What is your favourite street in your city and why?
Robson Street – great food and I love shopping!
What is your favourite park in your city and why?
Stanley Park, you can’t beat the seawall views. I live right nearby and it’s breathtaking every time.
What is your favourite music venue in your city?
The Commodore – dream venue. It’s just perfect in every way. The right size, great sound, great lights, iconic history… plus I’ve seen so many great acts there.
What is your favourite music store in your city?
Neptoon Records. They work hard to keep physical media available and up-to-date in Vancouver.
