PureVolume

Mathien is the brainchild of singer/songwriter Chris Mathien, who describes the band as an aural representation of the music and ideas constantly going through his head. Inspired by vintage reggae, soul, and hip-hop, Chris has developed his own unique style that combines funny stories and spiritual truths with serious, self-effacing subject matter such as interracial love affairs and infidelity.
After a stint with bands from his native Chicago, Chris entered Southern Illinois University in Carbondale as a freshman in the fall of 2003 full of high musical ambitions. Performing his own vocals, guitar, bass, drums, and any number of other instruments, Chris started writing a recording a sizeable catalog of over 50 original songs. Meanwhile, he began to perform limited engagements around SIU and garnered a small but dedicated local fan base.
In the fall of 2005, Chris recruited a talented quintet of student musicians from the halls of SIU's music program to form Mathien. After an impromptu show at Carbondales Hangar 9 in early September, Mathien began to make a bigger impression on the local music scene, with several appearances around the SIU campus and several dates at Big Boys Qn on the Carbondale Square.
Chris Mathien's solo material has also been gaining attention from advertising agencies, producers, and Chicago-based booking agents. Fans can look forward to Mathiens first release, Genius, in the summer of 2006. In the mean time, check out the band's music and latest touring information at their MySpace page, www.MySpace.com/ChrisMathien.