Matt Johnson

Born in London in 1969 and associated with Bournemouth for his beginnings, Matt Johnson is part of a trajectory as a British keyboardist, composer and producer linked to funk, acid jazz and a pop-soul with richly crafted arrangements. After early work with Sunray and Nu Hope in the 1990s, Matt Johnson joined Jamiroquai in 2002, following Toby Smith's departure, and quickly took a central place in the group, both on stage and in writing. His keyboard playing, nourished by jazz-funk, flexible grooves and a strong taste for melodic textures, accompanies Jamiroquai's evolution on Dynamite (2005), Rock Dust Light Star (2010) and Automaton (2017), an album he co-produces and co-writes with Jay Kay. In parallel, Matt Johnson develops activity as a songwriter and producer for other artists, notably Julian Perretta on Stitch Me Up (2010), as well as Laura Doggett and Nolwenn Leroy. His work remains anchored in an approach where keyboards structure as much rhythm as harmony, between contemporary funk, sophisticated pop and soul inflections. Under his name, Matt Johnson also releases With The Music in 2020, extending this relationship between direct writing, groove culture and sense of arrangement.