Matt Corby has emerged as one of Australia’s most compelling singer-songwriters, captivating audiences worldwide with his powerful voice and emotionally charged performances. Since his breakthrough on Australian Idol in 2007, Corby has crafted a distinctive sound that blends soul, folk, and alternative rock into something entirely his own. His journey from teenage television contestant to critically acclaimed artist has produced an impressive catalog of songs that showcase his evolution as a musician and storyteller.
From intimate acoustic ballads to explosive anthems, Matt Corby’s discography represents a masterclass in emotional vulnerability and musical craftsmanship. His ability to convey raw emotion through both his voice and lyrics has earned him multiple ARIA Awards and a devoted international following. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to his music, exploring these carefully selected tracks will reveal why Corby remains one of the most respected voices in contemporary music.
Brother
“Brother” stands as one of Matt Corby’s most beloved and enduring compositions, released as part of his breakthrough Into the Flame EP in 2011. The song showcases Corby’s remarkable vocal range, building from a tender whisper to a soul-stirring crescendo that leaves listeners breathless. Its themes of companionship, struggle, and unwavering support resonated deeply with audiences, establishing Corby as more than just a former reality show contestant but as a genuine artistic force. The track’s production allows space for Corby’s voice to command attention while atmospheric instrumentation creates an emotional landscape that perfectly complements the lyrical content. “Brother” became a defining moment in Australian music and remains a staple in Corby’s live performances, where it consistently elicits powerful emotional responses from audiences.
Resolution
Released in 2011, “Resolution” became Matt Corby’s commercial breakthrough and remains his most recognizable song to date. The track topped the Australian charts and earned Corby his first ARIA Award, validating his decision to pursue a more authentic artistic direction. Its powerful message about personal growth and overcoming obstacles struck a universal chord, while Corby’s impassioned vocal delivery transformed what could have been a simple folk song into an anthem of determination. The song’s structure builds masterfully, with each section adding layers of intensity until reaching its cathartic climax. “Resolution” demonstrated Corby’s ability to write commercially successful music without compromising his artistic integrity, setting the template for much of his future work.
Lonely Boy (Cover)
Matt Corby’s interpretation of The Black Keys’ “Lonely Boy” showcases his remarkable ability to reimagine existing material through his unique artistic lens. Rather than simply replicating the original’s garage rock energy, Corby strips the song down to its emotional core, transforming it into a haunting, soulful meditation. His version emphasizes the vulnerability hidden within the lyrics, using his distinctive vocal timbre to explore different emotional territories than the original. This cover became a fan favorite and demonstrated Corby’s versatility as an interpreter of songs, proving he could take familiar material and make it distinctly his own. The arrangement perfectly balances restraint and power, showing Corby’s mature understanding of dynamics and emotional pacing.
Souls A’Fire
“Souls A’Fire” represents Matt Corby at his most introspective and spiritually searching, released as part of his Telluric album in 2016. The song explores themes of inner turmoil and the search for meaning with poetic lyrics that avoid cliché while remaining accessible. Corby’s vocal performance here is particularly nuanced, using subtle inflections and dynamics to convey complex emotional states. The production features organic instrumentation that grounds the song in earthiness while allowing moments of transcendence to shine through. This track exemplifies Corby’s growth as a songwriter, demonstrating his ability to tackle weighty subjects without becoming pretentious or overly serious.
Breathe
“Breathe” showcases Matt Corby’s softer side, offering listeners a moment of calm contemplation within his often intense catalog. The song’s gentle arrangement features delicate guitar work and subtle percussion that creates an intimate atmosphere perfect for Corby’s vulnerable vocal delivery. Its message about finding peace amidst chaos resonates particularly strongly in today’s fast-paced world, offering a musical sanctuary for overwhelmed listeners. The track demonstrates Corby’s understanding that power doesn’t always come from volume, proving he can captivate audiences with whispered intimacy just as effectively as with soaring crescendos. “Breathe” has become a favorite for those seeking solace in Corby’s music, appreciated for its healing qualities and gentle wisdom.
Knife Edge
From his 2016 Telluric album, “Knife Edge” finds Matt Corby exploring darker sonic territories while maintaining his signature emotional honesty. The song’s driving rhythm and slightly menacing atmosphere create tension that perfectly matches lyrics about precarious situations and uncertain futures. Corby’s vocal performance walks its own knife edge, balancing control with raw emotion in a way that keeps listeners engaged throughout. The production incorporates more electronic elements than much of his earlier work, showing Corby’s willingness to experiment with his sound while retaining his essential character. This track proved that Corby could expand his musical palette without alienating fans who loved his acoustic roots.
Monday
“Monday” captures the universal feeling of starting fresh while carrying the weight of past experiences, delivered with Matt Corby’s characteristic emotional depth. The song features one of his most memorable melodies, with a chorus that lodges itself in your memory after a single listen. Corby’s lyrics paint vivid pictures of everyday struggles transformed into profound observations about human nature and resilience. The arrangement builds gradually, adding layers that enhance rather than overwhelm the song’s core message. “Monday” demonstrates Corby’s gift for finding extraordinary meaning in ordinary moments, a skill that separates great songwriters from merely good ones.
Empires
“Empires” showcases Matt Corby’s ability to craft epic-sounding tracks that still maintain intimate emotional connections with listeners. The song explores themes of power, fragility, and the impermanence of human constructions both literal and metaphorical. Corby’s vocal performance here is particularly commanding, using his full range to convey the grandeur implied by the title while never losing sight of the human element. The production features rich, layered instrumentation that creates a cinematic quality without becoming overwrought or pompous. This track highlights Corby’s maturation as an artist capable of tackling ambitious concepts while keeping his music grounded in genuine emotion.
All Fired Up
Released as part of his more recent work, “All Fired Up” demonstrates Matt Corby’s continued evolution as a songwriter and performer. The track combines infectious energy with the emotional depth that has always characterized his best work, creating something both immediately accessible and rewarding upon repeated listening. Corby’s vocal delivery here is confident and assured, reflecting an artist comfortable in his own skin and creative vision. The song’s production balances modern sensibilities with organic elements, creating a sound that feels both contemporary and timeless. “All Fired Up” proves that Corby can create uplifting, energetic music without sacrificing the substance that made him compelling in the first place.
Miracle Love
“Miracle Love” represents one of Matt Corby’s most tender and romantic compositions, exploring the transformative power of connection with poetic sensitivity. The song’s arrangement is beautifully restrained, allowing space for Corby’s voice to communicate the wonder and vulnerability that comes with opening your heart. His lyrics avoid the clichés that often plague love songs, instead finding fresh ways to express timeless emotions. The production emphasizes warmth and intimacy, making listeners feel like they’re experiencing a private moment despite the song’s polish. This track showcases Corby’s range as a songwriter, proving he can write about love without descending into sentimentality or superficiality.
All That I See
From his Telluric album, “All That I See” finds Matt Corby in a contemplative mood, reflecting on perception and reality with philosophical depth. The song’s hypnotic groove creates a meditative quality that invites listeners to sink into its atmosphere and consider its questions. Corby’s vocal performance is mesmerizing, using repetition and subtle variations to create an almost trance-like effect. The production incorporates interesting textural elements that reward close listening while maintaining an accessible surface appeal. This track demonstrates Corby’s willingness to experiment with song structure and form while maintaining his commitment to emotional authenticity.
Runaway
“Runaway” captures the tension between the desire to escape and the need to confront our problems, delivered with Matt Corby’s signature emotional intensity. The song features dynamic shifts that mirror the push-and-pull of its lyrical content, creating a musical journey that feels both restless and purposeful. Corby’s vocal performance conveys urgency without tipping into melodrama, maintaining the delicate balance that makes his best work so compelling. The arrangement builds momentum throughout, creating a sense of forward motion that perfectly matches the song’s thematic content. “Runaway” stands as one of Corby’s most visceral and immediate tracks, connecting with anyone who’s ever felt the urge to leave their troubles behind.
Sooth Lady Wine
“Sooth Lady Wine” showcases Matt Corby’s bluesy influences, delivering a track that feels both vintage and contemporary. The song’s groove is infectious, built on a foundation of soulful rhythm that gets under your skin and stays there. Corby’s vocal performance here is loose and confident, showing a playful side that doesn’t always emerge in his more introspective work. The production emphasizes warmth and analog textures, creating a sonic environment that feels lived-in and authentic. This track proves Corby’s versatility, demonstrating he can create music that makes you move while still maintaining artistic credibility. For those exploring different facets of contemporary music, discovering various songs across genres can provide valuable context for understanding Corby’s place in the musical landscape.
Strings
“Strings” represents Matt Corby at his most musically adventurous, incorporating complex arrangements and unexpected sonic elements. The song’s title references both the orchestral strings featured in the production and the metaphorical strings that connect us to others and our past. Corby’s vocal performance navigates the intricate musical landscape with skill, finding pockets of space to deliver emotionally resonant moments. The production is ambitious without being overwrought, demonstrating Corby’s growing confidence as a sonic architect. This track rewards repeated listening, revealing new layers and details with each encounter while maintaining immediate emotional impact.
No Ordinary Life
“No Ordinary Life” celebrates embracing authenticity and rejecting conformity, themes that have run throughout Matt Corby’s career and personal journey. The song’s anthemic quality makes it a natural crowd-pleaser at live shows, with audiences connecting to its message of self-determination. Corby’s vocal delivery is passionate and convincing, making listeners believe in the possibility of choosing your own path regardless of external pressures. The production balances polish with rawness, creating a professional sound that retains organic energy. This track has become an important part of Corby’s catalog, representing his own journey from manufactured pop contestant to authentic artist on his own terms.
Rainbow Valley
Released as part of his newer material, “Rainbow Valley” demonstrates Matt Corby’s continued commitment to sonic exploration and emotional honesty. The song creates an immersive sonic landscape that lives up to its evocative title, transporting listeners to a place of beauty and introspection. Corby’s vocal performance is nuanced and controlled, showing the technical growth that comes with years of dedication to craft. The production features interesting textural choices that add depth without cluttering the mix, maintaining clarity while creating richness. This track represents Corby’s current artistic direction, showing an artist who remains relevant and creatively vital years into his career.
Everything’s Fine
“Everything’s Fine” employs irony to explore the gap between appearance and reality, a theme increasingly relevant in our curated social media age. Matt Corby’s delivery adds layers of meaning to the seemingly simple title phrase, using vocal inflection to convey the complexity beneath surface-level reassurances. The song’s arrangement supports this tension between the stated message and the underlying truth, creating musical dissonance that resolves in surprising ways. Corby proves himself capable of social commentary without becoming preachy, allowing listeners to draw their own conclusions from his observations. This track showcases his maturation as a lyricist capable of addressing contemporary issues with timeless songwriting techniques.
Light the Sky
“Light the Sky” offers an uplifting message of hope and possibility delivered with Matt Corby’s characteristic emotional depth. The song builds to a soaring chorus that lives up to its celestial imagery, creating moments of genuine transcendence. Corby’s vocal performance balances power with vulnerability, never allowing the song’s optimistic message to feel naive or simplistic. The production creates space for the song to breathe while maintaining momentum, demonstrating sophisticated understanding of arrangement and dynamics. This track has become a favorite for fans seeking inspiration from Corby’s music, offering encouragement without empty platitudes. When considering the full experience of enjoying music, the quality of your listening equipment matters; comparing options through resources like headphones can enhance your appreciation of Corby’s nuanced productions.
Lapse
“Lapse” explores themes of memory, time, and the reliability of our own perceptions with Matt Corby’s poetic sensibility. The song’s dreamlike quality is enhanced by production choices that emphasize atmosphere and mood over conventional structure. Corby’s vocal performance is haunting and memorable, using space and silence as effectively as sound to convey meaning. The arrangement features unexpected instrumental choices that add to the song’s otherworldly feeling while remaining accessible. This track represents some of Corby’s most experimental work, showing an artist unafraid to take risks and challenge listener expectations while maintaining emotional connection.
If I Never Say a Word
From his more recent releases, “If I Never Say a Word” showcases Matt Corby’s ability to convey profound emotion even when exploring the limits of communication. The song addresses the inadequacy of language to express our deepest feelings, a paradox Corby navigates with characteristic grace. His vocal performance communicates what the lyrics claim cannot be said, demonstrating the power of music to transcend verbal limitations. The production is sophisticated and mature, reflecting an artist who has fully come into his own creative vision. This track proves that Corby continues to evolve and challenge himself artistically, refusing to simply repeat past successes. For listeners who want to fully appreciate the sonic details in tracks like this, exploring various earbuds can help reveal the layers within Corby’s carefully crafted productions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Matt Corby’s most famous song?
“Resolution” is widely considered Matt Corby’s most famous and commercially successful song. Released in 2011, it topped the Australian charts and won him his first ARIA Award, becoming the breakthrough single that established him as a major artistic force. The song’s powerful message about personal growth and its emotionally charged vocal performance resonated with audiences worldwide, making it his signature track that continues to define his career.
What genre is Matt Corby’s music?
Matt Corby’s music blends multiple genres including soul, folk, alternative rock, and indie music into a distinctive sound that’s difficult to categorize. His work draws from blues traditions while incorporating contemporary production techniques, creating music that feels both timeless and modern. This genre-defying approach has allowed Corby to appeal to diverse audiences while maintaining artistic authenticity throughout his career.
Has Matt Corby won any awards?
Yes, Matt Corby has won multiple ARIA Awards throughout his career, including recognition for his singles and albums. His breakthrough song “Resolution” earned him his first ARIA Award in 2012, validating his artistic direction and commercial success. Corby’s debut album “Telluric” also received critical acclaim and award recognition, cementing his status as one of Australia’s most respected contemporary artists.
When did Matt Corby start his music career?
Matt Corby first gained public attention as a contestant on Australian Idol in 2007 when he was just sixteen years old. However, his serious artistic career began after taking time away from the spotlight to develop his authentic sound, returning with the Into the Flame EP in 2011. This period of artistic development proved crucial, allowing Corby to transform from a television contestant into a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter with a distinctive voice and vision.
What is Matt Corby’s vocal range?
Matt Corby possesses an impressive vocal range that spans multiple octaves, allowing him to navigate from intimate, breathy tones to powerful, soaring notes. His voice is characterized by its soulful quality, emotional expressiveness, and remarkable control across different registers. This vocal versatility has become one of Corby’s defining characteristics as an artist, enabling him to convey complex emotions and create dynamic performances that captivate audiences worldwide.
Does Matt Corby write his own songs?
Yes, Matt Corby is a prolific songwriter who writes or co-writes the majority of his original material. His songwriting demonstrates poetic sensibility, emotional depth, and willingness to explore complex themes without relying on clichés. Corby’s commitment to authentic self-expression through his own compositions has been central to his artistic identity and critical success throughout his career.
What albums has Matt Corby released?
Matt Corby has released several EPs and studio albums throughout his career, with his debut full-length album “Telluric” arriving in 2016 to widespread critical acclaim. Prior to that, he released influential EPs including “Into the Flame” (2011) and “Resolution” (2012) that established his artistic reputation. His subsequent releases have continued to showcase his evolution as an artist while maintaining the emotional authenticity that defines his work.
Is Matt Corby still making music?
Yes, Matt Corby continues to actively create and release new music, demonstrating ongoing artistic evolution and relevance. His recent releases show an artist still committed to pushing creative boundaries while maintaining the emotional core that has always defined his work. Corby remains a vital presence in contemporary music, balancing artistic integrity with continued growth and experimentation in his sound and songwriting approach.