Matt Epp has come from a dark place to release a more rock and roll influenced album, “Learning to Lose Control.”
He is excited to bring the new music and his longstanding band the Amorian Assembly to the Slice, June 7.
“We’ve got some really exciting new additions to the band for the record,“ Epp enthused for the first of many interviews in the day.
The new album came together very naturally, beginning about two years ago in Los 
Angeles.
“I didn’t have any songs or anything. I wanted to to talk to a producer there and Serena Ryder was there,” he said adding they started talking about writing together and came up with “What You Know.”
“ It just came really naturally,” he continued adding the songs have a lot of hope.
“But it came out of a really dark place, but they lend hope. I thought it was a dark place. I mean, I’ve had a lot of great experiences. I’ve lived in Europe, I have a great band and a great wife. I’m not sure what I have to feel dark about,” he said.
“ I struggled a lot with it,” he continued.
He also did some crowd sourcing on kapipal.com to help raise money to complete the CD.
“I had a lot of time to get it done right and not be rushed,” he said.
“ I was going to make the album regardless, but they didn’t take a big portion of the money raised,” he said adding he decided to go the crowd funding route to give his fans a sense of ownership in his album.
“ It was a really great way to get people more involved and not just make it for the artist,” he said adding he raised $20,000 though kapaipal in three months. He has some pretty dedicated fans.
“ On the last day, I was almost done and three fans from Marseilles, France donated $150 each to get it to $20,000 exactly, even though they had already donated,” he enthused.
“ So that really felt good,” he said.
He is excited about his next tour, which begins June 1 in Winnipeg, will come to Lethbridge on June 7 then all the way out to the East coast before ending in Toronto, June 28.
“Oh my goodness, I’m so excited to be playing playing at home in Winnipeg. I have a great cast of musicians rom Winnipeg for the Western Canadian part of the tour. I can’t wait to bring a little more rock and roll,” he enthused.
His band includes bassist Joel Coutour, drummer Ivan Burke, guitarist Joel Perrault and vocalist/ pianist Chantel Emond who have been playing with him for the past 10 years.
“They are a very tight band,” he said.
He said the more rock influence also evolved naturally from the material.
“There’s a little bit of angst of being depressed and struggling to get out if it,” he said.
He is excited about returning to Lethbridge.
‘There is more electric guitar and I feel like I am bringing a different performance to Lethbridge,” he said.
Matt Epp begins at 9 p.m., June 7 at the Slice.There is a $10 cover.
