Combine Townes Van Zandt with Jimmie Rodgers, and somewhere in the middle maybe, you’ll find Matthew Payne. He was North Carolina born, and Texas raised.

Matthew Payne grew up in the beautiful hill country surrounding Dripping Springs, and worked as an educator in Austin for almost two decades. He taught high school English and Creative Writing, and loved every minute of it. The release of his debut EP, Coyote Howlin Blues, showcases an earthy, down-home style reminiscent of the old-time country and acoustic blues traditions of Texas songwriters mixed with Appalachian folk. It explores the human heart at its raw depth. It’s a love story, perhaps, among other things, and howls like the wild coyote. “Matthew’s vocals crack with raw authenticity and the songs sparkle like bright amethysts you find when you split open the dusty rocks of life,” says Americana Highways. 

The incredible Dana Wygmans and Camille Schiess (Magnolia Kids) play upright bass and violin, respectively; all together, the trio make a sound laced with Americana influences that stretch from Appalachia all the way to Texas and far back in time. 

It was recorded at the beautiful and historic Cedar Creek studio in south Austin, the same room where songwriters like James McMurtry, Jimmy Lafave, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Alejandro Escovedo, Doug Sahm, Uncle Tupelo, and other incredible songwriters have cut records. Just like the Carter Family did at the Bristol Sessions, it was done live, with the trio all in the room together, all acoustic, no barriers or separation between players, and in just a few hours. “It was about following our musical instincts, about claiming our own roots, our own story, and capturing the joy of making music on record,” says Matthew Payne. They cut a total of four songs that afternoon, and all four make up the debut EP, Coyote Howlin Blues.