Matthew Marcus McDaniel

Almost 20 years ago, after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, Matthew left behind everything he knew to pursue his one and only passion, music. He began by playing cover songs in small local venues and street festivals for free. Then turning his poetry to music, he became an original songwriter.

Matthew went on to play open mic nights and songwriter showcases around Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth. This brought him recognition and paying shows. He tried to start a few bands early on with not much success. Then in 2010 Matthew decided to record & released his first album, “Last Look Back”, as a solo artist.

Thieves of Sunrise

Determined, Matthew began to build a band that he hoped would last. Thieves of Sunrise. He spent months auditioning musicians, writing songs, and rehearsing. After almost a year, Thieves of Sunrise played their first shows, started touring, recording albums and never looked back. They signed a record deal, released 3 albums, had their music played on radio and streamed in more than 120 countries, toured the US many times, played with legendary bands and musicians, and sadly, at the beginning of 2019, the band decided that touring was not longer an option for everyone. 

Present Day

Matthew was not finished, no, far from it. Though recent years were not without pitfalls. Covid canceled tours, effected economies, and changed us all, but Matthew was driven to bring music to the world when people needed it the most, and so did Matthew. Spending the last 6 years touring as a solo artist in the USA and Brasil, focusing his craft and creating something new, something different yet familiar, he now brings a one man band style show with suitcase drums, guitar (both acoustic & electric), harmonica, subversive lyrics and the truth in his voice. Matthew invites you to come be a witness to nothing less than an awakening.