The daily grind or rat race can swallow up a person entirely and leave them feeling helpless alongside being physically and mentally exhausted. You’re always in a rush, and there’s never enough time to stop and smell the roses. Mississauga, Ontario-based folk rock artist Matt Zaddy has described that situation vividly in “Far Too Long,” his latest single, which shines with its Americana, alt-country flavoring. It’s also a song which hit close to home for the musician who was burning the candle at three ends between his day job, his family life, and his music pursuits.
Zaddy, who was working an exhaustive 80-hour week between both disciplines, was nearing a breaking point. After having a heartfelt chat with his younger brother, the musician realized that burnout had cost him a week of his life. That figurative wake-up call led Zaddy to work with Juno Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning producer Ross Citrullo to bring “Far Too Long” from its seed to its final fantastic form.
“I’ve always believed that music has the power to connect us,” Zaddy says regarding the song’s inspiration. “This song speaks to my own struggles with balance — between work, music, family, and friends. I think we’ve all been there at some point, and sometimes it takes hitting a wall to realize we need to make a change.”
“Far Too Long” is rooted deeply in alt-country or Americana as Zaddy sings about the passing of time and needing all the strength he has to get through the grind. Bringing to mind the work of early Jason Mraz, Shakey Graves, the Black Crowes circa The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion or The Rolling Stones at their country-leaning zenith, Zaddy has some fine musicianship on “Far Too Long.” The folksy opening blossoms into a large ensemble with some barroom piano thrown in for good measure. In short, it’s a Southern-tinged staple from one of Mississauga’s finest.
Zaddy, who wrote the single, says “Far Too Long” was recorded at Toronto’s RHC Music with Citrullo who produced it. The room and collaboration resulted in a song whose energy was captured immediately, completing the bed tracks in under an hour. “We recorded the vocals, bass, organs, and drums live off the floor, and it made all the difference in the feel and sound of the song,” Zaddy says. “Live off the floor recording gives the song something spontaneous and honest, something visceral.”
“Far Too Long,” mastered by Connor Salmoral at Salmoral Studios, features Zaddy on lead vocals, percussion, electric guitar and acoustic guitar. Citrullo adds percussion while Adam Cannon provides both percussion and drums. The single also includes bassist Curtis Freeman, Miles Evans-Branagh on organ and piano, and backing vocalist Heather Christine.
The single is another amazing release for Zaddy who released his debut EP Perfect Moments in 2015 which was followed in 2019 with his debut album Be. The musician’s 2023 single “What Comes Around” was a huge success earning over 162,000 YouTube views and airplay in 10 countries. Zaddy has also performed at various festivals including Canadian Music Week, Caldeon Day with Sam Roberts, Folk Music Ontario’s Spotlight Showcase, London, Ontario’s VenueXVenue Festival and Toronto’s VegTO Festival among others. He’s also recently performed as part of the lineup for Becoming The Beatles Unplugged, which played in Kitchener, Ontario, in October.
Now with “Far Too Long” ready to make waves and garner more listeners internationally, Matt Zaddy should be preparing himself for more work and acclaim. It’s a song which strikes a chord with everyone trying to cope with daily pressures. And to steal the closing line from “Far Too Long,” this single proves Matt Zaddy is making headway!
Looking ahead, Matt Zaddy plans to head back into the studio in spring 2025 to begin recording a new album, further expanding his Americana and alt-country sound.
Matt Zaddy 2024 Ontario Concerts:
December 6, 2024 — Stonehooker Brewery (7 p.m. start) — Port Credit, ON
December 20, 2024 — Stonehooker Brewery (7 p.m. start) — Port Credit, ON