Matt Benham - Artist Statement There are three things that I believe are essential to the human experience,

aspects that I believe music evokes and expresses like no other art form. It is the chaos of everyday life that is reflected in the dynamism of my compositions and my performances. It is the exclusive identity of each individual that is their gift to share, just as the particular sequences and harmonic rhythms of my work are mine to share as a musician. It is the effortless beauty of life, the grace of being, that is uniquely music's province. I plan to pursue these issues, not in hopes of a specific conclusion, but to refine my craft so that I may reflect them more truly in my pieces and in my performances. I have performed hundreds of times, and each time is a new commitment to being the best performer I can be. Not only am I interested in making my own music, but I will be a strong creative force in every project I participate in, no matter how big or small my role may be in that project. As a child, I was fascinated with the cascading pitches and rhythms of the wind chime's melodies. In varying amounts, the spirit of that wind chime, clinking and clattering in random sequences, is reflected in my work. These plinks and plonks conjure a divine system of random tension and release, a system that is more sophisticated and effortless than the system's developed by composer's over the years. This sophistication is a more true reflection of the human condition, and my goal is to reflect this nature in my playing. Thelonious Monk once said that a genius is the one most like himself. I strive not for genius, but to achieve a level of uniqueness in every piece I create, whether it be an original composition, or a supporting track or guitar lick for another artist's work. In my original pieces, I combine a hearty sense of melancholic angst with a raw emotional element, sprinkled with chord voicings that bring out the very essence of what the guitar offers the musical world. Not only am I charged with being a singular artist, but also, I endeavor to illicit from the guitar it's unique voice. For over 20 years I have listened and learned from the masters of yesteryear, to glean from them what it is about their art that exudes grace and elegance. The highest compliments paid to an artist are the ones that include these terms. I believe that instead of attempting to emulate my influences, it is better to endeavor to chase the grace and elegance that they themselves chased. Lately, I've been working with eliciting sounds out of the guitar that recall other instruments. While chasing the sound of an organ or a theremin, I can manipulate and expand the specific timbre of the guitar, to show that after years of listening and playing, one can always be surprised by what you hear. I believe

this philosophy parallels the essence of life. You can always be surprised no matter how much you think you know, or how long you've been around. It's something that has taught me to never have expectations, to just let life rule the moment, and to be open to everything. It's the only true way to keep learning, keep moving forward, and as long as you can do that, you can pull your audience along with you. As a musician, it will be my responsibility to respond with the utmost creativity and skill, tools that will be refined by my experiences at CalArts. CalArts will also allow me the opportunity to pursue my ideas, to bounce concepts and techniques off of my peers and mentors to refine them. I will work tirelessly to bring my musicianship to the next level, to refine and expand my knowledge of world musics, and to sharpen my knowledge of music theory and history at CalArts. Specifically, I hope to open my ears to new cultures and new rhythmic approaches to my music, as so many people continue to remind this student musician, that rhythm is King. I believe CalArts provides the perfect setting for a musician such as myself, one with a broad array of interests and talents, yet who desires a higher level of competency in his approach to making music. In the process of expanding my musicianship, I will position myself as a uniquely skilled and creative artist. These skills and concepts will inform my goals of producing art as a guitarist, of performing and making art with my peers and mentors, and of passing my views on music to younger generations. I plan to form bands that mix jazz and rock genres, to gig with artists who are like minded, and with those who are not. I will play in multiple settings as a performer, as a sideman on the bandstand or in the studio. I wan to compose, perform, and record my own pieces, as well as for the film and theatrical industries. And of course, to teach the techniques and theories I find to be the most useful in music education to students who want to learn. It is in this way that I believe I will carve out my personal career in an ever-changing industry, armed with the finest tools and most magical experiences from CalArts. Matthew David Benham Guitar Performance, MFA