| The Matrix | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | January 27, 2009 |
| Recorded | 2004 |
| Studio | Decoy Studios & Ameraycan Studios (California) |
| Genre | |
| Length | 36:00 |
| Label | Let's Hear It |
| Producer | The Matrix |
The Matrix is the self-titled debut album by the production group the Matrix, released on the iTunes Store on January 27, 2009, through iTunes [1] as well as on audio CD. The album featured music written and produced by the group with vocals by Katy Perry and British singer Adam Longlands.
In 2002, the Matrix produced five songs for Avril Lavigne's debut studio album Let Go , including the three top-ten singles "Complicated", "Sk8er Boi", and "I'm with You". The commercial success of Lavigne's album led to a surge in popularity for the Matrix, resulting in them becoming a sought after production team. The Matrix subsequently produced songs for other popular acts, such as Britney Spears, Ricky Martin, Robbie Williams, and Mariah Carey. [2] Knowing that the members of the production team were performers prior to becoming producers, Columbia Records executive Tim Devine suggested to the Matrix that they record and release an album of their own. [3] Wanting an outlet to release their own music, the Matrix agreed with Devine's idea and signed a deal with Columbia Records to record and release one studio album. [4]
While the Matrix desired to release their own music, the production team also wanted to avoid any media attention. Devine also recommended that the production team hire a new singer to bring a "fresh face" and new dynamic to the team. As a result, the production team opted to hire two singers to share lead vocals on their album. The production team was already working with Adam Longlands, then known by the stage name A.K.A., on several songs when they asked him to join the project. Katy Perry was invited to join the project after Devine referred her to the Matrix following a meeting between him and Glen Ballard. Ballard introduced Perry to Devine, and Devine was impressed with her vocal performance and charisma. In regards to hiring Longlands and Perry for the project, Lauren Christy commented: "The reason we picked Katy and A.K.A. is they're amazing performers. [Graham Edwards, Scott Spock, and I] like our role in the background and it shall continue to be there". [3]
The album was recorded in 2004, when Katy Perry was 19 years old. [3] In the October 2004 issue of Blender , they named Perry "The Next Big Thing!" [5] The Matrix worked with the vocalist who contributed to the writing of the music and the lyrics for the songs. Despite the buzz about the album, the Matrix decided to cancel the album weeks before the album's due date. "Broken" was set to be its first single. [6] In 2009, after the success of Perry's debut solo album One of the Boys, the Matrix's label decided to release the album under the record label, Let's Hear It Records. According to Perry, the Matrix wanted to create "Complicated, the sequel and "Since U Been Gone, the sequel". [7]
With lyrical differences, "Broken" had previously been recorded in 2003, under the title "What Do You Do?", by Matrix-produced sister act, the Troys. It was released in 2003 on Elektra as a promo single for an album that was eventually shelved, but was also included in the compilation album, The Powerpuff Girls: Power Pop. Sara Paxton recorded "Take a Walk" in 2005 for the Darcy's Wild Life soundtrack. In 2006, "Live Before I Die", appeared on a bonus track version of Ashley Parker Angel's debut album Soundtrack to Your Life . Ashley re-wrote the majority of the song. In 2007, a song from Skye Sweetnam's Sound Soldier album, titled "Boyhunter", which was produced by the Matrix surfaced. The song uses a slightly altered version of the music from the track "Damn". Ashley Tisdale re-recorded "Love Is a Train" for her second album, Guilty Pleasure , which was released as "Time's Up", a bonus track on the album.
"Broken" was reportedly planned to be released as the lead single from The Matrix in the spring of 2004, with the album following in the early summer. [6] [3] The production team completed the album, recorded several music videos, shot several photoshoots, and had a heavy promotional campaign planned for the album's rollout. [8] These plans, however, were abruptly cancelled several weeks before the planned release. Several tentative release dates went by without news on The Matrix, before the album was quietly shelved. [6] The Matrix later claimed that the album's cancellation was due to their dissatisfaction with the time commitments of the album's planned promotional campaign, finding that it offered them little time to continue producing music for other artists. Glen Ballard, however, claimed that the project fell apart internally and the production team could not even unanimously decide upon a lead single. [8] In April 2006, Christy stated that the production team was still considering a possible release for the album. [4]
In 2008, the Matrix made tentative plans to release the album through their own record label, Let's Hear It Records. These plans were soon halted, however, after Perry's debut single, "I Kissed a Girl", achieved international commercial success after its release in April 2008. Christy contacted Perry about moving forward with the release of The Matrix, prompting Perry to ask the production team to wait to release the album until after the release of the fourth and final single ("Waking Up in Vegas") from One of the Boys (2008). Despite this suggestion, The Matrix was released on iTunes on January 27, 2009, by Let's Hear It Records. The album received no promotion and failed to attain any notable commercial success. Prior to the album's release, Christy reiterated that the Matrix was not striving for commercial success, but rather just releasing the songs as a creative outlet. She stated: "We don't want to be pop stars, and we're not releasing it on a major label. And it's not called 'Katy Perry and the Matrix.' These are just great songs, and I'm very proud of it". [6]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [9] |
AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the album as "bland and stiff Euro-pop", maintaining that the effort illustrates that the Matrix "need a real star, somebody to provide focus and direction". [9]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Vocal(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "You Miss Me" |
|
| 3:44 |
| 2. | "Broken" |
| Perry | 3:14 |
| 3. | "Damn" |
| Perry | 3:27 |
| 4. | "Take a Walk" |
|
| 3:12 |
| 5. | "Just a Song" |
| Perry | 4:04 |
| 6. | "I Love You" |
| Longlands | 3:29 |
| 7. | "Live Before I Die" |
| Longlands | 3:51 |
| 8. | "Would You Care" |
| Perry | 3:22 |
| 9. | "Seen That Done That" |
| Longlands | 3:44 |
| 10. | "Stay with Me" |
|
| 3:48 |
| Total length: | 36:00 | |||
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of The Matrix. [10]
The Matrix
Other musicians
Technical
Let Go is the debut studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne. It was released on June 4, 2002, by Arista Records. For a year after signing a record deal with Arista, Lavigne struggled due to conflicts in musical direction. She relocated to Los Angeles, where she recorded her earlier materials for the album, the sound of which the label did not approve. She was paired with the production team the Matrix, who understood her vision for the album. Critics described Let Go as an alternative rock album with a pop-punk and post-grunge-oriented sound.
"Complicated" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne from her debut album, Let Go (2002). The ballad was released as her debut single and the lead single from the album on 11 March 2002 by Arista Records. Lavigne and production team the Matrix are credited as writers. Production on the song was helmed by the Matrix. According to Lavigne, the song is about being honest with oneself rather than "putting on a face".
"I'm with You" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne from her debut studio album Let Go (2002). It was released to radio as the third single from the album on November 18, 2002, by Arista Records. The song was written by Lavigne and the production team the Matrix, who solely helmed its production. According to Lavigne, the song was inspired by feelings of loneliness she experienced over being single.
The Matrix is an American-British songwriting and record production team, consisting of Lauren Christy, Scott Spock, and Graham Edwards. In 1999, the production team took on their first project, the Jackson Mendoza song "Venus or Mars"; it was intended to be a one-off project. Christy, Spock, and Edwards enjoyed the songwriting and production process, which prompted them to form a production team. The team chose their name, the Matrix, as they wanted to remain in the background and allow the artists they work with to further stand out.
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Lauren Christy is a British singer, songwriter and record producer. Originally a solo artist, she found success as part of the writing production trio the Matrix. The Matrix received numerous Grammy nominations including best producer.
David Scott Alspach, known professionally as Scott Spock, is an American songwriter, record producer and composer. He is known for being a member of the pop writing and production team The Matrix, who have written and produced many hit singles that have reached #1 worldwide. Alspach is best known for his songs with Avril Lavigne, Korn, Hilary Duff, Shakira, Jason Mraz, David Bowie, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Liz Phair, Busted and Rihanna.
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