Matthew Hiram Himes is an inter-disciplinary artist, musician, and deep listener, based in Minneapolis, MN.
The artist creates work bridging environment and the human experience, blending traditional and natural elements with new techniques and technology, and using the sounds of Earth to connect self to space.
Matthew actively records and performs solo music under several variations of his own name, but over the last few years the artist has evolved to increasingly focus on environmental protection, issues of water conservation, and making art that connects directly to the natural world.
Producing under his middle name of Hiram, the music calls to the four cardinal directions. Hiram makes music to connect with Nature and to offer comfort and escape, drawing influence and inspiration from the beauty of the natural world. The artist uses improvisation and extended technique with an electro-acoustic approach to traditional instruments, playing wooden flutes made from Walnut, Cedar, and Rosewood, with synthesizer, voice, magnetic tape, and the organic sound of the surrounding environments.
Hiram's latest album "Air Songs" is focused on the universality of breath, and the concept of honoring air as the great force of life, equalizer, birth bringer, and author of all stories. This work was released on limited edition cassette by the Texas label Aural Canyon in December of ‘22, and is available on all major streaming platforms here.
In 2023 Himes was awarded the competitive Next Step Grant FY23 through Metropolitan Regional Arts Council and the McKnight Foundation, providing funding for the expansion and development of Himes’ personal recording studio and music production facility. This grant further propels the artists work forward in sonic conservation and creative sound.
In 2022, Himes was certified as a MN Water Steward, and was awarded an artist grant through Hennepin County Environment & Energy with Freshwater Society, through the Art for Water initiative. The album “Immersion” was commissioned as a new work of eco-music and environmental sound, to be performed live outdoors as a public arts event promoting knowledge and awareness towards the issues of water conservation.
A few press excerpts for some of Matthew’s recent work can be found here.
Matthew Himes has over two decades of experience in self-published music and sound art, with a history of professional public performance dating back to the age of 12. A selected performance history can be found here. Over the course of his career, Himes has published a body of solo and collaborative work totaling over 70 titles to date, a career discography can be found here.
In addition to producing his own music, Himes has also operated the small independent label and distribution service Lighten Up Sounds since 2007, releasing over 130 titles to date, mostly on cassette, and connecting to artists from around the world.
Since 2021 Himes has curated and produced a free-form radio program called The Green Path, focused on underground, psychedelic, and exotic experimental musics, broadcast monthly via CAMP Radio and archived for streaming here.
