About Matthew Ryan Jacobs
Matthew Ryan Jacobs is a musician and songwriter based in Kitchener-Waterloo, ON. He started out playing in rock and alternative bands throughout Ontario in the 2000s and opened for many notable artists early in his career.
In 2019 he made the move to focus on his solo career, and to create the music he was most passionate about. His first EP was released in 2021 and blends elements of folk, delta blues, soul, and rock, and was quickly followed up with another single “The River” (“This is truly excellent. Love it. Well done.” – Alan Cross on “The River”). After releasing several more singles, Matthew put out a follow-up EP The Trouble in Me in 2023. A more mature, honest, and refined version of his songwriting; this release has taken the best elements of his previous work and created a unique blend of folk, soul, and rock.
Matthew has been described as an “Indie-Folk Gem” who offers “sincerity and vulnerability in its natural state brilliantly.”
ABOUT THE SONG: “Empty Rooms” – released date: September 26, 2025
“The idea behind “Empty Rooms” started out as me trying to write a happy song, but it ended up a little darker in the end. As it usually does. I was looking at my life and being grateful that most of my family and people close to me are still around and healthy; and trying to be in the moment now because it won’t always be like this. That’s the line, “time may tell, but it will always take”, it’s inevitable. So be in the moment and be grateful and take it a bit easier on yourself and your loved ones.
I originally wrote “Empty Rooms” in an open tuning, I often leave a guitar in open G or E. I find it helps me come up with new things or at least play a bit different. I ended up recording it in standard tuning because it works better for the choruses, but the open tuning helped me find that opening guitar line.“
– Matthew Ryan Jacobs
Stream “Empty Rooms” On Your Preferred Platform After September 26th
For any more information on the artist, email pr@fromthestrait.com
