Re Mattei

Re Mattei’s musical influences are widespread to say the least, ranging from Tammy Wynette to Def Leppard and everything in between. The Trenton, New Jersey, native grew up in a home with parents who shared their love of music with her. Re’s early memories are of stories of her mother playing the violin as a child. Her dad played accordion as a young man and had his own band. Through her parents, Re was introduced to many genres of music including country legends such as Tammy Wynette, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Johnny Rodriguez.Even at that early age she began to appreciate the creative work of musical storytellers such as Harry Chapin and Mac Davis. “I would just listen to the radio and teach myself to sing and play the songs I heard”. After high school, she studied at Berklee College of Music, receiving a bachelor’s degree in guitar performance. A week before graduation, everything changed. Re recalls, “There was a note in my mailbox to audition for the Uptown Girls, an all-female Top 40 seven-piece band, playing lead guitar and doing some singing. I auditioned for the group and was hired on the spot. Singing and playing with the band, she honed her skills touring Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and Hawaii, playing night clubs and military bases. “We got to play for a lot of troops while we were overseas,” she says. “I have a lot of respect for the troops. They always treated us great, they were always respectful and they really had so much pride for our country.” After touring with the band, Re moved to Nashville determined to become a songwriter and a recording artist. In Nashville she performanced at the Bluebird Café, the Opryland Hotel, TV appearance on To Be A Star in Nashville, and the Tennessee State Fair on the WSM-sponsored stage. Her first single, Country Love went to #1 on the Indie Country charts and spent 6 weeks on the Hot Top 40 charts. Re has just finished co-producing her first album, Believin’ Is Seein’ with Producer Bartley Pursley in 2024. Re has been inspired by everything from country to pop to rock to jazz. Re has strong feelings about the direction of her music. “Writing songs for my album is like wanting to take someone on a roller coaster ride,” she says. “I know that these days a lot of people are just putting out singles, but when I'm writing for a CD I want them to be able to listen to it from start to finish ...start them out kind of medium tempo and then go up the hills... rock out a little, have them feel all these emotions when we get to the top, then come down that hill, laughing and crying at the same time. And I hope, as we get to the bottom, they will walk away from the ride feeling hope, smiling, and empowered like they can get past any obstacle!”