There are those who choose to play music, and then there are masterminds, like modern day chamber-pop artist Matthew Connor, who are born for it. Composing before he could even write his name, Connor’s lifelong dedication to achieving excellence in writing and producing has transformed him into a gutsy, bold, and original solo artist. Haunting and hypnotic, Connor’s alluring sound is a harmonic wavelength built on thoughtful, classical theory and powered by Connor’s emotive lyrics and booming baritone. Mysterious and eclectic, Connor is an evocative blend of today’s Portishead and Daughn Gibson with yesterday’s legends like Elvis and Sinatra. At the age of 16, Connor left his hometown of Birmingham, AL to train as an opera singer at the prestigious University of North Carolina School of Arts, and from there on, he has toured, scored films, won “SoundClouder of the Day,” and fronted electronic dance-pop band Provocateur. Since venturing out as a solo artist in 2011, Connor has released two successful EPs, Ghost Town and Denouement, and has generated a strong following both in the Boston and New York area. Connor is currently preparing to release his first full-length album, Farewell Motel, on October 14, 2014. A dark, modern twist of the old-fashioned crooner aesthetic, Farewell Motel is a forte of lush instrumentation, complex harmonies, surprising beats, and, of course, Connor’s stage-stealing vocals. The music video for lead single "How Is July Already Over?", in eerily beautiful stop motion and shot by New York-based photographer Marc McAndrews, was premiered by Out Magazine in August.