A Rising Star in Pacific Palisades

Matty Gottesman Signs Record Deal with Empire Records out of Nashville

By COCO MERRITT | Intern

It’s not everyday your nextdoor neighbor signs a record deal with a company based out of the city of Nashville—but for family and friends of singer, songwriter and producer Matty Gottesman, that was just the case.

Born and raised in Pacific Palisades, the recent Palisades Charter High School graduate said he has always had a knack for music. At an event as simple as a friend’s birthday party at age 6, Gottesman picked up a love for the piano. Since then, Gottesman’s talent has expanded into singing, songwriting and producing.

Gottesman’s creativity grew during the pandemic when he began to experiment with production and completed multiple original songs during COVID, realizing how much he wanted a future in music.

“I realized that I just loved it and couldn’t see myself doing anything else,” Gottesman said to the Palisadian-Post. 

Gottesman set up an at-home studio during safer at home orders that started out as a desk, computer and keyboard, and little by little, began expanding. The once-empty room now holds speakers, guitars, sound panels and a microphone that have created his perfect environment where all the recording can take place.

Although Gottesman’s at-home studio carried him through the pandemic, the production did not stop at home: Gottesman recently signed a record deal with Empire Records out of Nashville, and he will be using his deal to further his music career.

Gottesman’s creative process will maintain the same basic outline, as he will continue to write and produce his own music in collaboration with many well-known artists such as bassist Amos Heller, who has worked with household names like Taylor Swift, Thomas Rhett and Florida Georgia Line, as well as audio engineer Sergio Ruelas, who has worked with the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and Lenny Kravitz.

“I’m really looking forward to getting started with that partnership … it’s super exciting,” Gottesman explained. “I’m still planning on using my little home studio setup for the most part, but excited to see what they have to offer in Nashville.”

Gottesman is also facing new beginnings in his academic career: He will be attending University of California, Los Angeles this fall. He is keeping his options open, as he will be going in undeclared, but will stay in touch with his music roots as he takes a “History of Rock and Roll” class his first quarter.

“I’m definitely planning on taking a few [music] classes and utilizing great performance opportunities around campus, but I’m super excited to just get the college experience, which is something not a lot of musicians get,” Gottesman continued.

His new single, “Sleepless Summer,” is available for pre-save now, with more music on the way.

As the school year begins and flights to Nashville are booked, Gottesman is only at the beginning of a new chapter in his life.

“We’re just going to see what happens,” he concluded. “I’m really excited for it, and it’s going to be an incredible journey.”

For more information, visit mattygottesman.com or follow @mattygottesman on any social media platform.