A laid-back yet ambitious creator with a slight Southern drawl, Pensacola, FL-based songwriter and long-time performer/entertainer Matt Powell has been blowing up streaming platforms with his unique mix of indie rock and electropop. Released under his stage name, ‘Qwiet Type’, his recent single ‘Uninvited’ will debut in Formula Indie the December 31st

his recent singles have amassed over one million video views and over two million streams on various streaming platforms. There’s a signature quality that pervades each of his tracks, a relaxed euphoria and genuine positivity infusing both the lyrics and the dynamic musical arrangements. His message is often one of overcoming, urging listeners to ride out the bad times until the good times return. “That’s how I think, that’s how I see the world, so that’s what comes out in my music. My wife and I joke that I’m always writing ‘The Perseverance Album,’ though at times I stray from that brightness into darker territory.” With a vocal purity reminiscent of pop icon Phil Collins, Qwiet Type blends the energy and mass appeal of enduring mainstream pop-rock groups like Maroon 5 and The Police with the independent, flexible vibe of more eclectic indie groups like Ambulance LTD and Kings of Convenience.

Powell’s music is diverse in scope, inspired by a broad range of genres and driven by compelling rhythms. He grew up in Panama City and Atlanta listening to everything from 90s hip-hop to classic oldies to his mother’s pop country favorites. He took up drums in early elementary school (his first live performance was a solo snare drum act for a 3rd-grade talent show), and in high school he formed successful alternative rock band Elliptical, which went on to win several national Battle of the Bands competitions and garner extensive local support until their breakup in 2000. He picked up other instruments (piano, guitar, etc.) by ear along the way. Eager to remain immersed in the music scene, he founded entertainment company Good Times Atlanta in 2001, DJing and providing musical entertainment for a range of parties, weddings, and nightclubs. From there, he extended his musical career on a wider scale, joining Princess Cruise Lines as Entertainment Director and traveling the world performing on ships from 2005 to 2009. In 2010, Powell moved to Pensacola and took a job at Seville Quarter, a massive local nightclub where he performed and organized live shows as the company’s entertainment director for the next several years. In 2015, he founded Powell Entertainment, a Pensacola-based lighting and entertainment company supporting live events, weddings, and large-scale local gatherings.

Powell’s return to the stage as recording artist Qwiet Type came almost by accident in late 2019, when, looking for a creative outlet to relieve stress, he bought an electronic drum kit. “The initial plan was to make music as a hobby. It’s always been how I relax. I was going to make low-fi electronic tracks, lounge/house singles for cafes and clubs. But that plan lasted five seconds.” He began writing songs immediately, adding vocal melodies and recording scratch tracks. He bought a keyboard and a mic, then a looping machine, eventually adding a synthesizer to the lineup, then hired producer Taylor Franklyn to finalize the tracks. In 2019, Qwiet Type released five solo singles: “Window,” “My Friends Are Coming Over,” “Shakedown,” “Got It Like I Like It,” and “Chains.” As the singles gained traction on social platforms and his online fan base grew, Powell began collaborating more closely with Franklyn, meeting to jam in person, writing and producing from Franklyn’s home studio, and renting out Nashville studios to work on new music. Together, the pairfurtherhoned Qwiet Type’s sound into the modern, alternative-leaning, beat-driven pop it is today. Though Powell didn’t originally intend to front his own band, he’s emerged as a dynamic lead singer, his unique voice adding candor and a relatable, low-key style that’s become a signature of Qwiet Type tracks.

In 2020, after visiting Nashville to record several new songs with local session musicians, Powell began planning his first big performance, a large-scale breakout concert meant to introduce his style and range as Qwiet Type as well as his event production skills. When the COVID-19 pandemic brought those plans to a halt, Powell pivoted but went on with the show, creating instead a full, live concert with no audience. Filmed with a crew of 25-30 people in a Pensacola warehouse over the course of three days, Qwiet Type’s breakout concert was released one song at a time via YouTube over the course of several months. “I didn’t want to do a million tiny shows, I wanted to start with a bang and put on one great big show. When that couldn’t happen, I had a new goal: to provide entertainment for the people at home missing live music. It looked and felt like a real concert, and I hoped it might make people feel better. That’s ultimately why I do this. I’ve always found confidence and comfort in making music.”