Mat Kerekes

Mathew James Keith Kerekes was born on April 22, 1994, in Toledo, Ohio, and grew up in Bedford Township, Michigan. He attended Bedford High School. Before his prominent role in Citizen, Kerekes was the drummer for the metalcore band The Sound of Glory at age 14, where he played alongside future Citizen members Nick and Eric Hamm. This early experience provided a foundation for his musical career. In 2009, Kerekes co-founded the rock band Citizen, making their live debut on January 28, 2010, at Frankie’s Inner City in Toledo, Ohio, opening for Set Your Goals. He has since been integral to Citizen’s output, which includes five studio albums and two EPs.

Simultaneously, Kerekes has cultivated a solo career, releasing an impressive five studio albums and three EPs under his own name. His solo work began to emerge in 2011, with a self-titled LP in 2014, followed by his first full solo studio album, “Luna & The Wild Blue Everything” in 2016. For this album, Kerekes handled all instrumentation, with some percussion by producer Will Yip and violin contributions. Beyond his primary projects, he is also a member of The Flats, his brother Chris Kerekes’s band, where he contributes drums and occasional vocals.

Throughout his career, Kerekes has maintained a consistent output, releasing solo albums such as “Ruby” (2019), “Nova” (2022), “You Look Like a Stranger” (2023), and “To Dream Of Something Wicked” (2024). His work extends to collaborations, including features on tracks like “Very Aggressive” by Angel Du$t (2023) and “Your Days Are Numbered” with Motion City Soundtrack (2025). Kerekes is a proponent of the straight edge lifestyle and an advocate for animal rescues, notably supporting Toledo’s PET Bull Project through his music, reflecting his commitment beyond his artistic endeavors. He owns two pit bulls.