Matt McAndrew

Matthew Brendan McAndrew was born on September 6, 1990, in Mount Holly, New Jersey, and grew up in Barnegat Light, New Jersey. From a young age, he engaged with music, writing songs and performing in local bands. During his senior year at Southern Regional High School, McAndrew committed to pursuing a career in music. He continued his education at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, graduating in 2013. Prior to his widespread recognition, McAndrew taught voice, guitar, and ukulele at Bach To Rock in suburban Philadelphia and self-released an album titled “View of The Pines” in March 2014.

In 2014, McAndrew gained national attention as a contestant on Season 7 of NBC’s “The Voice.” During his blind audition, he performed Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years,” leading to three coaches turning their chairs. He chose Adam Levine as his coach and progressed through the competition, performing songs such as “Yellow,” “Drops of Jupiter,” “God Only Knows,” and receiving significant iTunes chart success with his rendition of Hozier’s “Take Me to Church.” His performance of Damien Rice’s “The Blower’s Daughter” also charted on the Billboard Hot 100. McAndrew finished the season as the runner-up, with his original song “Wasted Love” charting at 14th on the Hot 100, marking a notable achievement for a “The Voice” recording artist.

Following his success on “The Voice,” McAndrew signed with Republic Records in 2015. He later released “Rush in Slowly,” an independent EP, in 2016 through Job Killer Records. In January 2019, McAndrew became the lead vocalist for the American post-hardcore band Rain City Drive, formerly known as Slaves. With Rain City Drive, he contributed to the release of multiple singles and continues to perform, showcasing his versatility across rock, pop rock, and post-hardcore genres.