Ep452 - Matt Copley: From Opera to Post-Hardcore

What happens when classical opera training collides head-on with aggressive post-hardcore rock? You get the viral sensation Broadway Does Punk, a project that takes iconic standards from shows like Wicked, Hamilton, Six, and The Phantom of the Opera and turns them into full-throttle rock anthems. Matt Copley breaks down the journey of shifting gears from choir rooms and classical vocal pedagogy to mastering false chord screams and harsh vocal grit on stage. He shares the hilarious resistance he faced when first pitching a heavy cover of "Defying Gravity" to his non-theatre bandmates, and how that single leap of faith exploded into millions of views and a live New York City debut.

The discussion dives deep into the unexpected silver linings of the 2020 pandemic, which detoured Matt back home to Michigan to form his band Unwell instead of taking the traditional NYC audition route. From the creative influence of American Idiot to self-producing a immersive, dark vaudeville concert experience at the Abrams Art Center Playhouse Theater, Matt reflects on bridging the gap between theatre kids and punk rockers. Plus, he tackles a chaotic 60-second plot recap of Mary Poppins and breaks down why building an authentic, non-traditional path is the ultimate key to disrupting the status quo.

Matt Copley is a Michigan-based recording artist, content creator, and theatrical producer. Classically trained in voice through high school and college, he graduated with a degree in musical theatre in 2020 before becoming the lead singer of the post-hardcore band Unwell. He is the creator and producer of Broadway Does Punk, a viral project and live production that reimagines classic musical theatre scores as high-energy rock and punk covers.

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