Written by Darcy Rumble of Uxbridge, Ontario

Matthew Parker is a twenty-something producer and musician who grew up in Michigan and has been writing and releasing his own music since 2006. He once said his 2014 album Shadowlands, was his “best album to date,” but his latest album, Adventure, released in October 2016, takes his craft to a whole new level. Parker’s music is a blend of pop, EDM, and dubstep that will please fans of Owl City, Gawvi, Rapture Ruckus, and Hillsong Young & Free.

He does work with much more than just electronic beats, though, including piano here and there, some strings, and even trumpet in “Remember Me.” During a short trumpet in that song he says, “Yeah, fake trumpet take it away!” Clearly he is having a great time and loves sharing that fun with the listener.

Parker features several guest artists including Rapture Ruckus and Twilight Meadow. Some guests bring their killer (amazing) hip-hop skills to the table to take these songs to the next level. A perfect example is “Dynasty” with Cash Hollistah. This track is a dramatic, cinematic piece that sounds like an epic movie soundtrack mashed with dubstep.

The title track “Adventure” opens the album with a catchy electro-pop that first-time Matthew Parker listeners will quickly be drawn into. Parker freely moves between the cool modern industrial sound of “System Victim” to the EDM-filled “Unstoppable” and lots of other musical camps in between. “My Love” is probably the closest of the bunch to Owl City, while “Tidal Wave” takes the deepest dive into dubstep.

Adventure could easily be the album to get the whole crowd moving, or the perfect background soundtrack to chill out with.

Lyrically, Adventure is a fun and upbeat album full of joyful Kingdom-minded living, encouraging adventure, perseverance through the good and bad, and God’s overwhelming love. Even in songs where the lyrics lean more towards loss or sadness such as “Down in Flames,” the music remains pumping and fun.

Adventure is a fun and upbeat album full of joyful Kingdom-minded living, encouraging adventure, perseverance through the good and bad, and God’s overwhelming love.

For some, 15 songs may be just a bit too lengthy, but those who are into electronica, EDM, and danceable pop music will soak it right up. Adventure has so many good songs back to back that you’re guaranteed it’s not one of those albums where you find yourself skipping around to get to the “good songs.”

Parker’s sound blend might be a bit too upbeat and overwhelming for some who would desire a bit more musical diversity. However, his latest album surpasses much of what similar artists are producing, and Adventure can easily compete with any of today’s modern pop music.