Emma Elizabeth Mathes, born Tuesday, March 21st, 1995, is now 31 years of age. What in the name of Jiminy Cricket is going on? I was just doing Big Bird dance steps with her last I knew. I am not sure how I feel about all this but one thing's for sure. She makes the world more attentive, brighter, kinder, more caring, and a much more resonant place. Happy Birthday my first born. Emma-ly Femmaly FOO! I love you, Pop-a-roo
This week on "Faculty Faves", we have Rob Mathes! At Berklee NYC, he’s our big-personality songwriting professor - and beyond campus, he’s a composer, songwriter, and music director known for blending pop sensibility with classical finesse.
From collaborating with top artists to creating string arrangements for the mega-hit animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters, Rob brings a wide range of experience to everything he does.
@rob.mathes
Straight Up @ SP's Beat Palace!!
This past Summer of 2025, I wanted to do a true stripped-down thing with Zev on Acoustic Bass and Shawn Pelton on a tiny kit somewhere. Shawn suggested we record at his place. I brought in a brand new song, "Why Do You Hurt Me?" and one of my favorites from a record that didn't even get a proper release called "Flesh and Spirit", a song called "Shoes (for Liu Xiaobo)" Here is "Why Do You...?"
So much fun to just play in that little room together, Shawn Pelton's little hideaway drum room that he calls "SP's Beat Palace".
Why Do You Hurt Me?
Words and Music by Rob Mathes
C 2026 EMI Blackwood Songs (BMI)/Rob Mathes Music Inc
Shawn Pelton-Drums
Zev Katz-Acoustic Bass
Rob Mathes-Vocals/Guitar
Engineered by Shawn Pelton
Filmed by Lily Mathes
Edited by Ryan Sciaino
#acoustic #music #singersongwriter #musician #guitar
Espresso by @sabrinacarpenter ala Haydn!!
Bill Sherman, a brilliant musician and mind behind Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights, Max Martin’s & Juliet (both orchestrations and music supervision) and longtime Sesame Street Music Supervisor and Producer, called me to do Orchestrations for the new Muppet Show! Because Bill allows me to be ridiculous, he gave me one brief on a particular moment in the show, “I need music for an elegant minuet-like dance moment between Kermit and Sabrina Carpenter.” I had a damn good time channeling Joseph Haydn through the prism of Sabrina’s Espresso. Gotta love The Muppets! The session featured some incredible musicians including Ben Butler on Guitar, Shawn Pelton on Bass, Aaron Heick on Sax and Woodwinds and Andrew Resnick on Keys among other mavens. Quite a good time was had. Miss Piggy, Kermit, Sabrina, Animal, what’s not to love??!! Here is a clip of the string date for Haydn meets Carpenter!
Blessing (after W.C.W.) is now out on all streaming services!
It has been a minute since I have put any music out other than my Straight Up @ The Power Station clips on YouTube and Instagram. Everyone in the band played so ferociously on this, Will Lee, Shawn Pelton and a crew of magicians, especially the horn section, that it begged to be made available, not to mention the fact that so many of us are heartbroken at the madness unfolding hourly everywhere you turn. This lyric is mine but the bridge uses a line from poet William Carlos Williams’ masterpiece “Asphodel, That Greeny Flower”: “It is difficult to get the news from poems, yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there”. I think a majority of Americans would have to agree that we could use a lot more poetry of all kinds in our life right NOW.
Words and Music by Rob Mathes
c2026 EMI Blackwood Music (BMI)/Maybe I Can Music (BMI)
Will Lee: Bass
Shawn Pelton: Drums
Mike Harvey: Vocals
Rick Knutsen: Keys
Billy Masters: Guitar
Rob Mathes: Piano and Lead Vocal
Tony Kadleck: Trumpet
Brian Pareschi: Trumpet
Aaron Heick: Alto Sax
David Mann: Tenor Sax
Mike Davis: Trombone
Jeff Nelson: Bass Trombone
Produced by Rob Mathes
Engineered and Mixed by Jamie Siegel at The Power Station, NY, NY
On September 5th of 2025, the Trump administration changed the name of The Department of Defense to the Department of War. That combined with the renaming of the Kennedy Center to The Trump Kennedy Center, where I musically directed 12 shows for the Kennedy Center Honors, just depressed me to no end. How incredibly discouraging. In 2026, everything has just gotten worse and more surreal. I love these musicians, and I wanted to write something that celebrated them and yet took a snapshot of this time.
All the horn players soloed their tails off on Maggie’s Farm at The Bitter End shows celebrating Evening Train’s 25th Anniversary in September: Tony Kadleck and Brian Pareschi on Trumpets, Aaron Heick on Alto Sax, David Mann on Tenor Sax, Mike Davis on Tenor Bone and Jeff Nelson on Bass Bone. Listen to them fly on this! Legendary bassist Will Lee and the great Shawn Pelton on drums are in ferocious form and singer Mike Harvey’s soulful commentary is the capstone. Imbibe!
[The bridge lyric is from “Asphodel, That Greeny Flower” by W.C.W. - “It is difficult to get the news from poems, yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there.” The full lyric is on my YouTube Channel
Blessing (after W.C.W.) Music and Lyrics by Rob Mathes
C 2026 EMI Blackwood Music (BMI)/Maybe I Can Music (BMI)
All rights reserved
Rob Mathes: Lead Vocals and Piano
Mike Harvey: Vocal Commentary
Will Lee: Bass
Shawn Pelton: Drums
Billy Masters: Guitar
Rick Knutsen: Keys
Tony Kadleck: Trumpet
Brian Pareschi: Trumpet
Aaron Heick: Alto Sax
David Mann: Tenor Sax
Mike Davis: Trombone
Jeff Nelson: Bass Trombone
Video Directed and Edited by Ryan Sciaino
Filmed by Ryan, Sandrine Lee, Sarah Mathes, Lily Mathes, and Holly Cronin
Engineered and Mixed by Jamie Siegel
Assistant Engineer: Matthew Sullivan
✨WE MADE IT✨It’s the last day to cast our votes and this is my final FOR YOUR GRAMMY® CONSIDERATION.
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:
“WINTERSONGS” (LAILA BIALI)
❄️: lailabiali.com/FYC
Thanks again to everyone who took the time to delve into this process. You helped an indie artists break through to a nomination alongside Lady Gaga, Elton John & Brandi Carlile, Barbra Streisand, Jennifer Hudson and Laufey. 🙏🏻
Congratulations to everyone who put out music in 2025. The beat goes on in 2026. 🎼🎧
See you in LA! 💫
#Grammys #GrammyAwards #IAmTheAcademy #grammynominated #grammynominee
______
Special thanks to @canada.council , @ontarioartscouncil & @torontoartscouncil for their generous support of this project.
✨ONE WEEK TO GO✨ If you’re still listening and voting, fellow Recording Academy members, thank you for your consideration.
FOR YOUR GRAMMY® CONSIDERATION
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:
“WINTERSONGS” (LAILA BIALI)
>>> lailabiali.com/FYC
#grammys #grammynominated #grammynominee
The night I met Rob Mathes, he was at the piano, rehearsing me for my performance honoring the induction of Jimmy Webb at the Songwriters Hall of Fame. What began as a few careful run-throughs became a deep musical conversation — and, over time, a great friendship. Rob has since guided me toward some of the happiest moments of my life, both onstage and off, reminding me how lucky we are when music leads us not just to songs, but to people.
I’m eternally grateful for this genius in my life. Rob Mathes Music. @rob.mathes ~~ stay tuned for the next album. And follow him wherever he goes!
Audio: a demo from our youth. Rob on guitar.
Music & lyrics #sondheim “Sweeney Todd”
Albums: • Lullabies & Wildflowers — 2008
Full-length album · Produced by Rob Mathes • More Lullabies & Wildflowers — 2015
Digital EP · Produced by Rob Mathes • Hurry Home — 2015
Standalone digital single by Michel Legrand & Alan/Marilyn Bergman· Produced by Rob Mathes • Sondheim Sublime — 2018
Full-length album · Produced by Rob Mathes • Legrand Affair (Deluxe Edition) — 2019
B-side / bonus material produced by Rob Mathes
(Original album produced by Phil Ramone) • Sondheim in the City — 2024
Full-length album · Produced by Rob Mathes
#sondheiminthecity #hurryhome #sondheimsublime @concordshows@ghostlightrecords #legrandaffair @michel_legrandmusic@thesondheimhub@realsondheim
December 19th was one hell of a day for me historically! My one true love, the center of my life and the mother of our children was born in Evanston, IL! The GOAT! I love you Tammy!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!🎊🎉🎁🎈
