Matt Billingslea is a Nashville-based drummer, producer, songwriter and clinician. Since 2013, Matt has been performing all over the world with Grammy winning international superstar Taylor Swift, including countless television/promotional appearances, award shows, and three record-breaking world tours (Red, 1989 and Reputation). Each tour included numerous performances with guest artists such as Mick Jagger, Carly Simon, Mary J Blige, Justin Timberlake, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, Nelly, Alanis Morissette, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Alison Krauss, Ricky Martin, Wiz Khalifa, Beck, Ryan Tedder, Train, Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding, and Bryan Adams to name a few.
Originally from Westminster, MD, Matt’s first instrument was piano. Raised on Simon & Garfunkel, The Beach Boys and Michael Jackson, Matt was uninspired by classical piano lessons. At 10 years old, after a few years of piano, he switched to drums. Primary influences became 90’s rock/alternative and the progressive rock band, Rush. He played in several local rock bands, the high school jazz band and a few regional Big Bands.
Intent on turning a passion into a career, Matt attended Capital University, earning a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and Music Industry. After college, Matt spent four years in Denver, CO, performing and recording for regional artists, Matthew Moon, Christopher Jak, The Jars, Aubrey Collins, Ten Tiers and Radio Jetstream, among others.
Looking for greater opportunity, Matt moved to Nashville in the spring of 2005. He spent three years with multi-Grammy winners Lady Antebellum, and during that time co-wrote “Wanted You More,” a top-20 single from Lady A’s third album, Own The Night. Matt has also performed and/or recorded with Gary Allan, Thompson Square, David Nail, James Otto, Josh Thompson, Jimmy Wayne, Joey & Rory, Mindy McCready, Dustin Lynch, and Craig Wayne Boyd.
As a clinician, Matt has done a variety of lectures and master classes, presented at PASIC 2016 and is currently an adjunct faculty member of Lipscomb University.
