MIDDLE CHILD SYNDROME
Middle Child Syndrome redefines boundaries of solo, independent musician creativity and versatility. Matt Mueller, the sole contributor from initial songwriting through production, commits everything to his eclectic indie-rock tracks. This ultra-DIY approach, complemented by infectious hooks, relatable narratives and his sonorous voice, yields an organic and immersive listener experience.
While Matt considers himself to be a lifelong student of music, his formal education & career are in mechanical engineering, not the arts. After 12+ years in corporate America, Matt decided to quit and fully commit to his musical journey.
Press
York Calling
"With his new album, Matt is able to give a diverse range of genre while tethering it all around strong, classic song writing and plenty of world-building. It’s an emotional journey, but the overriding feeling is one of joy and hopefulness. It’s an impressive debut."
-Graeme Smith
Milwaukee Magazine
"Middle Child Syndrome is what some might call a one man band. Milwaukee-based Matt Mueller is the vocalist, guitarist, drummer, producer and everything in between. His latest single “Slate” released on April 30, and he’s currently working on his upcoming album Listen to Me."
-Sofia Cortez
Shepherd Express
"Listen to Me, the debut album from Middle Child Syndrome, is among other things, the sound of an artist leaving corporate America. Matt Mueller’s mostly-one-man-show straddles indie and Americana sounds. It also goes to show how far DIY projects have blurred the line from to big budget recordings."
-Blaine Schultz
Americana Highways
"Lonesome pedal steel, acoustic guitar and an easy pace set up for Matt Mueller’s raw, emotionally connective vocals, and then it turns snappy. The hand claps lift you up to a feeling of freedom, despite the tale of grieving. “Deja deja vu, another note I leave for you…” as you are with a farmer at a widow’s grave, and he’s promising to keep things going the way they always have. Quite sad, and quite nice."
Matt records, comps and edits all of the tracks on the album at his residence (with the exception of studio-recorded lead vocals on several songs). This level of involvement allows him to meticulously craft the sound production & affords many opportunities for continued refinement, ensuring each song is authentic yet diverse.
"listen to me" - released 7/26/24
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My Dream
I see the sun go down
Out of luck and in the clouds
in bed I'm out of tune
But my mind is free, I can feel
an energy, is this real
Up to the night to you
And up we go past the moon
Its craters show the subtle hue
of finer lights above
Take your hand and dance with me
A lunar landscape waltz
maybe a two step might be enough
When fairy tales make the trail
Is ever after in reach
But hey, it's just a story I made
I know southern skies won't light your path to me
And maybe, maybe you'll let me one day
So I can open my eyes and dream
We soar through castles as
king and queen of foreign lands
Your beauty swallows the sea
Your colors fly with every breath
what's yours is mine till nothing's left
The script will follow the scene
When fairy tales make the trail
Is ever after in reach
Hey, it's just a story I made
I know southern skies won't light your path to me
And maybe, maybe you'll let me one day
So I can open my eyes and dream
The fairies fly, the ships set sail
Dawn breaks and all leave my mind
And slowly, I open my eyes
I see an angel was left behind
Hey, it's just a story I made
I know southern skies won't light your path to me
And maybe, maybe you'll let me one day
So I can open my eyes and dream
So I can open my eyes and dream
Now I know that you're not just a dream
Bonnie & Me
Take our hands and tie them
And lose your ring, we’ll always be
On the run in hiding
But the road and you are all I need
We’re in love and free
Bonnie & Me
These newspapers, they’re lying
And cops grabbed Jones and got a lead
But we got cash for buying
So recite some of your poetry
We’re in love and free
And now, ladies and gentlemen, for your entertainment tonight!
(Raucous speakeasy solo)
Stole the Ford we’re driving
The guns fit well in the backseat
Say, that’s Henry’s father
Let’s stop and see just what he needs
Wisconsin Bars
There’s no standing in line
Near a Lakefront sign
The Friday special you heard
Battered fish n’ curds
The mounted heads of deer
Won’t seem weird
After a game of dice & some pull tabs
It ain’t too hard
Wisconsin bars sure party hard
$3 beers, I can’t think clear
But we’re all friends
Singing again
To a country song, I belong in Wisconsin bars
We got darts on the wall
Poker in the hall
The bloody mary’s are served
With beef sticks and beer chasers, mmm!
The locals sit in stools
And sure seem cool
When the Packers play this sunday
We’re all diehards
Wisconsin bars sure party hard
$3 beers, I can’t think clear
But we’re all friends
Singing again
To a country song, I belong in Wisconsin bars
The F.I.B.’s up for a Cubs game
May even seem OK (...boo!!!)
After another round
They’re bound to do no harm
Wisconsin bars (Wisconsin bars) sure party hard (& love PBR)
$3 beers (ice cold beer), I can’t think clear (fear the deer)
But we’re all friends (getting drunk again)
Singing again (to the end)
To a country song, we belong in Wisconsin bars
Yea, this country song’s for Wisconsin bars
Slate
When a man feels blood and fire in his eyes
There's nothing to hold him down
But the sins of some, a choir of lies
They'll make him swim until he drowns
Deja, deja vu, another note I leave for you
There's nothing new with the horses or the gate
That we painted back in June, oh, the lilies blossomed too
I brought them for you and I'll see that they won't blow away
Now I've seen the sun set in bloodshot skies
I've heard the moon resound
And the hymns of some, ain't more than sighs
What's left beneath the clouds
Deja, deja vu, another note I leave for you
There's nothing new with the horses or the gate
That we painted back in June, oh, the lilies blossomed too
I brought them for you and I'll see that they won't blow away
Now dirt has turned to mud, so I hired some size
To help till and unearth the ground
And I think our love's keeping me alive
Though you work without a sound
And our kids are okay
They don't say much these days
Deja, deja vu, another note I leave for you
There's nothing new with the horses or the gate
That we painted back in June, oh, the lilies blossomed too
I brought them for you and I'll see that they won't blow away
Though your slate still looks the same
Sure was nice seeing you today
My Walls
Foundation laid by risks withheld
Ones that stone & mortar quell, I
Raise no flag, defend this keep
Siege on love, now douse these feelings
At the gate your beauty sits
Reminisce May through August when
All the land was ours to unfold
Maybe it's not me
You look to erode, just these
Walls keep out as much as in
And build fear or doubt, they won't expose just what can our
Lives be, and you said, as our hearts broke, that it was
Love, but what's left? Just my guilt and regret
Stuck in these walls
I can peer through cracks formed of
Music, Ronin’s crazy, Gus, we’re
So congruent, plastic bleeds in
Ovens, clues your light might yet breach
Right through the walls a mind creates, with
Rubble left is it too late for
You and I to rebuild as one? But
Maybe it's not me
You look to erode, just these
Walls keep out as much as in
And build fear or doubt, they won't expose just what can our
Lives be, and you said, as our hearts broke, that it was
Love, but what's left? Just my guilt and regret
Stuck in these walls
Embrace Each Other
Some people pray for open doors
But then those in power say
We ain't taking bets no more, yeah
‘Cause the race has left the gate
Other folks, yeah, they grew up with pain
That began from hate and rage, yeah
But don’t judge, just love someone, forgiveness reigns, yeah
We’re all people now….so let’s embrace
Each other, each other, each other, each other
It don’t matter, we’re all brothers and sisters, uncover each other
Each other, each other, each other, each other
One another, one another, one another, embrace each other, c’mon now
A Disclaimer
I had this goal of getting close
To a music life that makes me feel new
But with pen on page, my only stage was alive
With just repeats and clues
But it's been too long for all these songs to get done
I'm just a man, it's true
And so from 2 to 3, I had this goal, you see
In an hour, write a mediocre tune
So if you're looking for
Something with different chords
Or a line that makes you feel blue
Here's my disclaimer: this song's not for you
Maybe there's metaphors, or in your core
You feel it's something like fate
To interpret it, 'cause it's passionate
And alive, you share the same trait
And now, truth be told, if you're not sold
That's OK, I like the word conflate
But remember this, in my last minute
Look inside, do with that as you may
If you're looking for
Something with different chords
Or a line that makes you feel blue
Here's my disclaimer: this song's not for you
Find Your Peace
Amani, Salam, Heiwa, Shaanti
Amani, Salam, Heiwa, Shaanti
Amani, Salam, Heiwa, Shaanti
Amani, Salam, Heiwa, Shaanti
Amani, Salam, Heiwa, Shaanti
Find your peace
If you could find peace on the ocean
Would you pack it up and get consumed with its motion
If you could find peace on a mountain
Echo till the dirt let your sound in
Would you, yeah
If you could find peace with a stranger
Share a laugh and rid this world of anger
If you could find peace with some people
And see them all just as equals
Find your peace
Find your peace
Woohoo
If you could find peace from the green, green earth
Realize it's a gift to help those who hurt
If you could find peace with no money
Would you give it all and sing with no worries
Would you, yeah, yeah
If you could find peace with a prayer
And realize it may be different than your neighbor's
If you could find peace from another man
And tell the world love cannot be banned
Find your peace
Find your peace
Find your peace
Find your peace
Find your peace
Find your peace
Woohoo
Mmhmm, yeah, oh, yeah, find your peace now, yeah
Do do do do do, mmhmm, do do do, do, do, do, do
Find peace, just find your peace
Just find your peace
One For Oscar
The Winter Blues (SRV'd Cold)
There’s a cold going ‘round town, yea
And I think that it’s the blues
There’s a cold I got now
And I think that it’s the blues
Well my girl’s with another man
Been sick since I got the news
Been feeling ‘lone here
Just me and this guitar
Yea these winter blues are all to near
And summer’s just too far
So I write these words down
And I hope they hide my scars
Alright, here we go, woo!
There’s snow outside now
But it’s inside that’s cold
Yea my baby’s long gone now
Could be my fault I’m told
So I’ll let this storm pass
I’ll catch the next one and I’ll hope she’s someone I can hold
Yea, hold you real close
A Weezer Song
Milwaukee summer, never wonder how to stay hydrated
At Wolski’s in dice I lose with 26 all day, Jameo’s on me
We laugh and shoot but then the gameface comes on
‘Cause the blonde playing darts needs a partner who’s fun
Background: Hey, uh, do you want a teammate? Yeah sure! Alright, cool
Losing interest, iPhone out, she starts a-swiping right
Are you for real? The smirks and stares like I’m just wasting her time
I feign a smile, her errants throws and disgust shows she’s got no room for nice guys-
Just then you bore me too, cause I hear
Lo do do do do, it’s a Weezer song that
I like more than you
Laughing at the notion of one care, I idly amble back
And forget I’d come undone
Now July kicks off we Uber down to hit a tour at MKE
Then Summerfest, we go near Miller stage, the band’s at 3
See gals Gabe sorta knows before the first song
They suggest we get something nearby to help us sing along
Background: Hey, what’s going on - you want a beer? Yeah! Haha, OK
We pair off somehow I end up with a perfect 10
“Two Cows please,” I say, she interjects - one for her friend
“Well, make it three.” I pay, she leaves, no thanks
It seems no more is needed from me
Just then the band comes to, and I hear
Lo do do do do, it’s a Weezer song that
I like more than you
Laughing at the notion of one care, I idly amble back
And forget I’d come undone
Lo do do do do, it’s a Weezer song that
I like more than you
Now I’m laughing at the notion of one care, I idly amble back
And forget I’d come undone
Alright, that’s a wrap!
Nope, uh-uh, one more.Yeah! Woo
Single Album Art
