Noah's Arc Floods Hollywood With Soul - by Matt Alber

Last night Hollywood got a huge dose of soul as the cast of Logo's Noah's Arc moved in to celebrate the premier of their new feature film, Jumping The Broom. 

I was invited to perform at the after-party held at the elegant Highlands nightclub in the heart of Hollywood.  One of my songs, "End of the World," was featured in the film during an intimate moment of star-gazing between two friends, one of whom is in love with the other.

The room was buzzing with elegance and celebrity-- an environment this Kansas-boy does not usually find himself. My brother Bryce handed me a cocktail and leaned in with a knowing smile to tell me, "Raven-Symoné is standing behind you." 

Ms. Symoné and I had only spoken briefly once before-- 5 years earlier, just a few blocks from where we were standing, on the set of Star Search.  I had just performed "Somebody Like You," a country top 40 hit for 14 million American viewers on live television. Raven dissed me with 2 stars and I lost on my first episode. I chuckled back to my brother, "It all worked out for the best, didn't it?"

As the party filled up with the likes of Jerell from Project Runway and Top Model's Miss Jay (who was working her own runway) I scooted back stage to savor a backstage moment with my string quartet. Though they had only just seen the music 2 hours prior, these ladies were more than prepared and were glowing with anticipation.   

We took the stage together and I nestled into a glimmering white grand  piano for our three song set.  It was the first time I'd ever performed with  a live quartet and I have to tell you, it is a stunningly beautiful experience. All the swells and sweet releases of the viols ached in perfect motion with my hands on the ivory keys.  My voice found that place I can only find when I'm on a stage with real musicians, and I caught a glimpse of what this might be like at the Hollywood Bowl.

We were warmly received, even by Raven, and we spent the rest of the evening soaking in the party (and stealing the to-go cupcakes from Beverly Hills Cupcake Co.)  I was surrounded by my closest friends and feeling humbly grateful.   

I took a moment on the veranda to catch some air and peer over the railing onto Hollywood Boulevard.  The orange sky hummed along to the frantic neon of the El Capitan.  I paused to consider how many pipe dreams had come true during my first 3 years in Hollywood.

I remembered waking up in my Bronco parked at the Santa Monica pier when I was in between apartments.  I remembered shoveling  beer bottles into bins at a leather bar in Silverlake.  I remembered lifting echinacea from Whole Foods when I couldn't afford vitamins.

But earlier tonight, one of my songs echoed through the great walls of Grauman's Chinese Theater.  If anyone was moved by it, they could type my name into iTunes and find my first album now released on Tommy Boy Records. The past month I've been surrounded by a team of Hollywood professionals who created the most exquisite and elegant music video I've ever seen for the very song that I performed this evening with a live string quartet. And my brother is here to share it with me.

I had two words to whisper over that railing to glittering Hollywood: "Thank you."

Comments

[russ]

Matt, your music is amazing and so moving! Just heard your tunes today and I am an instant fan.