Matt Mahaffey is a multi-talented individual, boasting an impressive array of skills that include being an Emmy/Annie-nominated multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and entertainer. His unique approach to scoring animation, coupled with his diverse style palette and consistently fresh output, have earned him widespread recognition within the industry. Mahaffey's journey is reminiscent of that of other successful musicians, such as Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh and Oingo Boingo's Danny Elfman, who discovered that their creative ideas were better suited to the context of film and television rather than traditional pop music.
Matt's early start in the music industry began when he was plucked from his dorm room and signed to a record deal at just 19 years old. This led to a successful career with his beloved project sElf, which garnered a significant following. During his time with the Dreamworks label in the early 2000s, Mahaffey had the opportunity to pitch songs for upcoming films. His first job in film and television came with the Shrek franchise, which proved to be a lucrative and rewarding experience, offering him the chance to work on sequels, special features, and even a full immersion into the world of music to picture.
Mahaffey's subsequent collaborations included working with the renowned composer Hans Zimmer on the film Spirit, as well as composing music for animated series such as Ni-hao, Kai-lan. To date, he has composed original music for over 50 series and films, including The Middlemost Post, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Henry Hugglemonster, Mission Force One, Transformers Rescuebots Academy, Total Divas, Road Rules, Nella the Princess Knight, and Sanjay and Craig.
In addition to his work in film and television, Mahaffey has also produced music for a diverse range of artists, including Keith Urban, Lupe Fiasco, and several others who have achieved Gold and Platinum sales awards with their collaborations. He has also had the opportunity to tour with Beck for three years and contributed to the artist's Grammy-winning album Morning Phase.
