Matt Drenik

Matt Drenik
Matt Drenik
Background information
Birth name	Matt Drenik
Also known as	Battleme
Origin	Greenfield, IN, US
Genres	folk, garage, post-grunge, classic rock
Occupation	Musician / Writer
Instrument(s)	Guitar, bass, piano, vocals
Years active	2004–present
Labels	El Camino Media, Sony Music Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Records, Get Loud, Trashy Moped Recordings, Maybe Records
Website	Drenik official website

Matt Drenik (born June 18, 1979) is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist.

Drenik was the lead singer of Lions, a hard rock, post-grunge band from Austin, Texas. He also performs under the moniker Battleme, a folk rock project that he formed when he moved to Portland, Oregon in 2010. His songs have been featured in numerous American television shows and commercials, including dozens in FX's hit show Sons of Anarchy. His version of Neil Young's "Hey Hey, My My" has over 50 million YouTube hits.

Drenik was also a contributing member to Los Angeles-based group The Forest Rangers, alongside Bob Thiele, Dave Kushner, and Katey Sagal.^[1] They served as the house band for Sons of Anarchy. His song "Metal Heavy Lady" was featured in the game Guitar Hero 3.^[2] Rolling Stone has written about his music,^[3] as well as Billboard, Esquire, MTV,^[4] Rock Sound,^[5] Classic Rock magazine, Metal Hammer and others. In 2017, Classic Rock picked his song "Testament" as one of the year's best.^[6] His most recent recording, "Cult Psychotica", received an 8 out of 10 on All Music with reviewer Matt Collar noting, "the album is a red-eyed collection of fuzzy rock anthems, all centered on Drenik's throaty, nasal-pitched sneer. What he lacks in outright vocal resonance, he makes up for with strutting rock attitude and literate, philosophical lyrics that are equal parts Lou Reed and Elliott Smith."^[7]

Drenik has worked with dozens of acts as a producer, including a solo effort from Louise Post of alternative rock band Veruca Salt.^[8] In addition to Post, Drenik has produced two albums by Seattle rock band Acid Tongue (band), as well as Grizzled Mighty, Charlie Hilton Blouse (band), Battleme, Danny Dodge, and Miller Campbell. His most recent work with Miller Campbell was featured in Spin's August 2024 print issue, as well as a world premiere for the single, All Night in SPIN,^[9]

In 2018, Drenik took a role as Creative Director at Los Angeles-based music company, South Music.^[10] Since joining the company, he has worked and overseen music campaigns for Nike, Google, Activision, Cadillac, Jeep, and AT&T.^[11]

As a writer, he's contributed op-ed pieces to American Songwriter,^[12] Magnet, Talkhouse,^[13] and OPB Music.^[14]

With Lions

Volume 1 (2006 EP)
No Generation (2007 LP)
Let No One Fall (2009 EP)

With Battleme

Big Score (2009 EP)
Battleme (2012 LP)
Touch (2012 single)
Weight on the Brain (2013 EP)
Future Runs Magnetic (2014 LP)
Habitual Love Songs (2016)
Cult Psychotia (2017)

Production

Battleme
Louise Post of Veruca Salt
Miller Campbell
Acid Tongue
Chief White Lightning
El Madre (Louise Post of Veruca Salt)
Danny Dodge
Aaron Behrens (Ghostland Observatory)
Charlie Hilton (Blouse)
Grizzled Mighty
The Furies
Jesse Vain
Far Lands
Felix Rose
Hairy Patt Band
Moon Darling

References

^ Daunt, Leslie (June 8, 2014). "Former Lions frontman Matt Drenik turns his personal battle into Battleme". AXS. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
^ Hasty, Katie (February 24, 2009). "Lions". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2009.
^ Gentile, Josh (January 24, 2014). "Battleme takes a mind-trip on "Nights on the Strand"". Rolling Stone.
^ Greenwald, David (March 18, 2012). "Video Premiere : Battleme, 'Touch'". MTV Buzzworthy. Archived from the original on March 10, 2012.
^ Newbound, Tim. "Lions – Let No One Fall". Rock Sound.
^ "Classic Rock Magazine (UK) includes "Testament" on 2017 Best of Playlist." BATTLEME. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
^ "Cult Psychotica, Battleme". All Music. October 27, 2017.
^ "Veruca Salt's Louise Post comes home". Chicago Reader. July 14, 2023.
^ "Song Premiere". Spin. June 20, 2024.
^ "South Music and Design". Adland. November 30, 2018.
^ "High-Stakes Match Play". Little Black Book. April 25, 2024.
^ "Us Vs. Them". American Songwriter. July 2, 2014.
^ "Trolling Is Over If You Want It". Talkhouse. August 1, 2018.
^ "Neko Vs. The Volcano". OPB Music. April 29, 2015.

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[1] Daunt, Leslie (June 8, 2014). "Former Lions frontman Matt Drenik turns his personal battle into Battleme". AXS. Retrieved June 8, 2014.

[2] Hasty, Katie (February 24, 2009). "Lions". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2009.

[3] Gentile, Josh (January 24, 2014). "Battleme takes a mind-trip on "Nights on the Strand"". Rolling Stone.

[4] Greenwald, David (March 18, 2012). "Video Premiere : Battleme, 'Touch'". MTV Buzzworthy. Archived from the original on March 10, 2012.

[5] Newbound, Tim. "Lions – Let No One Fall". Rock Sound.

[6] "Classic Rock Magazine (UK) includes "Testament" on 2017 Best of Playlist." BATTLEME. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2019.

[7] "Cult Psychotica, Battleme". All Music. October 27, 2017.

[8] "Veruca Salt's Louise Post comes home". Chicago Reader. July 14, 2023.

[9] "Song Premiere". Spin. June 20, 2024.

[10] "South Music and Design". Adland. November 30, 2018.

[11] "High-Stakes Match Play". Little Black Book. April 25, 2024.

[12] "Us Vs. Them". American Songwriter. July 2, 2014.

[13] "Trolling Is Over If You Want It". Talkhouse. August 1, 2018.

[14] "Neko Vs. The Volcano". OPB Music. April 29, 2015.

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