Originally from Maniwaki, in Quebec’s Outaouais region, Matt Lang has emerged as one of the rising figures of Canadian country music. With his charisma, warm voice, and confident neo-traditional style, he has won over a loyal audience across the country and beyond.
Beyond awards and tours, his ambition is clearly defined: to build a bridge between the American country scene and Quebec audiences, proving that a francophone artist can thrive in a predominantly anglophone world.
Country music, long perceived as a purely American genre, is gaining new momentum in Quebec thanks to artists who respect its codes while adding a local flavour. Matt Lang embodies this cultural connection.
Quebec Roots and an Early Passion
Born in the small town of Maniwaki, Matt Lang, whose real name is Mathieu Langevin, discovered music as a teenager when he received his first guitar at age 14. Early on, he took part in school competitions, notably Secondaire en spectacle, and gained his first stage experience on the local scene, while also working as a host on his region’s community radio station. This early exposure to the entertainment world fueled his ambitions and strengthened his confidence.
Maniwaki, a small town surrounded by forests and lakes, does not have a large country music scene, but it has a rich community life where music plays a central role at festivals and local celebrations. These early performances, often improvised in gymnasiums or at community events, shaped his stage presence and his desire to create a genuine human connection above all else.
Although he initially considered a career in hockey, music ultimately became his true calling. Inspired by both Quebec culture and the great American country voices, he developed a style that blends authenticity, modern sensitivity, and local roots. The rural environment of his childhood has left a lasting mark on his artistic universe, infused with family values and landscapes that fuel his storytelling.
A Noticed Debut and a Shift to English
The general public discovered him in 2015 when he reached the finals of the television show La Voix. This experience opened the door to new opportunities and allowed him to explore various styles. Although he began in French, he quickly chose to switch to English in order to fully immerse himself in the North American country universe.
This decision meant facing a much larger and more competitive market, while also adapting his songwriting to a language he was still learning. For a Quebec artist, Nashville is not just a city: it is the beating heart of country music, a mythical place where ambitions are tested and legends are forged.
In 2018, he recorded his first English-language album in Nashville with producer Danick Dupelle. At the time, he did not speak a word of English, but his determination allowed him to overcome the language barrier. The single Love Me Some You marked a turning point: the EP of the same name topped the country sales charts on iTunes Canada and accumulated millions of streams. Matt’s warm voice and authenticity quickly attracted a broader audience.
Rise and National Recognition
The year 2019 confirmed his momentum: a victory at the SiriusXM Top of the Country competition, three awards at the Gala Country du Québec, a SOCAN Country Music Award, and his first ADISQ nomination for English-language Album of the Year.
Winning SiriusXM Top of the Country was more than a trophy: it was national recognition in a competition that has historically propelled its winners toward major tours and collaborations.
His neo-traditional style, rooted in tradition yet open to modern influences, resonates with both francophone and anglophone audiences. Sold-out festivals and tours followed, along with television appearances that further strengthened his profile.
More: A Pivotal Album
In June 2020, he released More, a project praised by critics and embraced by the public. Tracks such as Water Down the Whiskey, Getcha, In a Bar, and Only a Woman have accumulated more than 20 million streams. The album, with its subtle balance between tradition and modernity, appeals both to country purists and new listeners.
This release led to a pan-Canadian tour, including opening for Tebey’s The Good Ones, and a first European appearance at the C2C festival in Berlin. His performance in Berlin, before an audience largely unfamiliar with the Quebec scene, demonstrated that his songs transcend linguistic and cultural barriers.
Challenges and Defining Moments
Matt Lang does not shy away from new challenges. In 2022, he shared the stage with Luke Combs in front of 80,000 people on the Plains of Abraham, then flew to England to perform at the Boots and Buckle Festival. That same year, he recorded Never Met a Beer with Tyler Joe Miller, a song that reached the Top 10 on Canadian country radio and earned a nomination at the CCMA Awards.
He also explored new formats with Moonlight Sessions, an acoustic covers album, and launched his own rum, Moonlight. Choosing to release his own spirit and a parallel acoustic project shows that he views his career as a creative ecosystem where music and image feed into one another.
Toward the International Stage
In May 2024, he released his third studio album, All Night Longer, launched with a sold-out show at MTELUS. ADISQ awarded him a Gold Ticket for selling more than 50,000 tickets from the More tour.
In 2025, he signed strategic agreements in the United States with a booking agent, a publishing company, and a management agency, increasing his stays in Nashville. Being programmed at CMA Fest is a rare milestone for a francophone Canadian artist, a sign that his efforts to integrate into the American scene are paying off.
In June, he experienced a key moment: his first appearance at Nashville’s CMA Fest, a flagship event in global country music. Despite an administrative setback that prevented him from performing at Whiskey Jam, he took the stage the following day and received a standing ovation, strengthening his ambition to return to record and perform there regularly.
An Authentic Style Serving a Mission
Since his debut, Matt Lang has performed more than 200 shows, sold thousands of albums, and accumulated millions of streams. He remains true to his identity, blending American roots with a Quebec spirit.
His songs, inspired by real life, speak of love, freedom, the open road, heartbreak, and simple pleasures. On stage, his unifying energy and closeness with the audience make him deeply relatable. This authenticity, combined with a clear vision, fuels his goal of bringing two musical cultures closer together.
Building a Bridge Between Nashville and Quebec
Proud of his Maniwaki roots, Matt Lang does not seek only to succeed in the United States: he wants to connect the American country scene with Quebec audiences. This ambition guides his artistic choices, collaborations, and upcoming projects.
By linking two musical worlds that seem worlds apart, one rooted in the American South, the other shaped by northern francophonie, he creates a space where audiences meet and recognize themselves.
By showing that a francophone artist can shine in an English-dominated industry, he inspires an entire new generation of songwriters. And while Matt Lang’s story has already crossed the Atlantic, all signs suggest that his songs will soon resonate on stages around the world.
