Something like a feeling that life is about the now, not tomorrow. In 2011 Jon Matte loses a close friend. The initial shock brings forth some kind of vertigo where he would now have to take risks, play the game, dare to use that vulnerability and concede a part of his pride while writing songs. Even though Jon studied in music, learnt his way around production studios, played in metro stations and accompanied many artists, the urgency never had him in a stranglehold. Music now felt like a sense of duty: “I played for a long time with this friend. For me, music was intimately connected to him. He would constantly tell me that I had all the tools and skills necessary to launch my career. His death gave me the courage to follow my dreams. Suddenly, it wasn’t something that I would eventually do some day. Writing songs was something I was doing daily.”
The Franklin Electric is formed and in 2012 go on to win a Nashville songwriting competition for the song "Old Piano", amongst 8000 participating bands from around the world. Jon Matte then invites a number of friends and musicians in studio to create, brick by brick, his first album. A simple desire governs these first improvised sessions, to build songs of regret and hope that has the same emotional impact on listeners that it has on him. "This Is How I Let You Down" first appeared independently before being re-launched in May 2014 through the label Indica Records (Half Moon Run, Phantogram) and following some initial adjustments, The Franklin Electric settles on a core of musicians which includes Jon Matte, Martin Desrosby, Kevin Warren and Ken Pressé.
One show after another, The Franklin Electric expands their fan base with their alternative pop-folk style. Whether singing, behind his piano or trumpet, Jon’s personality and desire to connect with the people is reflected through his music, and it’s only on stage that the leader and his fellow band mates discover what truly consumes the music and lyrics. Now more then ever, music brings him to new heights, thanks to a loyal fan base: “A song is like a friend or a lover. The more you listen to it, the more you get an understanding of their complexity and it sometimes create this magical feeling that surges without us expecting it.”
After performing with Half Moon Run & City and Colour on their Quebec tour in 2014 the band set their sights to Europe for their first tour and then returns a second and third time to support The Barr Brothers, Hey Rosetta and Half Moon Run. As if the stars aligned, Ben Howard offers the group a chance to share the stage on his Canadian tour in 2015. After a busy summer touring festivals in Canada (Jazz Fest, Osheaga) followed by two European tours in the fall and a 5 week Australian tour to support the release of “This Is How I Let You Down”, the band will soon be back in the studio to capture that lightning trapped in a bottle; the magic that started it all, that vulnerability and fragile state of mind that tormented them during the production of their first album.