Matt Whyte had his start in the music business leading the late aughts band Earl Greyhound, a 70s rock influenced group that Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and The New Yorker all rallied behind following the release of their debut album, Soft Targets. Their music appeared in multiple video games, films and TV shows while they toured the world on their own and in support of acts like Chris Cornell and Portugal The Man. Before the band split in 2011, Earl Greyhound put out a total of 5 releases only to ultimately be remarked upon unfavorably by Beavis and Butthead. 

In 2012 Matt began a career composing to picture and has developed as a producer of multiple genres ranging from orchestral to techno. Composing credits include Netflix’s Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond, FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened, and the series Tiger King, Matt also makes music for commercials including a 2017 Budweiser ad for which he picked up a Cannes Lion award. 

As a performer, Matt has a regular gig singing Bossa Nova at a cocktail bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and has continued to tour internationally for his own music and as a sideman with acts like Joan as Policewoman and Rival Schools. In 2017 Matt released his first album post Earl Greyhound under the pseudonym Rupe Shearns with an eclectic collection of songs titled To a Deer Outside Ithaca.

In the tradition of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and musicians committed to the peace movement during the folk revival of 1960s, Matt uses music as a direct tool for progressive activism. His most recent project Sing For Science is a multi disciplinary work including a collection of songs celebrating the work of scientists. Through it he hopes to help restore science as an equalizing force underpinning our democracy by spreading science literacy with the transformative power of music. 

Matt lives with his wife and 2 daughters in Cherry Valley, NY.