#strugglecountry

Matt Burke writes what he calls "struggle country" - raw, unflinching songs about pushing forward when everything's pushing back. The roots of that resilience trace back to 1997, when Burke was 16 and working tables at a retirement community to save $700 for his first car - a broken-down 1987 Pontiac 6000 with busted air conditioning and a carbon monoxide leak that required cracking the doors every 15 minutes to avoid passing out.

Growing up in small-town Florida, music was his constant companion through countless moves and changes, but it wasn't until life dealt him a series of brutal hands - including the loss of his closest musical collaborator - that Burke found his true voice in country music's storytelling tradition.

"The universe will only dangle a carrot for so long before it uses the stick," Burke reflects, a philosophy that finally pushed him to leave his established Florida blues-rock career behind and bet everything on Nashville.

Now signed to MVK Music Group, Burke has spent four years building his name in Music City through unwavering determination and a steady stream of honest, hard-hitting songs that blend traditional country's grit with Americana's soul. His monthly release strategy throughout 2025 has demonstrated remarkable artistic range - from the dark cinematic country of "Lord Willing" to the 90s rock nostalgia of "1997" - while maintaining his core storytelling authenticity.

His sound draws deep from both wells - the outlaw spirit of Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings mixed with the raw emotional truth of Tyler Childers and Sturgill Simpson. Burke's raspy, soulful vocals (often compared to Chris Stapleton) deliver stories of perseverance that connect deeply with audiences. With nearly 20,000 monthly Spotify listeners and recent coverage in SPIN Magazine, Burke has earned recognition in the USA Songwriting Competition and built a growing reputation for captivating live shows.

Whether performing solo with an acoustic guitar or alongside musical partner Danielle Beu, whose harmonies add another layer of emotional depth to his songs, Burke's mission remains constant: creating genuine connections through honest, powerful songwriting. You'll find him regularly commanding stages at Ole Red venues across the country, but his heart lies in the intimate moments - when a song cuts through the noise and reminds someone they're not alone in their struggles.

"Struggle country isn't just music," Burke explains. "It's about finding hope in harmony and strength in stories. It's choosing authenticity over ease, and community over competition." It's this philosophy that makes his growing catalog more than just songs - they're anthems for anyone fighting to build a life on their own terms, rooted in the working-class foundation that shaped him at 16.

Contact Information: Public Relations | MVK Music Group Email: pr@mvkmusicgroup.com Phone: (407) 401-1999