Matthew Santos, (MA/SA), is a highly accomplished artist and two-time Grammy nominee. Originally from Minneapolis, MN, he discovered his passion for singing and songwriting as a teenager. Santos furthered his musical education at Columbia College in Chicago, focusing on music composition and performance.

Early in his career, Santos recorded his debut album "Change Is Better" (2004) and follow-up EP "As a Crow Flies" (2006) at Attic Studios. It was there that he crossed paths with Lupe Fiasco, leading to a fruitful collaboration, notably on the Grammy-nominated hit "Superstar" (2008).

Santos's talent took him on tour with renowned artists such as Rihanna, Kanye West, and Pharrell Williams during the Glow in the Dark tour in 2008. He also performed at major festivals like Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Bonnaroo, and appeared on popular talk shows including Letterman, Kimmel, and Ellen.

Seeking creative autonomy, Santos stepped away from the mainstream music scene to focus on his own artistic inclinations. He released three more studio albums and became the frontman of the electro-pop band MONAKR. The band's success led to a record deal with Embassy of Music and a publishing agreement with Songs Music Publishing (KOBALT). Their music was featured in the film "Love, Simon" and the TV show "Shades of Blue."

In recent years, Santos collaborated with notable artists such as Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal, NGHTMRE, and Saba Pivot. He also toured extensively with fellow Minneapolis artist Dessa across Europe, China, and North America.

Santos's music has been featured in various shows and films, including "Games People Play," "Sacrifice," "LEGO Masters," "Claim to Fame," "Temptation Island," "The Chi," and "Berlin, I love You." Additionally, he contributed songs to the Netflix series "First Kill," including the singles "Lil' Drop," "Too Late, Too Little," and "Give My Life For You."

Critics have praised Santos's unique and emotive voice, with the Chicago Tribune describing it as “special” and “haunting”. John Legend commended his “beautiful voice”, while John Sebastian, Program Director at CBS Radio, simply called him “captivating”.

Matthew Santos is an artist who continues to carve his own path forward, collaborating with top-tier talent, and leaving lasting impressions on screens and stages worldwide.