Bio
Shiloh, Forever is the chosen moniker of 25-year-old singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Matthew Roers. A self-proclaimed insomniac, his music is inspired by the calm, meditative hours of the evening, often featuring laid-back grooves, serene instrumentation, and yearning lyrics—fitting for a contemplative evening with the stars. The sound of the rural Minnesota native is drawn from his ever-changing musical palate, which centers around the search for merit and meaning. From old-school organic folk to classic city pop, his eclectic interests come together to form his unique brand of indie folk rock that he labels “sleep rock.”
His newest project, The Man After Dark (out Feb. 23), continues to color his painted dreamland. The two-song work features title track “The Man After Dark” and the intimate “La Lune,” which fit together to form a 10-minute continuum of angsty, late-night vulnerability. The demos were recorded alone by Roers in his small apartment in Dorchester, MA, during a month of nocturnal seclusion before leaving his hideaway to create the final versions. Inspired by a clear night’s walk while visiting his former home outside of Alexandria, MN, Shiloh, Forever’s second release begins with the story of two disconnected lovers seeking answers in the stars, and unwinds into a lonely, reminiscent love song to the moon.
Shiloh, Forever’s most recent work provides strong insight into the man behind the music and his artistic process. Admittedly a wallflower, Roers’ introverted tendencies have often led to isolation, typically opting to work alone or with a few trusted friends while creating his personal projects. While he can be reclusive to a fault, years of individually creating have led Roers to transition from a guitar-fronted songwriter to a panoptic producer and multi-instrumentalist. He finds the most fulfillment when writing this way. “There’s incomparable satisfaction in assembling the pieces of the puzzle, especially when the end result is completely in your hands,” he says. “I think I do my best work answering solely to myself and my gut instincts. That’s when my songs feel the most authentic.”
The alum of Boston’s renowned Berklee College of Music dropped out of school to follow his self-reliant philosophy, believing the school was hindering his growth as an artist. The move ended up being the right one: his debut single “Friend of Mine” was written shortly after.
The current sound of Shiloh, Forever sits somewhere in the indie-folk-rock wheelhouse. Roers has always had a love for folk-driven songwriters such as George Harrison and Ray LaMontagne; however, his influences aren’t limited by genre. He compares his music taste to a chameleon constantly changing colors, and will borrow elements from genres that often contrast. Roers possesses a deep admiration for music of all kinds, with a fondness for Japan’s Masayoshi Takanaka, Yellow Magic Orchestra, and indie-rock's Mac DeMarco to name a few. While their styles vary from his own, Roers’ affection for them is just as deep as that of his more sonically-related mentors. The intriguing crossroads of influences suggest excitingly unique and, perhaps, unpredictably directed projects due from Shiloh, Forever.
Creating music has always been a form of therapy and self-exploration for Roers, and he tries to pass that on in his songs. He wants his work to be a beacon for introspection and give poise to fellow quiet-types. The name Shiloh, Forever itself—a nod to the beloved children’s novel by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor—is an homage to standing tall in your beliefs and doing what you feel is right, despite the repercussions: in life, in love, and in music.