A Lifelong Creative Pursuit
Blending the storytelling traditions of Americana with the creative spirit of Indie Rock, Justin Mather is a Las Vegas-based recording artist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer whose music reflects a lifetime of creativity, collaboration, and musical exploration.
Originally from Western Massachusetts, Mather's musical journey began in elementary school, where he played saxophone and sang in the school choir. At age 12, he picked up the guitar and began writing songs, discovering a passion for creating original music that would shape the course of his life.
Throughout high school, Mather performed in classic rock cover bands, developing his skills as a guitarist, vocalist, and live performer. At age 17, his musical journey took an international turn when he spent a year living in Curicó, Chile. During his time there, he performed weekly at the popular Crazy Horse Pub, gaining valuable experience connecting with audiences in a different cultural setting.
Upon returning to the United States, Mather continued pursuing music, eventually joining the original band Tave Hu during his college years. He later turned his attention toward a solo career, performing in intimate clubs and venues throughout Western Massachusetts.
In 2006, Mather relocated to Las Vegas, where he spent the next decade working as a full-time professional musician. Performing in casino lounges, clubs, weddings, and private events, he built a career balancing the demands of live entertainment with his passion for original music. Whether performing with cover bands or his own original band, those years helped shape his versatility as a musician and entertainer.
Among his career highlights are opportunities to open for acclaimed artists Gregg Allman, Ryan Bingham, and Robert Earl Keen — memorable milestones in a career built around live music and songwriting.
Television Licensing & Andy Frasco
Mather's original solo catalog has also found success in television music licensing, with songs featured in popular television series including Smallville and Friday Night Lights. These placements represent an important extension of his work as an independent songwriter and recording artist, bringing his music to audiences beyond the concert stage and traditional album releases.
His songwriting has also reached audiences through other recording artists. Mather's original composition “Get Down” was recorded by internationally touring band Andy Frasco & The U.N., adding another notable credit to his career as a songwriter and highlighting the reach of his music beyond his own recordings.
Coast Riders Collaboration & International Placements
From 2018 to 2023, Mather shifted his creative focus from releasing solo albums to collaborating with longtime friend and fellow songwriter Jeff Greenleaf. Working under the name Coast Riders, the two embarked on an ambitious recording project centered around Greenleaf's catalog of unfinished songs. Mather contributed lead vocals, additional instrumentation, and studio production, helping bring the material to life. Together, they produced four albums, including a Christmas album, establishing a creative partnership that would continue into Mather's subsequent solo work.
The collaboration also achieved considerable success in television music licensing. Songs created by Mather and Greenleaf as Coast Riders have received more than 80 placements on the long-running CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless. These placements represent a significant achievement for the songwriting partnership and demonstrate the ability of their music to complement stories told on television.
The Tijuana Expedition & Award-Winning Album 'Vida'
In 2019, Mather took his passion for recording beyond the walls of his home studio, transporting a mobile recording setup to Rosarito, Mexico, where he transformed a house into a temporary recording studio to record his friends in the band Elegidos de Tijuana. The project reflected his hands-on approach to music production and his enthusiasm for collaborating with fellow musicians across borders.
That spirit of collaboration carried into Mather's latest solo album, Vida, with Greenleaf contributing as a cowriter, instrumentalist, and production collaborator. In 2026, Vida earned the Gold Medal for Best Rock/Folk Album at the European International Music Awards (EIMA), marking a significant achievement for both Mather and Greenleaf.
Mather's solo discography spans six albums — One Pillow, Little House in Vegas, Locked & Loaded, Old Records, Island Time, and Vida — reflecting an evolving musical perspective shaped by decades of songwriting, live performance, and studio experimentation.
Live Performance & Today
Although his primary creative focus today is writing, recording, and producing original music, Mather remains active in the Las Vegas live music scene, performing on piano and keyboards with Retrosonic, a popular local cover band. This ongoing connection to live performance complements his studio work and reflects the musical versatility that has defined his career.
With a sound rooted in Americana and Indie Rock, Mather continues to explore new musical territory while remaining committed to thoughtful songwriting, memorable melodies, and authentic artistic expression.