The Adventure Begins

Matthew's adventures in studio production started in High School, which led to his early experimental productions such as "The Matthias Project", and his first professional demo recording with his post-high school band, Down To Earth. These experiences drew him deeper into the limitless world of sound production, and eventually to his first solo self-produced album, "Music To See By", which was produced over the course of 3 years and officially released in 1987.

Following the release of "Music To See By", Matthew's second album "Bleeding Wolves" reached multi-platinum status within a year of its international release in 1995. In southeast Asia, primarily in Taiwan and mainland China, Matthew has achieved phenomenal (and, for a foreigner, unprecedented) success. Matthew's two releases, "Voyage To Paradise" and "Touching The Earth," occupied Taiwan's International Top 20 pop charts ahead of such artists as Eric Clapton, Celine Dion and The Backstreet Boys. "Touching the Earth" remained on the Top 20 charts for 11 weeks, sharing the charts with a second resurgence of "Bleeding Wolves".

Matthew's unique approach to music production has yielded six solo albums, an album with the Wildlands ensemble, and numerous other projects and commissioned works. In addition to his studio work, Matthew is known for his exciting live performances which are regularly sold out and have attracted audiences of over 30,000... even in the pouring rain!

Eco-Music Without Borders

Matthew draws considerable inspiration from the natural world. In an effort to create a moving and inspiring experience for live audiences, and out of a strong desire to raise awareness about endangered wilderness, Matthew and renowned photographer and white-water paddler Ken Madsen developed the Yukon Wildlands Project. The pair have traveled rivers of the Yukon, British Columbia, Northwest Territories and Alaska, coordinating other musicians and artists in an effort to interpret these areas through music, visual images and sound design. Matthew has recorded peregrine falcons attacking grizzly bears, calving glaciers, squeaking furry picas, rolling icebergs and much more. Edited into six-channel surround sound, the material is then woven into original music composition and set ablaze in thrilling live performances with stunning photographic projection, dramatic sets and lighting design.

The latest and most ambitious of these collaborations between Madsen and Lien is the Caribou Commons Project, which has grown into a coalition of environmental and aboriginal representatives dedicated to the protection of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Canadian range of the Porcupine River caribou herd which calve in the Arctic Refuge each year. The Caribou Commons Project has completed several international efforts including a live concert tour which crossed Canada and the United States (including such renowned venues as the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C.), as well as smaller multimedia presentations throughout North America. More recently, the "Walk To Washington, D.C. for the Arctic Refuge" completed a self-propelled journey of several thousand miles across the United States, with performances and events along the route climaxing at Capitol Hill in the United States.

The Caribou Commons Project continues to draw attention to the threat of oil and gas development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the sensitive calving grounds of the Porcupine River caribou herd, and Matthew is currently at work on a new CD entitled "Arctic Refuge," dedicated to this issue.

In Performance

Televised nationally and broadcast internationally on television, radio and the Internet, Matthew's live performances in southeast Asia are nearly legendary. In September 1999, his "Rebuilding Formosa" concert tour drew a crowd of over 30,000 people to Taiwan's Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Square in the capital city of Taipei, and the performances combined raised more than $600,000 for earthquake relief efforts. By Invitation of Taiwan's Central Government, on April 22, 2000 Matthew again took the stage in Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Square along with his 25-member ensemble from Canada, Taiwan and Ghana, for a memorable celebration establishing Earth Day in Taiwan.

Matthew has received honours never before bestowed upon a foreigner in Taiwan. In April 1999, he was the first foreigner ever to perform at the Golden Melody Awards (Taiwan's "Grammy Awards"). A year later, Matthew returned to the awards as the first foreigner to be nominated for Best Album of the Year ("Voyage to Paradise"). At home in Canada, he was awarded the Parliamentary Certificate of Honour, and recently received a West Coast Music Award for his album "In So Many Words".

In recognition of Matthew's work with the aboriginal peoples of Taiwan, the magistrate of Kaohsiung Province and its several aboriginal tribes appointed him "Ambassador to Aboriginal Culture." Back home, the Yukon Government recognized his achievements by appointing him Special Envoy to Taiwan. Matthew's work in Taiwan continues with great focus, where he maintains a commitment to protecting the old-growth forests of 3,000 year-old Cypress trees in the Chi-Lan Mountain area, and where he has been the honoured guest and performer for numerous Governors, the Prime Minister, the Vice President, and Taiwan's President Chen.

Closer To The Heart

At the heart of Matthew's success is, of course, his music. Matthew continues to interpret World Music in his own unique way by incorporating Celtic, European folk, light jazz, classical, and traditional and aboriginal influences into his work. Matthew's original compositions touch a deep and rare chord with people and continue to endear him to audiences the world over. As Matthew explores new and challenging musical directions, his music will continue to resonate with people everywhere.