Matthew Koma Bio
Matthew Bair (born 2 June 1987), known professionally as Matthew Koma, is an American singer, songwriter, DJ, and record producer. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Seaford, New York, he first took the stage alongside his father at age four and wrote his first song at nine, shaping the foundation for a career that spans pop, punk rock, EDM, and hip hop. Koma has written and co-written tracks such as “Spectrum,” “Find You,” and the Grammy Award-winning “Clarity,” with several of these collaborations produced by Zedd. Beyond his solo work, he fronts the project Winnetka Bowling League and has built a reputation as a versatile collaborator across the modern pop and electronic landscape.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Koma was born on 2 June 1987 in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Seaford, a community on Long Island. His father, Gerald D. Bair, is a singer and songwriter, and the household exposed the young Koma to live performance from an early age. He joined his father on stage for the first time when he was just four years old, an experience that sparked a lifelong attachment to music.
By the time he was nine, Koma had written his first song, channeling the influence of artists he has long admired. He has credited Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen as formative inspirations, citing their songwriting as a guiding force in his early creative life. He later attended Seaford High School, where he continued developing his craft before stepping into the professional music world.
Path to Music
Koma’s path into the music industry was shaped by years of informal training, family performance opportunities, and a steady output of original songs. His father’s career gave him a direct window into live shows, while artists like Costello and Springsteen sharpened his sense of lyric and arrangement. These early influences laid the groundwork for the melodic, emotionally driven style that would later define his work as a vocalist and songwriter.
By his mid-teens, Koma was performing regularly and writing material that blended singer-songwriter tradition with modern pop instincts. The discipline of writing hundreds of songs before reaching his twenties helped him build the range needed to move between genres, from acoustic-driven ballads to club-ready electronic tracks. This versatility would prove central to his later collaborations with electronic producers and major pop artists.
Matthew Koma Career
Early Career (2002–2011)
Koma has been active in music since 2002, spending nearly a decade refining his songwriting and live performance before catching the attention of a major label. During this period, he built a catalog of material and performed in clubs and small venues, sharpening the stage presence that would later support arena-level tours.
His breakthrough into the mainstream came in June 2011, when he signed to Interscope Records after label head Jimmy Iovine watched an acoustic performance of his song “She.” The deal marked the end of a long apprenticeship and signaled a new chapter for the Brooklyn-born songwriter.
Breakthrough (2012–2017)
In May 2012, Koma released his debut EP, Parachute, on which he wrote, produced, and co-produced all four tracks alongside collaborators including Twice as Nice, Alex da Kid, Sam Watters, Louis Biancaniello, and Ari Levine. That same year, he provided main vocals for “End of Pretend” by Black Cards and co-produced a remix of Bruce Springsteen’s “Rocky Ground” with Ron Aniello, a track that appeared on Springsteen’s album Wrecking Ball.
He also joined LMFAO and Far East Movement on the Sorry for Party Rocking Tour in 2012 and later toured with Owl City. In 2013, Koma toured Europe supporting Ellie Goulding alongside Charli XCX, and released the single “Dare You” with DJ Hardwell. The year 2014 brought further visibility: he featured on Showtek’s “Cannonball (Earthquake),” appeared on RAC’s debut album with “Cheap Sunglasses,” and contributed “Keep our Love Alive” and “Illuminate” to Afrojack’s album Forget the World.
By 2015, Koma had expanded into brand work, appearing in Kia Motors’ online video series Rediscovered with a cover of The Miracles’ “The Tracks of My Tears,” and collaborating with The Knocks on “I Wish (My Taylor Swift).” In 2016, he worked with Britney Spears on her album Glory, producing “Swimming in the Stars,” and in 2017 he produced several tracks for Shania Twain’s album Now, including the lead single “Life’s About to Get Good.”
Notable Works and Milestones
Koma’s signature collaborations include “Clarity,” “Spectrum,” and “Find You,” all tied to producer Zedd, with the former earning a Grammy Award. His discography also includes production work for Shania Twain, Britney Spears, and Hilary Duff, along with his own project Winnetka Bowling League, which debuted in 2018 with the single “On the 5” via RCA Records.
Matthew Koma Award Nominations
Across his career, Matthew Koma has contributed songwriting and vocal performances to Grammy-recognized material, most notably the Grammy Award-winning track “Clarity.” He has also built a body of work across pop, EDM, and country that has positioned him as a frequent collaborator on award-eligible projects.
Matthew Koma Awards Won
Matthew Koma’s most prominent verified award credit comes from his contribution to “Clarity,” which earned a Grammy Award. He has also been recognized through his work on certified and chart-performing singles, including “Spectrum” and “Find You.”
Matthew Koma Family
Matthew Koma is the son of singer and songwriter Gerald D. Bair, who introduced him to live performance at an early age. He was raised in Seaford, New York, alongside his mother, whose name has not been publicly disclosed. The musical environment of his childhood home played a central role in shaping his career.
Personal Life
Koma dated Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen from 2012 to 2015, after the two met while working on her album Kiss. He became engaged to actress and singer Hilary Duff on May 9, 2019, and the couple married on December 21, 2019, at their home in Los Angeles. Together they have three daughters, and Koma is also a stepfather to Duff’s son from her previous marriage to ice hockey player Mike Comrie. In May 2017, he released “Dear Ana,” a song addressing his recovery from anorexia, a battle he has publicly discussed.