Mississippi native gets major recognition in music industry

MATHISTON, Miss. (WCBI) – A local singer-songwriter is getting some major recognition for his work. Mathiston native, Matt Lomax has always loved music, and recently the music business was returning some of that love.

Lomax was nominated for Country Vocalist of the Year at this year’s Josie Awards in Nashville.

The Josie Awards recognizes outstanding independent artists.

Becoming a singer-songwriter just seemed a good fit for Lomax.

“Music has always been a part of my life. I have been listening to music for as long as I can remember. I used to sneak into karaoke places and play when I was about 14. Music has gotten me through a lot of things and a lot of tough situations in life. So, it has always just been a big part of my life,” said Lomax.

Country music is a tough business to break into, and Lomax said there’s a lot of competition.

“The toughest part is standing out. Throughout other artists and other musicians, there are so many talented artists out there. So, to stand out and to get booked for the show is definitely the toughest part of the job,” said Lomax.

But he has some advice for future artists.

“One thing I would say to them is to keep going. People will want to knock you down, but keep going and do your own thing,” said Lomax.

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