Campaign Story

Our Why

Every band has a beginning…but not every beginning feels like destiny. For us, Grandad’s Whiskey was born from two musicians who came up in completely different worlds, but found the same truth: music is the one thing that has always refused to let us quit.

Between us, we’ve lived entire lives inside studios, on stages, in vans, behind consoles, behind microphones, and in crowds. We’ve both spent years navigating the highs of great shows, the lows of being overlooked, and the grind of trying to break through as true independents. And despite everything life threw at us, neither one of us ever walked away. We kept creating. We kept writing. We kept believing.

And when we finally met in 2024, something just clicked. Two different stories, same fire. That spark is what became Grandad’s Whiskey……and this is our fundraising campaign.

Up 'Til Now

Between us, we’ve spent decades in the trenches of this industry. I was literally raised in a studio — cutting tape by age ten, voice acting before he could tie his shoes, and producing albums long before most people even know what a DAW is. He’s engineered punk records that landed on PIg Records, worked alongside Jack Endino, served almost ten years as president of the Oklahoma Blues Society, produced the Homegrown Blues compilation, and spent 20 years on Oklahoma City radio interviewing icons like Buddy Guy and Derek Trucks. He’s played more gigs than he can count, toured, taught music production, and even released his first audiobook.

My path has been just as wild — rising from humble beginnings to sharing stages with members of the Allman Brothers Band, Parliament Funk, Funkadelic, Snarky Puppy, The Wailers, Dead & Company, and so many others. His catalog includes over 80 published BMI songs, two hundred more in development, festival appearances across the Northeast, and radio support from NPR affiliates and stations across the country. He’s even worked on projects like What’s Keeping Live Music Alive? — a 2025 independent documentary.

We’ve both lived lives surrounded by music — sometimes thriving, sometimes struggling — but always driven by the belief that great songs deserve great recordings. That’s why we started Grandad’s Whiskey. We want to make the kind of record that lasts. The kind of record that doesn’t just represent where we’ve been, but where we’re headed.

The Challenge

But here’s the truth: Making big moves in the music industry is expensive. Studio time, session players, mixing, mastering, promotion — real momentum takes real resources. And as fully independent artists, we’ve been doing absolutely everything ourselves. Writing, recording, performing, financing…all of it. But to take Grandad’s Whiskey to the next level, we need help.

That’s why we’ve partnered with Edgewater Music Group to raise the funds to make this record the right way — with world-class production and major-label distribution already in place for when the album is finished. This is the real thing. When this record drops, it won’t just disappear into the void. It will have a team behind it and a path to reach real listeners.

Here's How You Can Help

So here’s where you come in. We’re asking for your financial support to help us make this happen. In exchange for your help, we have some very cool rewards lined up as a thank you. You can get copies of the record, private shows, merch, and unique experiences that will only ever be available through this campaign.

Every dollar you give goes straight into making this album happen. And the stakes are real: if we don’t hit our goal, we can’t move forward with the project.

If our story, our music, or our mission resonates with you…If you believe in independent artists fighting to carve out their place…If you want to be part of an album made with heart, grit, and no shortcuts…we’d love for you to join us.

Thank You!

With your support, we’re ready to make something truly unforgettable. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all you do for us, and we can’t wait to see each of you soon!

–Matt & Nilo