Matthew E. White is a singer-songwriter, producer and an overall firm believer in the '70s funk/soul sound. His music is a tribute to that particular era, stylistically closer to the Stax side of the divide rather than Motown. He likes to use large instrumental sections, string and/or horn, and make use of the fat, southern grooves with an eye toward Dr. John and Randy Newman. He has a subtle and gentle touch in production as he pushes for very precise arrangements that bring out the melodic core of a song. An additional element White brings to table is his free jazz roots, going back to the days he was a member of the band Fight the Big Bull in the '00s, before solo career took off. Traces of that past are not hard to pick up in his music, though his jazzy elements usually play out off center in his recordings.