BIO

Vertical Horizon was founded in the early 1990s, but it was seven years before lead singer Matt Scannell’s songs became the radio hits that brought the popular grassroots band to national attention. Vertical Horizon released three albums independently — There and Back Again (1992), Running on Ice (1995), and Live Stages (1997) — and toured extensively before signing with RCA Records in 1998. Their major-label debut, Everything You Want (1999), went on to sell more than two million copies. The title track, “Everything You Want,” captured the #1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 and Adult Top 40 charts, and became Billboard’s Most Played Single of 2000. The album garnered further radio attention with the singles, “You’re a God” (#4 on Billboard’s Adult Chart) and “Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning),” the latter of which earned additional acclaim as a top 20 country hit for country star Gary Allan.

Their follow-up album, Go (2003), solidified the band as a no-nonsense pop rock entity. After taking a hiatus to pursue individual interests, Matt began composing the songs that would eventually become Burning the Days (2009), which was released on Vertical Horizon’s independent label, Outfall Records. One of the songs, “Even Now,” was co-written by Scannell and his close friend, Neil Peart, the much-heralded drummer from Rush. Peart played drums on that song as well as two other tracks on the record. Burning the Days was critically acclaimed and produced two Hot AC radio singles, “Save Me from Myself” and “The Lucky One.” Vertical Horizon continued releasing music with Echoes from the Underground (2013), titled after a lyric from a song on the album, "Evermore," and The Lost Mile (2018).

In addition to writing and producing songs for Vertical Horizon, Matt has spent the past few years writing songs with and for other artists. In 2010, he wrote “Wish You Were Here” for the band Hey Monday, featuring lead singer Cassadee Pope, who went on to win season 3 of NBC’s hit show The Voice. In 2012, Scannell teamed up with Daniel Powter to write “Come Back Home,” which was used to promote NBC’s “Chicago Fire.” Scannell collaborates frequently with Grammy-winning songwriter/producer Richard Marx, and the two have been known to play acoustic duo shows together. They co-wrote Marx’s 2012 AC hit “When You Loved Me,” which reached number 15 on the Adult Contemporary Chart as well as “Forgot to Remember” on Marx’s latest album release, After Hours.

In 2026, Vertical Horizon released its new single, “Last Night of Our Lives” as new music is in the works.