In early 2003, Costa's homemade demo reached No Doubt guitarist Tom Dumont, who offered to record more demos for Costa in his home studio. Those first recordings led to two EPs that Costa and Dumont distributed themselves. These were later combined and mixed by Phil Ek in order to form Costa's first full-length CD entitled Songs We Sing.
Costa spent the summer of 2005 opening on Jack Johnson's summer tour. He has since toured with Modest Mouse, Oasis, Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, G. Love & Special Sauce, and Death Cab for Cutie. Costa joined Jack Johnson for his 2006 European tour. He has also contributed to the Jack Johnson and Friends Curious George soundtrack; his track is entitled "Lullaby". This song was taken from his The Elasmosaurus EP. Costa has also toured extensively in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia and South America.
The video for Costa's first single "Cold December" was released February 2, 2006. On July 31, 2007, he released a song titled "If You Took To Me" as part of the environmentally minded polar bear documentary Arctic Tale and its soundtrack.
On October 7, 2007, Costa released the first single, "Mr. Pitiful," from his record Unfamiliar Faces. The song "Mr. Pitiful" was used during a scene with Paul Rudd in the movie I Love You, Man, the redband trailer for the film Youth in Revolt starring Michael Cera, and the movie Marmaduke. The song is featured during the opening credits of The Answer Man (film). Apple also used an instrumental cut of this song for the worldwide iPhone 3GS ads.
Mobile Chateau, Costa's next album, was released on September 21, 2010, via Brushfire Records. His 2013 self-titled album was recorded at Pheasant Studios in Santa Ana, CA, as Costa's first solo production.
Astair
Matt Costa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Astair is skies of blue
The signs you wear are making me
So confused
But the mountains and the trees
Are they just what you need
Or are they less than what
And if you're leaving
Well come give me a reason
Why I let you down
Before you turn around
Now, now before you turn around
Astair you're there and I'm still here
I swear I'm so confused
The signs you wear are making me
Feel like I'm the one to lose
But the canyons and the seas
Are they just what you need
Or are they less than what
You'd expect to see
And if you're leaving
Well come give me a reason
Why I let you down
Before you turn around
Now, now before you turn around
Now, now before you turn around
But the mountains and the trees
Are they what you perceive
Or are they less than what
You'd expect to see
And if you're leaving
Well come give me a reason
Why I let you down
Before you turn around
Now, now before you turn around
Before you turn around
In Matt Costa's song "Astair," the singer is addressing someone named Astair who he is clearly infatuated with. He describes how her gaze is "killing" him and how she constantly wears signs that leave him feeling confused about her true feelings. The central question of the song seems to be whether or not Astair truly values the natural beauty around her, like the mountains and the trees, or if she is simply using them as a backdrop for her own self-interest. The singer fears that if she leaves him, it will be because he's let her down in some way, and he pleads with her to give him a reason before she goes.
This song captures the universal experience of being mesmerized by someone else's beauty and grandeur, but also feeling insecure and unsure of where you stand with that person. The lyrics suggest a sense of vulnerability and exposure, as the singer grapples with his own emotions while also trying to decipher Astair's true intentions. By juxtaposing her beauty with the majesty of the natural world, the song finds a deeper resonance in our own relationship to the environment and the way we find meaning and purpose in the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Astair your glare is killing me
The intense look on your face is making me feel overwhelmed
Astair is skies of blue
Astair represents clear and blue skies
The signs you wear are making me so confused
Your actions and behavior are confusing me
But the mountains and the trees, are they just what you need, or are they less than what you'd expect to see
Are the natural settings around you satisfying you, or do you have higher expectations?
And if you're leaving, well come give me a reason, why I let you down, before you turn around, now, now before you turn around
If you're going to leave, please tell me why I disappointed you before you go, before it's too late
Astair you're there and I'm still here, I swear I'm so confused, the signs you wear are making me feel like I'm the one to lose
You are distant and I am unsure how to interpret your behavior. Your signals are making me feel like I'm losing you
But the canyons and the seas, are they just what you need, or are they less than what you'd expect to see
Are the grandeur landscapes of canyons and seas fulfilling your desires, or are they not enough?
And if you're leaving, well come give me a reason, why I let you down, before you turn around, now, now before you turn around
Please explain the reason for leaving and how I let you down before you leave, now, before it's too late
But the mountains and the trees, are they what you perceive, or are they less than what you'd expect to see
Do the natural surroundings truly satisfy you, or are you expecting more?
And if you're leaving, well come give me a reason, why I let you down, before you turn around, now, now before you turn around, before you turn around
Please tell me the reason why you're leaving and how I disappointed you before you leave. Don't wait too long to turn around, before it's too late
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MATTHEW ALBERT COSTA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SoledadGooner
Wow Chuck really had some of the coolest ever written songs in it!
@Dina_tankar_mina_ord
As soon as I saw him, I realized that time doesn't stand still for any of us. Thank you for preserving some of the best memories I have with your music, Mr Costa.
@entrophy8322
Listening to this while at a park and realizing that life has so many great memories and things to experience
@Eyeshadow11
One of the best songs I've ever heard even all these years later
@joshhardy8924
Know this song through Chuck (the TV show) and it was one of the first fingerstyle songs I learnt on guitar. Still love it!
@mattcostaTV
Thanks Josh! Yea its a fun one to finger pick.
@rachelspencer3792
I adore your voice, lyrics and music, Matt! I also think it's so sweet that you took the time to make videos helping people learn how to play your songs. Thank you for all of it. 😊
@DivandBenny
I still listen to this every day ❤️
@mattcostaTV
Thanks!
@DJMAERZ
As one should!!