Friends since high school, Jake Nielsen and Matthew Predny write and compose original songs, full-scale musicals, soundtracks, theme songs, films, and more.
Marinated in the world of musicals from a young age, Jake & Matt combine an irreverent and original lyrical voice with exciting and catchy music. Their work is a lovechild of the elegance, sophistication, and magic of the golden age, and the never-ending existential nightmare of modern life. The result is what some would call ‘a musical’. Their innovative scores aim to delight Musical Theatre lovers and convert the non-believers.
“the music is sublime – everything is technically brilliant and impeccably executed”
Jake & Matt’s first show together The Atheist’s Guide To The Galaxy won the Audience Choice Award at The Sydney Fringe Festival (2012). Their short films have screened in festivals across the country and internationally as well as in touring festivals. Their film musical On Hold won the Academy® Accredited Virgin Australia Award for Best Australian Short Film at Flickerfest (2018) and was a finalist in the Dendy Awards at the Sydney Film Festival (2018) and was and was an academy qualifying film for the 2019 Academy Awards®.
“Nielsen’s lyrics blend beautifully...”
In 2019 they wrote the music and lyrics for Miss Westralia (now titled Tall Poppy) an original musical about Beryl Mills the first Miss Australia. Miss Westralia had a sold out season at the Blue Room Theatre in 2019 and in 2021 a statewide professional tour was produced with Jake directing.
“... inspired and so creatively written.”
Matt & Jake’s work has been archived for preservation in the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia and has most recently been translated into Italian. In 2022 the live international premiere of On Hold will take place in Bologna, Italy.
“[Jake and Matt are] charming, handsome, and unsurpassed in talent.”
“Only our second most disappointing child.”