Obadiah Parker is the stage name of Arizona-based singer-songwriter Mat Weddle, who rose to significant prominence in the mid-2000s during the first wave of viral YouTube music culture. His sound identity is firmly rooted in the 'coffee-house folk' tradition, characterized by a baritone vocal range and a rhythmic, percussive acoustic guitar style.
He is most widely recognized for his 2007 cover of Outkast's 'Hey Ya!' , which became a cultural touchstone for the 'ironic-turned-earnest' cover song movement. This specific performance helped define a sub-genre of acoustic covers that sought to find pathos in upbeat pop and hip-hop lyrics. Weddle's career arc moved from local open-mic notoriety to international viral success, eventually leading to a series of EPs titled 'The Tip Jar' and full-length studio work like 'The Siren and the Saint.' His work is often cited alongside artists like William Fitzsimmons and Joshua Radin for its hushed, intimate production and emotional transparency. Critically, he is respected for his technical guitar ability and his skill in re-harmonizing popular melodies to fit a folk context.
Shares acoustic folk, indie folk, tender, sunday_morning (subgenre)
Shares acoustic folk, indie folk, tender, candlelit (signature)
Shares stripped_back, acoustic folk, indie folk, tender (signature)
Shares acoustic folk, indie folk, tender, sunday_morning (subgenre)
Shares acoustic folk, indie folk, tender, sunday_morning (subgenre)
Cassette uses generative AI to enrich its catalog. How we use AI →