Matt Chamberlain began playing drums at the age of 10.

He received his first set of drums at age 15, and studied with David Garibaldi, Murray Spivack, Chuck Flores, and Greg Bissonette before being awarded a scholarship to study at North Texas State University three years later. He started playing professionally in the Dallas, Texas Deep Ellum scene in the mid 80's.

His first notable work was with Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, with whom he toured and recorded from 1988 until 1991. In 1991 he briefly joined the band Pearl Jam and toured with them before the release of their début album Ten. He can be seen in the band's first video, "Alive". After a season in the house band for Saturday Night Live, he moved to Seattle to start the out groove band Critters Buggin which is currently active. He has worked on combining live and looped drums, often creating loops on the fly and then playing along to them. Tori Amos has introduced Chamberlain as "the human loop" at her concerts.

Chamberlain has contributed his drumming to the tours and albums of Tori Amos, Morrissey, Fiona Apple, Critters Buggin, Dido, Sean Lennon, The Master Musicians of Jajouka, Robert Fripp,Sara Bareilles, Jon Brion, David Torn, Indigo Girls, Weapon of Choice,Macy Gray, Stone Gossard,Christian McBride, Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Tim and Neil Finn, David Bowie, Elton John, Peter Gabriel, The Wallflowers, Natalie Merchant, Bill Frisell, the Saturday Night Live Band, Robbie Williams, Kanye West, Garbage, Anika Moa, Shakira, John Mayer, Brad Mehldau, Liz Phair, Chris Isaak, Dave Navarro, Kevin Max, Sam Phillips and William Shatner. In 2005 he released a self-titled solo album on Web Of Mimicry Records that he describes as "an imaginary soundtrack to an Asian-Western-Sci-Fi-Horror Movie".

He is also the recipient of multiple awards including Modern Drummer Magazine's Reader's Poll- Studio Drummer Of The Year for 2016, 2019 and 2021.

Matt currently endorses Yamaha Acoustic Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Regal Drumsticks, and Remo Drumheads.