Matt-Talking
EdgeofaStar.com was privileged to attend the Vienna show on Thursday, and we all agreed it was the best we’d heard Matt. We were thrilled that Liz captured on video every whistle, warble and pluck…even more so, Matt agreed to meet up with us the next night for an exclusive EOS video interview.
Matt arrived right on time and we sat down outside the Jammin Java in café chairs surrounded by flowers. He seemed interested, gracious, and in good humor, despite having been up late the night before and having had a whirlwind day in Washington DC.
The interview went brilliantly, but for one tiny glitch. It didn’t record. Well some of it did but not the “meat” of the interview.
Here’s the part recorded as we were setting up:
At this point, I dove into my list questions.
Needless to say once we discovered the interview hadn’t actually recorded, we were all disappointed that we would not be able to share every nuance of the conversation with you, but to help salvage something, with Matt’s approval I set to transcribing it blog-style.
Since I wasn’t writing during the conversation and I didn’t want to put words in his mouth, Matt reviewed this article prior to publishing so that it’s as close as possible to what was actually said.
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EOS: Hi Matt! Thanks for sitting down with us here at Jammin Java to answer some questions from your fans.
Matt: You’re welcome.
EOS: It’s obvious your career is really more a lifestyle than a job. What appeals to you about being a touring artist?
Matt: Well, I like traveling and singing my own songs. The other day, I heard about a contest that you could win $5000 everyday for the rest of your life and I thought wow, that’s so much better than winning $1 million all at once and then blowing it all. And my wife asked me if I’d won that, would I stop doing what I do and I thought about it for a minute. No. I wouldn’t change a thing.
EOS: We all thought your show last night was incredible…you were just “ON.”
Is there anything you do to prepare for a show? Does it change for the venue, and what, for you, makes it a “good show?”
Matt: Thank you. You know, after my set last night, I felt I’d started a little rough, but I’m glad you really liked it. As for preparation, I don’t really have any rituals other than drink a beer or two…listen to music just to get ready. I guess what makes it a good show is the audience and how they respond.
EOS: Do you think because it was a seated show that made a difference in our experience?
Matt: Yeah, well I think it helps
EOS: Two things you do are distinctive..well to us anyway: the vibrato in your voice and your amazing whistling ability. What do you think makes you unique?
Matt: I just try to be me and hope my songs are recognizable as “Matt Hires” songs. Oh, and the whistling.
EOS: Is there any question you get asked so frequently that you’ve developed a canned response? Any questions you’ve never been asked that you wish you had?
Matt: One question that comes up a lot is about my process for writing and the answer is there isn’t one. Sometimes it’s the lyric, sometimes the melody, and sometimes the chords. As for not being asked yet, I don’t know.
EOS: Guess it’s hard to define a negative.
Matt: right
EOS: What’s coming up for you in the next year?
Matt: Well, for the next little bit I have an EP coming out in August with some new stuff and a newly recorded version of “Honey (Let Me Sing You a Song).” Then in Sept. I start touring with the band.
EOS: And in five years? Where do you see your career?
Matt: I don’t know…playing bigger venues…selling more records… or whatever it is people are buying.
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I want to thank Matt again for doing this. I know he was pressed to get to sound check and we greatly appreciate that he took some of that precious pre-show time for us.
