We caught up with artist and entrepreneur, Mattykevs, to get the scoop on his latest project and success as a CEO.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I’M GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH US TODAY. COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND HOW YOU GOT STARTED?
Thanks, it’s a pleasure to be here. I am a musician and businessman from New York. I started making music when I was a kid and ever since then had a dream of working in the entertainment industry and performing my music around the world. The business side of music is just as important as the music itself and my goal is to help other artists with the knowledge I learn along my journey.
DO YOU COMPOSE YOUR OWN MUSIC AND MAKE YOUR OWN BEATS? IS IT TYPICALLY A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT?
Typically I compose my own music and beats but at the moment I am working on various collaboration projects with other producers and artists as well.
WHO WERE YOUR INITIAL MUSICAL INFLUENCES? WHO HAD THE GREATEST OVERALL INFLUENCE ON YOU?
My greatest musical influences range from the screamo bands from the early 2000’s like Hawthorne Heights, Chiodos, or Silverstein, all the way to more mainstream artists like Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, and The Weeknd. I don’t think any one person or group had a major impact on me to the point where I can identify just one, because they all play a role in the musician I am today.
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ARE THE ESSENTIAL STYLISTIC QUALITIES THAT HELP YOUR MUSIC RESONATE WITH LISTENERS?
I think it’s the fact that when I make music I go for creating a feeling or vibe more than focusing on a strict version of what a song should or shouldn’t be. People tell me my music is stuff they can hear in movies and being used for other cool purposes and I find that really interesting as well. Basically sounds for life and moods that we go through.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT EVENT IN YOUR PROFESSION OR LIFE THUS FAR, AND HOW HAVE YOU OVERCOME IT?
I think it’s been navigating the entertainment and music industries in a way where you come across people who may not have your best interests at heart but claim to, and overcoming the challenges of needing to learn how to do things for myself as an artist and then use that knowledge to help other people. Too often there are people in this business that are just trying charge people crazy prices for things that should even be free, or take advantage of people, and that’s why I go so hard to help those around me.
ON THE OTHER HAND, WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER A HIGH POINT IN YOUR CAREER THUS FAR?
A high point has been getting to work with some legends of music and also people that I grew up idolizing. It’s crazy to meet some of your heroes and then even get to work on music and business together. Also being on a billboard in Times Square NYC where Im from was major. I used to dream about being on a billboard and wondered what it would be like. Now it’s reality.
COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR LATEST PROJECT, FIJI, AND WHAT FANS MIGHT EXPECT TO HEAR?
Fiji is a project that I did with some underground artists from Long Island New York and it’s a really fun summertime type of Caribbean dance song. It was something totally different than I’ve ever done and it made me more comfortable to try other genres of music. Fans can expect to hear a lot more music coming very soon.
Follow Mattykevs on Instagram to stay up to date on his newest projects as an artist and entrepreneur.
