We were lucky to catch up with Matt Greenwood recently and have shared our conversation below.

Matt, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I was fortunate to have grown up with parents who were extremely supportive of my passions. In my teenage years, as I progressed in my musical development and it quickly became the most important thing in my life, it became clear to them and me that I’d make music my career. It seemed more of a given than a conscious decision. Making a living from music can be one of the most challenging paths to take, so I can’t imagine picking it if it hadn’t picked me.

Matt, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a contemporary jazz guitarist and composer, currently based in Toronto, Canada. However, I grew up in Harare, Zimbabwe, and got into music professionally early in my teens, playing in rock and RnB bands around town wherever I could. I was progressing fast and getting lots of cool opportunities to play but, the type of music education I was after wasn’t really available there so, after high school, I moved to Toronto to do my bachelor’s degree in music performance and primarily focused on studying Jazz and composition. Since graduating in 2022, I’ve released my debut album ‘Atlas’ and have been working as a session guitarist as well as teaching music.

My passion for musical development lies in cultivating my sound on the guitar and my voice as a composer. As a massive fan of visual art as well as music, I’ve always linked sounds with imagery and tried to make my music feel as vivid as possible.

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to perform and record with legendary Zimbabwean artists including Oliver Mtukudzi, Gemma Griffiths, Forward Kwenda and Vee Mukarati as well some of Toronto’s finest such as Robi Botos, Mark Kelso, Brian Dickinson and Mike Downes. So far my biggest career highlight has been the release of my debut album ‘Atlas’ in 2023. As much as I enjoy performing for an audience, the whole creative process of composing, recording and producing new music is really the most exciting thing for me. I was thrilled to share that first album with the world and am continually grateful for some of the amazing reviews it received.

I’ve spent the first half of 2024 working on a new album which I’m hoping to release soon.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Going forward, especially with the current rate of AI development, I think we need more than ever to have grown up discussions about what role creatives play in society and what the whole point of artistic pursuits even is. While, I’m optimistic about the potential benefits of embracing new technology, I think automating artistic processes risks undermining the whole point. To me, making art and music isn’t only about creating a product for people to enjoy. Much of the true meaning is in the pursuit itself and what that means to the artist and the audience.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

As someone who’s quite introverted and interested in understanding things, the biggest reward of pursuing a career in music for me had always been the music itself. I get so much excitement out of finding a new sound I hadn’t played before which pushes just the right buttons. When you find that new and exciting combination of musical elements, it can feel like nothing else matters for that moment. However, more recently I’ve begun to think the personal connections you make through music are just as rewarding if not more. Music has historically had such a communal role in so many different parts of the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.matt-greenwood.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matt.greenwood.music/
• Other: Link to my music:

  https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mattgreenwood/atlas

Image Credits

Artwork – Seth Greenwood
Photography – Andres Arroyo