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

Matt, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my band I founded, take luck — specifically our new single Hurts Too Much, the first release of our debut album, Brutal Beauty.

Hurts Too Much is the most pop-rock leaning track on the album. It’s about being unhealthily obsessed with someone who is magnetic but destructive — knowing the pattern, but stepping into it anyway.

It’s meaningful to me because it feels like the cleanest execution of what take luck is becoming: strong hooks andd vulnerable lyricism within a driving heavy pop anthem.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m the singer and creative force behind the music project, take luck.

I grew up completely consumed by music. The atmosphere of early 2000s bands like Incubus and Paramore. The chaos of emo and post-hardcore bands like Underoath and Alexisonfire. The pop sensibility and vocal precision of artists like Justin Timberlake and Justin Bieber.

For a long time, I felt like those worlds didn’t belong together… take luck is the first project where I stopped trying to compartmentalize my taste and just let it exist.

The music sits in that intersection — melodic but intense, emotionally direct but sonically heavy when it needs to be. I care about strong choruses. I care about dynamics. I care about tension and release. I want a hook that feels undeniable, but I also want the verses to feel raw and personal.

What sets me apart is that I’m not chasing a trend or trying to fit into a preset scene. I’m building around my actual taste. I’m intentional about growth and strategy around my releases.

What I’m most proud of is clarity. My voice is stronger than it’s ever been. My writing is sharper. The direction of take luck is more focused than it’s ever been. The Brutal Beauty album feels like a true reflection of this point of my life, a guy in his mid 20’s that’s trying to figure it all out – love, lust, heartbreak… I hope many will be able to resonate with that.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Yes.

I want to wear my heart on my sleeve and actually be myself.

For most of my life, I masked my emotions. I was the guy who smiled, showed up, handled things, kept it together — while internally I was struggling more than people realized. I got very good at looking fine.

Music is the one place I don’t want to do that anymore.

The mission behind take luck isn’t just building a catalog or growing a fan base. It’s honesty. I absolutely despise people who feel being yourself is corny… that being “nonchalant” is the move. I’m done shrinking my emotions to make other people comfortable.

If a lyric feels exposed, that’s the point.
If a song feels intense, that’s because it is.

I spent a long time hiding parts of myself. I’m not interested in doing that anymore.

The goal now is simple: make music that reflects the full truth — not the filtered version.

If that resonates with people, then we’re building something real.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

How much restraint — and sacrifice — it actually takes.

From the outside, people see a song drop. They don’t see the months of revisions, vocal retakes, production tweaks, and the hard conversations about whether something is actually good enough to represent you.

They don’t see the thousands of dollars that go into music production, mixing, mastering, video shoots, artwork, and marketing. They don’t see the financial risk of betting on yourself over and over again without guaranteed return.

They don’t see what it’s like to balance a full-time career, show up for personal relationships and responsibilities, and still carve out the time and energy to build something creatively at a high level. Late nights. Early mornings. Recording when you’re tired. Rewriting when you’d rather switch off.

Being a creative isn’t about constant inspiration. It’s about standards. It’s about holding yourself accountable. It’s about consistency. It’s about having the patience and mental fortitude to endure… something I struggle with every day.

That’s what I’m building with take luck.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://takeluck.komi.io/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattkraig
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@takeluck

Image Credits

Mack Knox (@mknoxmedia)