Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Matty Carlock . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Matty , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

At 32 years old, I’ve lived many different lives stringed together by risks I’ve taken. Mostly with my back up against the wall. Some unsure, and some extremely confident. One risk I remember specifically is when my band broke up, I could have left it behind and rejoined society and settled down with a career. But I believed in this vision I had so much, that I grabbed my acoustic guitar and toured by myself, sleeping on floors, in parking lots, riding trains, like a true troubadour for years on end. I wanted to spread the gospel of my music & belief system, when everyone in my life thought I was crazy. I did it myself & not only shared the stage with all my heroes that inspired me to do so – but have songs and projects with them. If this all ended tomorrow – I could look in the mirror and go “you did that.”

Matty , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a singer-songwriter & a producer from New Jersey. I got into the music industry from relentless DIY touring in bands, as a solo artist, and a producer / manger. Just always on tour performing, or at events networking for the love of music and people. I am a self taught / made business man solely from trials and tribulations of booking tours, budgeting tours, distribution, A&Ring, running a label, handling Merch, publishing etc. Ive been learning the ropes from a young kid because nobody would do it for me. I learned discipline from my father who is a blue collar union worker, worked every day to put food on the table, and since he’s been retired, he still works every single day on classic cars. Its in my blood to always be doing something. I learned the craft of songwriting through the church of Bruce Springsteen, Lil Wayne, and of course Shattered Realm. I am most proud of making a global network from the kid in the basement all the way to executives winning Grammys from an independent stand point. I built a good network from being reliable and a good person. Music comes after.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I have depression and tend to struggle to connect with society and the outside world. I have a tendency to feel like an outsider. Its been my bravest weapon, and my biggest crutch at the same time. Art allows me to communicate and connect. It makes me feel “understood” when I am typically “misunderstood.” Being a hardcore kid, I have brutal songs about how I struggle to want to be alive – and when people sing them back to me it helps me keep going, I feel less alone and found. A sense of purpose. Art is beautiful.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I had a big life pivot – as I was making headlines and serious waves in the singer-songwriter world, as a singer with an acoustic guitar, on the side I produced and sang on a song for a rapper Bulletproof Belv. It was supposed to be a one-off, soon to be met with praise in the press – Fetty Wap tapped it – and overnight I was swallowed by the Rap and Pop Industry and my Singer-songwriter career was put on hiatus. At the same time as this – the rock market was collapsing so I had to make a choice to pivot to something that was working, and switch from an onstage performer who put out records, to a behind the scenes writer, manger, and producer. The pandemic hit a year later and the entire genre of music and live sound got decimated and I moved to Hollywood to embark on my professional career. That pivot was the best thing I’ve ever done.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @mattycarlock
• Facebook: @mattycarlock
• Twitter: @mattycarlock
• Youtube: @115collective

Image Credits
Photography by Jesse Fogerty