Exclusive Interview with MATT THE VESSEL

After spending his entire life trying to fit himself into a particular genre, Matt the Vessel has given up and decided to become just a Vessel for whatever comes through. Because he believes that the best music comes from the chemistry of two or more creatively inspired people, he almost exclusively works in collaborations. He live in the south of England and wish in his heart that he were Nordic.

This song “Trust” was first created four years ago for a producer who fully convinced him to sound like the typical “Dream” that everyone enjoys. He later ghosted him, and in January 2020 he realized he had to work hard to become a producer.

Four years later, he works full time in music, and this song has been with him the entire time, evolving into different renditions until he had the chance to train with Geoff Swan (Mixing Engineer to Charli XCX, Caroline Polachek, Mahalia and Yungblud to name a few). After he showed him the first draft, he assisted him by co-producing it to get it to the current state. Cherry Morris, a close provided additional assistance and sang the vocals.check out the song and the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

MATT THE VESSEL: Hey guys! I am from the south coast of England, a place called Christchurch and well it started as it probably does with most people, convincing your mum to get you a guitar age 8! I’ve been in music ever since in different forms, started producing at 16 and stumbling through various ventures. But the real journey started about 3 years ago when I had a wake up call, realising I had to choose between spending my time learning to code and getting a stable, normal Job, or to really put the effort into chasing the dream I had since childhood. Releasing original music and being full time in the industry.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

MATT THE VESSEL: I had some formal training dotted around, be it in college or the occasional mentor, but in essence I am self taught as I put the pieces together myself.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘MATT THE VESSEL’?

MATT THE VESSEL: well my previous background of tastes were actually metal orientated, as I was an angsty teenager, so I followed that for a good while. But my first ventures into the sort of music I make now probably started with people like Rudimental and Bruno Mars. No one really directly influenced where I am now with music, more I was inspired by good songwriting and things I could tell were made with passion.

As for the name, my influences have been so vast that my previous problem has been that I wasn’t releasing anything, because I couldn’t work out how to box myself into a specific lane. So part of my realisation 3 years ago was that I needed to release whatever came through me, and not try to bend it where it didn’t want to go, acting as a vessel for my own creative flow, hence, Matt the Vessel! This song is garage-y the next might be Lo-fi, who really knows. Though it will all be in the electronic field, it’s not like I will suddenly become a rapper!

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

MATT THE VESSEL: well on the note of the last question, it’s less about how I would describe the sound and more about how it comes about. My sound will be a blend of electronic/organic but what I want to resonate above all else is the love put into each song, I think that’s a very subliminal thing that everyone picks up on but doesn’t realise in most music, you can tell when it’s not made with love.

5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as EDM?

MATT THE VESSEL:

What a great question, and is probably one of the biggest stumbling blocks I have had in my journey! I haven’t released anything really before now because of feeling like I have found “my sound”, every month, for the last 6 years! But going through that journey has led me to this present form and I am happy with the open ended direction.

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?

MATT THE VESSEL:

I am quite interested in both sides really, especially in the sense that I think it’s basically impossible to seperate the 2. In the modern day with social media etc. Listeners require a couple layers of meaning and intent to even give you their attention. Though past that, the spiritual aspect, in particular does incorporate into my flow. I believe a certain quality of art emerges from the degree of presence someone can hold whilst making it, if you are lost in your mental chatter when creating, you get pulled away a thousand different paths and are heavily affected by the judgements that come forth. Something created in a aware, and present state, seems to emanate an energy that is beyond specific speculation.

So I guess you could say I have a spiritual aspect but it’s certainly not obvious, I find being obvious about such things in the modern day actually pushes people in the other direction!

7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?

MATT THE VESSEL:

Yes I would say so to a degree, but not in a way in which I am resting my “successful-ness” or worth on them. They will do as well or worse as they will and that is fine, I cannot be in this for the long haul if I don’t have a resilience to such things. I know where I want to be and if I can’t enjoy the ride because things don’t perform as I want them to, then it’s not worth journey.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

MATT THE VESSEL:

Any and all routes, if I knew the formula it would ruin the magic. Though collaborating is certainly a big aspect, if you can push your ego out of the way and allow people to have true input, then amazing things happen.

9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?

MATT THE VESSEL: oh wow, I would say probably coming to terms with letting the dream we are all sold about being an artist of any kind, die.

You see it in younger artists, waiting for a “big break” or anything along those lines and it’s such a waste of energy to lean on that. The truth of the matter is if you want it, you have to suffer to get it, because nothing worth doing comes easy. If you aren’t willing to do the socials, the marketing, admin, promoting, networking and beyond by yourself, then you absolutely will not make it. No one is coming to save you and make your dreams happen.

Coming to terms with that initially came as a bitter taste, but then I realised it was actually empowering, and was a way of weeding out the people that were not built for it.

10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

MATT THE VESSEL: Simple, not giving up and getting a day job haha

11. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?

MATT THE VESSEL: well since I am only at the beginning of this journey I don’t have much in the way of these things, but just as an Idea, Haters/Naysayers have to exist, they are the normal and natural reverse side of having fans. If they arise in a situation, deal with it then, but don’t waste time giving your energy away to it, and certainly don’t fight it as that only makes it worse!

As for the criticism, it’s a fantastic pointer into learning how to improve. But look for the over arching trend, not the specific critiscm, if you see a consistent theme between critiscmisms then you have a fantastic opportunity to see how to improve, though it may sting at first!

12. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?

MATT THE VESSEL: honestly, impossible to say, both feed different parts of me. Creative flow is a deep peace, live interaction is a euphoria, how can one outweigh the other!

13. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?

MATT THE VESSEL: Interpret as they want, if you try too hard to have a message (at a newbie level atleast) it comes off far too preachy. People take what they want from music regardless of how I would instruct them to do so!