Today, I’m joined by the talented MatAre for an inside look at his latest creative journey. We dive deep into his atmospheric new single, “Into The Sea,” exploring the inspiration that sparked the track and the intricate songwriting and composing process behind its unique sound. Enjoy!
Listen to “Into The Sea” – HERE
Hello, thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. How have you been?
MatAre: I have been great. I’m going through an explosion of creativity lately. I am really excited to do this interview and tell you about my upcoming music and plans. I think this may be the first time I have explained my upcoming musical timeline I have planned, so you get an exclusive!
Congratulations on the upcoming release of “Into The Sea”! What was the spark or initial idea that inspired you to write this specific song?
MatAre: I was thinking about the beach and how the waves break on shore over and over and in a specific pattern. So, I imagined a song where the melody was simple and repetitive but really epic and matter of fact and reliable.
The title is very evocative. Can you elaborate on the core theme and narrative you’re exploring in the lyrics? Is it purely about the literal ocean, or does the sea serve as a metaphor?
MatAre: This song is literally about the sea, the beach more specifically. If you follow me on social media, you must have seen at some point that I spend a lot of time at the beach exercising, skimboarding, which is a sport where you sprint, throw a board down and then ride it into the waves to do tricks or just go sliding fast and far. The song is about how this exercise and ritual helps ground my mind when I am pummeled with stuff trying to trigger anxiety.
You collaborated with Turkish producer Surfgreenvibes on this track. How did this collaboration come about, and what did he specifically bring to the production that helped shape the final sound of “Into The Sea”?
MatAre: Surfgreenvibes and I work together on tracks every so often. My second single, Dream About You, was an earlier song he helped produce and I really like his knowledge of music from the period of time I am tapping into. I sent him the demo of the song which laid everything out as far as the main riff, chords and vocal part.
Could you walk us through the songwriting or composing process for this track? Did you start with the melody, lyrics, or the overall mood?
MatAre: I just came off producing Extinction Burst for the last year and a half and the idea of having someone to collaborate with and do the heavy lifting for a little bit felt awesome. I got to take what he started with and then add the fun stuff like more guitar textures on top, a breakdown section and then all the finished vocals of course. It was a fun way to work and the break I needed at the time.
Has anything significantly changed in your creative process, whether in songwriting, recording, or production, compared to your earlier material?
MatAre: Yes. Every period of creative output, say an album, or an EP, I try to change the way I make music. With my first album, I literally sat down with my acoustic guitar and wrote every song out so that I could sing and play it before I ever touched my computer. For Extinction Burst, I wrote everything during production as well as tried faster tempos, harder and more aggressive sounds. For the upcoming music I will tell you about, I am not writing anything new. I have collected all of my demos from the last few years and am focusing on them for future music.
The song reflects your profound connection to the beach and its calming influence. How critical is location or environment to your musical creativity?
MatAre: It is a major part of it, when I was in the remote part of North Dakota, I was inspired by the silence of the snow and the feeling of isolation. When I was near LA, I got to be part of the Inland Empire excitement, and that energy influenced me greatly. I would say this part of my life and its effect on my songwriting is a major part of my identity as an artist.
Compared to your previous recordings, in what specific ways does this song represent a shift or development from your previous releases?
MatAre: I feel like each period of my music that I enter, I get better and better at this whether that means clearer recording or more mature songwriting or better more technical guitar riffs. I think it also means catchier yet more simple music. Into the Sea represents this best I think.
Your music always has a nostalgic touch combined with modern sensibilities. Which favorite artists or bands do you feel most directly inspired the sound or mood?
MatAre: That’s hard to say because sometimes I literally model my music after a specific song, but this one doesn’t really have that inspiration. It’s just a mish mash of all the music I like and wanted to sound like.
“Into The Sea” is set to be followed by a five-song EP that delves into dark wave, goth, and post-punk sound. Did you write this composition knowing it would be the lead single for this specific collection, and how does it introduce the overall sound of the forthcoming material?
MatAre: So, I have altered my plan a little bit and I am excited to say that this first EP will be the first one out of 7 planned. They will be laid out like chapters in a book, or episodes of a show and they will be made of all of my demos of songs written and into a kind of artist character arc for MatAre. It turned out to tell a really great story that I think my fans will identify with. So, Into The Sea will be from the first Chapter 1 which is a 3 song EP. It’s an expansive plan and covers 22 songs. But I am at a place that I feel like I can technically pull this off with everything that I’ve learned about music and promotion up to now. I love challenges like this, and it excites me.
Could you share a quick story or an interesting behind-the-scenes detail from the creation or recording of “Into The Sea” that might surprise your listeners?
MatAre: My songs always have double meanings, one literal and one deeper that pertains to me. Into The Sea also is about aging and giving in to the process but also hope. “Every wave reminds me of what I still can be…”
For new listeners, what message or emotional takeaway do you hope they experience when they first listen to your latest song?
MatAre: I hope new listeners from different countries and different ages and nationalities can enjoy this music all the same.
Given your blend of genres, is there a particular instrument or sonic element on “Into The Sea” that you feel is the most essential anchor for building such a lush atmosphere?
MatAre: The guitars, layers and layers of effects makes it sound perfect to me. They almost sound like strings from an orchestra they are layered so thickly.
Looking ahead, what are your plans for the future after the EP release? Do you have plans for touring, creating music videos, or collaborating with more artists?
MatAre: I am planning on collaborating with more session musicians and opening up my network of artists. I am planning on a song collab with a producer in Miami, Forida that I want to announce when we get further along into the project.
That’s it. Thank you so much for your time. Is there anything you would like to say to our readers at the end of this interview?
MatAre: Thank you, Thoughts Words Action has always been so supportive of my music and I really appreciate you taking the time to help me reach the audience of your blog and network.
Thoughts Words Action 