Matt Westin Interview [2018-10-02]

– What’s new with Matt Westin for the summer?
THIS IS THE VERY FIRST SUMMER OF MY PROFESSIONAL MUSIC CAREER! I’VE BEEN
PROMOTING MY ALBUM ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND INTERVIEWING WITH LOTS OF PEOPLE
FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND PLANET. I’M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
VISITING NASHVILLE IN A FEW WEEKS TO NETWORK WITH SOME MUSICIANS AND
SONGWRITERS, AS WELL AS SOME INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE THAT I’VE HAD THE HONOR
AND PLEASURE OF ASSOCIATING WITH IN CREATING MY DEBUT ALBUM LEGACY.

– Our Redneck of the Wood is an interesting title of a song. Where did you come with the idea for this?
THIS SONG WAS WRITTEN BY A GENTLEMAN NAMED THOMAS ALLEN CRAWFORD. I
ABSOLUTELY HAD TO RECORD THIS SONG. THERE WAS NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. OUR
REDNECK OF THE WOODS REPRESENTS EVERYTHING I LOVE ABOUT COUNTRY MUSIC
AND I DEEPLY RELATE TO IT AS A BLUE COLLAR AMERICAN MAN. IT CELEBRATES
GOD, COUNTRY, FAMILY, HARD WORK, HELPING OTHERS, PRIDE IN YOUR ROOTS,
AND STANDING UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN. IT’S GOT LOTS OF TESTOSTERONE
AND A FANTASTIC PATRIOTIC MESSAGE THAT REALLY RESONATES WITH ME.

– Any exciting shows this summer scheduled?
I RECORDED MY ALBUM AS A SOLO ARTIST. I WAS VERY BLESSED TO WORK WITH
AMAZING MUSICIANS, MOSTLY DUE TO MY WORLD CLASS PRODUCER BRYAN COLE. I
DECIDED SINCE I’M LIKELY MOVING TO NASHVILLE IN THE COMING MONTHS, I
WOULD BE UNWISE TO PUT THE TIME AND EFFORT INTO DEVELOPING A BAND IN
PITTSBURGH, JUST TO TAKE OFF FOR NASHVILLE WITHING A FEW MONTHS. ONCE I
GET TO NASHVILLE, I’LL BE PUTTING TOGETHER A BAND IMMEDIATELY, AND I
ABSOLUTELY CANNOT WAIT TO PERFORM FOR THE FANS! IN THE MEANTIME, I’LL BE
PERFORMING WITH MY FAMILY’S ROCK BAND LEXIS A FEW TIMES AROUND THE
PITTSBURGH AREA.

– What’s your take on making music videos and lyric videos for YouTube?
THE MORE CONTENT, THE BETTER. VIDEOS ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ENGAGING WITH
THE AUDIENCE THAN SIMPLY JUST PLAYING THE AUDIO. BUDGET CONSTRAINTS CAN
MAKE IT HARD TO PRODUCE MUSIC VIDEOS, WHICH IS A PROBLEM THAT I’VE
EXPERIENCED, BUT LYRIC VIDEOS ARE PRETTY POPULAR AND RELATIVELY EASY AND
CHEAP TO CREATE.

– What would we find interesting in your music collection?
MY PERSONAL MUSIC COLLECTION IS VERY DIVERSE. I’VE ENJOYED JUST ABOUT
EVERY GENRE YOU CAN THINK OF EVER SINCE I WAS A YOUNG BOY. I HAVE CD’S
OF EVERYTHING FROM EVERY DECADE OF ROCK, HEAVY METAL, SOUTHERN ROCK,
OUTLAW AND CLASSIC COUNTRY, TO HIP HOP, OLD SCHOOL RAP, AND EVEN
(POSSIBLY MY FAVORITE OF ALL) ARTISTS LIKE FRANK SINATRA AND THAT GOLDEN
ERA OF LEGENDARY PERFORMERS.

– Do you see music being still popular in 100 years from now?

MUSIC WILL BE POPULAR 1000 YEARS FROM NOW. IT’S BEEN AROUND IN ONE FORM
OR ANOTHER SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME, AND IT SHOWS NO SIGN OF SLOWING
DOWN. IT’S SOMETHING THAT MAKES US ALL THE SAME, NO MATTER WHERE WE’RE
FROM, HOW OLD WE ARE, OR WHAT BACKGROUND WE COME FROM. MUSIC IS A COMMON
THREAD WE ALL SHARE AND IT IS VERY POWERFUL. I’M HONORED TO BE A SMALL
PART OF THIS UNIVERSE OF MUSIC AND IT’S JUST ANOTHER LEVEL OF MEANING
BEHIND THE NAMING OF MY ALBUM LEGACY.

https://www.mattwestin.com