Meet The Vibrant Global R&B artist… Matt B

If you’re looking for a genre-blending artist, then Matt B needs to be on your radar. Hailing from Chicago, the young talent first got his start in the music industry in 2014. After the success of his first two albums – Love & War and DIVE- Matt began to develop a dedicated worldwide fanbase. Over the last few years, the LA-based songsmith continued to hone his craft – which led to his very first US album EDEN. The record, which was produced by Bryan-Michael Cox and Tricky Stewart, became an instant hit with music listeners and landed in the top spots across numerous chart listings.

With his latest single, ‘Ima Say It’ currently making the rounds and two new EP’s on the way, it’s safe to say Matt B is showing no signs of slowing down. We were able to chat with the international talent about everything from his musical beginnings, his single ‘Ima Say It,’ and so much more. Read the full interview below.

Heya Matt B! Thanks for catching up with SPINDLE. How’s the summer treating you?

Summer’s been great, although I’m not gonna lie it’s hot as hell here in LA, and breezes are far and few in-between. I guess I’m still use to Chicago summers.

Let’s jump into your musical beginnings. Which artist or song sparked your interest in creating music?

Thats a tough one. I don’t think I could select a specific artist or song that sparked my interest in music. However there were a lot of moments that helped to shape my musical ear. As a kid, I loved movies; and honestly still do. I distinctly remember watching a lot of old movies like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Karate Kid, The Three Ninjas, Power Rangers, etc. I used to love singing those theme songs, and other musical transitional moments in those movies. My older brothers and I we would make up our own lyrics to the songs. I recall our parents being puzzled, trying to figure out if they were real songs or something we just made up. I also remember the impact A Goofy Movie had on me.

Tevin Campbell sang in that movie, and my brothers and I wold watch that movie 24/7 and pretend to be the character Powerline. That mixed in with a lot of singing in the car with my mom and siblings while running errands around Chicago. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned any of this before so I guess you guys are the first people to hear it. Now obviously I could go into musical influences in later years of my life, but honestly those formative years of 3 years old to about 6 really impacted me and gave me a genuine appreciate for music. 

After making the leap to pursue music full time, what type of sound did you want to create? 

The cool thing about those formative years as an artist is that I literally had no clue what I wanted my sound to be. I honestly didn’t fit into any particular sound because of my unorthodox upbringing; from being homeschooled, to growing up in a Lutheran church, to spending most of my childhood in museums and libraries. It took a lot of time, trial, and error to make it all of those influences that made up my life into an actual sound. My main goal was feel good music. I feel like I’ve accomplished that at this point in my career, which is why I do a lot of genre bending. R&B remains the foundational root, but it’s fun to mix things up a bit.

How would you describe a Matt B track in five words or less?

Five words or less? I’m going to go with eclectic. My music is a representation of my life, and what I’ve experienced. I’m always learning and staying creative, and my creativity doesn’t stop with music. I’m a big fan of architecture, so much so that I have a Bachelors Degree in it. I love learning about other cultures and their history. I’m also big on random facts (maybe one day I should go on a game show lol). I also love learning about world governments, the stock markets, and how geo political debates can shape our world. One would be surprised how much these things bleed into music. Because I’m teaming with information and continue to learn more things everyday, my music reflects that.

We need to talk about your record “Losing You” – absolutely fantastic! When creating the record, what message or theme did you want to explore lyrically with the track. 

First off, big shout out to Sickpen, his pen game is next level. Losing You is one of those songs that I wanted everyone to relate to. The feeling of loss is so prevalent In our society, and the pandemic put a spotlight on that very topic. Whether losing someone because they passed on to a better place or losing the love of your life, it’s something that hits home for everyone. The lack of someones presence is very sobering, and allows for a lot of self reflecting. Things one could have done or said better, actions that one wishes they could take back, going through the motions and searching for a resolution, or a glimmer of hope that it could be worked out. That was the spirit of the record Losing You. 

The video for the record takes place in the desert. What was the creative process for the video? What do you want music listeners to take away after watching it?

I always feel like a music video is a great opportunity to visually interpret the song. It doesn’t always have to be a literal interpretation, but should capture the emotional journey that was conveyed in the sound recording. The video for Losing You did just that. The empty void of the desert was a visual representation of the emptiness one feels in their heart. The girl appearing as a mirage showed a longing that never could be filled again. Of course, we brought in some cultural aspects too. Having some Eastern African heritage, specifically Maasai, I wanted to show that with the exotic visual of a camel, and the way I was styled. We were very mindful with the details of this shoot. It shows very well. 

Let’s chat about your latest release “Ima Say It” – tell us about the inspiration behind the track. What message do you hope your listeners will take?

First off, I’m soooo happy I finally get to share this record with my supporters. I’ve been sitting on this record since the middle of the pandemic; what a time that was. In certain moments one isn’t sure when or what’s the right thing to say or do, especially when conflict comes up in very personal, loving relationships. Does one lay it all out on the table, or weigh words very carefully, knowing that by doing so a lot of things will remain unsaid. This is something that I’m sure resonates with a lot of people. Especially during a time when you truly can’t just get up and leave. So one has to start cleaning under that rug that a lot of dirt has been swept under for too long. “Ima Say It” really speaks to those types of predicaments we all have found ourselves in, or eventually will. 

I’m really hoping the fans can close their eyes and let their imaginations paint that vivid picture. Or it takes them back to a time when they may have experienced something similar. Music is like therapy, and can be very healing. Hearing me sing about real life situations, and interpersonal relationships has that authentic vibe and great replay value.  All in all I really just want everyone to continue on this journey of self discovery with me.

With “Losing You” and “Ima Say It” currently making the rounds, can fans expect more music in the near future? Like an EP or album? 

I’m dropping a lot of music this year. Fans will hear a lot of R&B, but also more of my afrobeats-infused music as well. You can expect two EPs down the road, as well as more visuals. My team and I are just having fun with this journey and not taking things too serious.

What are your goals as an artist for the rest of 2022? 

Of course I’m going to continue to make music and drop records, and hopefully start doing more shows. It’s a tough market right now because there’s still so much uncertainty surrounding the COVID pandemic. We are hoping that we can still keep our momentum going despite this.

Make sure to check out Matt B’s latest release ‘Ima Say It’ here or below.