Beyond the Lines with Matt Sucich…

Picture an early evening in October and an empty room waiting to be filled with unexpected sounds and an unsuspecting crowd that arrived to listen to some music at a club known for finding a diamond in the rough. The club was Precinct and the artist was Matt Sucich. He took the stage and mesmerized an audience thirsty for the real thing. To be a musician that touches the hearts and souls of his fans is a rarity these days but Matt does this as if he has been doing this for decades. Born and raised in Astoria, NY Matt has been playing guitar since he was 18 but at 30 he has broken out of his shell to write one of the most inspirational records this writer/promoter has heard in quite some time. Influenced by the likes of Bob Dylan, M. Ward & Ryan Adams, Matt Sucich wrote his first record “Jubilation & Jealousy” in a time where it takes a gimmick to be heard but it’s his honesty and the sincerity in his voice that sets himself apart from other songwriters in this day and age.

After a month of listening to Matt’s debut it still remains in rotation in this house and hopefully for many others to come in the near future..I got a chance to speak with Matt about the record, the recording process and the future….


Hear Now Live!: When did you pick up your first guitar? When did you start writing songs?
Matt Sucich: I picked up the guitar when I was 18 because my friend had started playing. A part of it was the challenge to try and be better than him, but I fell in love with the challenge of just becoming good at it. I suppose the most honest answer is that I've been writing songs as long as I've been playing, but those songs were nothing more than learning experiences. My appreciation for the craft, and confidence in my own style, is still a relatively new discovery and this album is a reflection, and celebration of that awareness. I'll never forget the moment on my couch when I realized I had enough songs I was proud of to be heard...and that was only a year ago.

Where have you played across the country?
I'm based out of NYC. East, I've played from Maine to Virginia. And I try to get out to California at least twice a year.

Who are you main influences?
The answer to this question changes regularly. I find great influence in the people I’d like to think share similar visions. However, that's a pure assumption, and I shouldn't really do that. Mostly, just artists who speak to me. I love a good pop song, but I don't take a whole lot of inspiration from that type of production. Someone like M.Ward is a major influence of mine, as a producer, writer and musician, and someone I've listened to a lot of throughout my "learning years."

 

What approach did you take in the recording process?
I was a man on fire when it came time to make this. I was new to the NYC songwriters scene, and I had a lot to share. I was focused on putting together an album that represented me the best I knew how, and I needed to get it out there as soon as possible. Having said that, I didn't rush this project in the least. I put down some tracks with my drummer, Matt Farina, and disappeared for 7 days to a friends empty vacation house in PA (i know, such cliche) I went alone, with all of my equipment, and recorded 9 tracks. Everything but the drums on this record is played by me. In the 2 months that followed this week away, I mixed and added anything that needed to be added back home in Queens, NY.

Brake Lights to me sounds like a realization of you finding your way and moving on from what you were doing and moving onto what you want to do? Can you elaborate on this?
That's an interesting perspective. I would say when I wrote "Brake Lights", it was more about being stifled as opposed to moving on... However having moved on from that point, it's easy to see it from the other angle.

Is Christine about any one relationship or place in your life or is it about all of your relationships?
This song definitely covers relationships more from a general perspective, and how no matter what age, some people can't help but fall into the same traps time and time again.

IN J&J you state: "you've done a lot of things wrong, but you can hide behind a pretty song" The song sounds like an ode to NYC. Is this true and if not what is the song about?
It can definitely be seen that way. When i wrote Jubilation & Jealousy, it was after seeing the streets of NYC on "Fashions Night Out," swarming with people dressed in their finest. It seemed to me that some people were either trying to out-do the next person, and others were just so envious of someone else. I had already been toying with an idea for a song about looking for love in a place like New York City, and when title of this song came to me, I felt like I hit the nail on the head.

After songs about lost love and hard relationships you sing "don't be fooled, when I say I Love You" in Settle Down. Did you find the right companion? or has this been the same person all along?
I try to keep the material as relatable as I can, and so I'm not sure a song is ever about any one person specifically. I think the line in question is simply defending feelings vs. actions, when times are rough, people do stupid things...but at the heart of it, there's still love.

What does the future hold? when is the next recording? will you put a band together?
The future is an exciting thing...I don't know what to expect, but I know that what I've accomplished in the past year has exceeded last years’ expectations. As long as I keep my sights ahead of me, I can only imagine more great things to come. I have my own goals, as any artist should, and this past year has certainly set me up to achieve those goals. I've already started making the next record, and I've learned a lot from a production standpoint, so I'm excited to put that knowledge to use. I have a band I use from time to time, and those shows are always a blast for me, but mostly the live show is solo/acoustic.

There it is a new talent, a late bloomer that proves the fact that honest music can still come from the heart and take the listener to an imaginary place with each listen. Catch Matt Sucich at the Middle East in January 2012 and in clubs all over New York City. http://esmatteo.com  for more information.

Un-carefully unedited by Mark Kaye