Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Matt DeAngelis
THE RELEASE
Hailing from Turnersville, New Jersey, Matt DeAngelis is an accomplished singer-songwriter and musician. Driven by a mission to illuminate a world struggling with hardships and negativity, Matt has been honing his songwriting craft since the young age of eight. His own experiences with OCD and anxiety have greatly influenced his perspective on life, while his unwavering faith has guided him to transform negative emotions into uplifting messages—forming the essence of his music. Alongside his musical talents, Matt is a fervent supporter of mental health and climate change initiatives. His lifelong fascination with weather has inspired him to become a storm chaser, emphasizing the crucial need to safeguard our planet.
In his latest release, Matt captures the tumultuous state of the world, drawing inspiration from the ongoing struggles of humanity, such as the pandemic, gun violence, war, and interpersonal strife. The song also addresses the increasing frequency of violent weather events, which serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of our changing climate. Amidst his own emotional lows, Matt's music communicates a heartfelt plea for divine intervention and a call for unity among the human race. Through his powerful songwriting, Matt DeAngelis ultimately delivers a message of hope for the future—inspiring listeners to overcome differences, live in harmony, and become responsible guardians of our precious planet.
THE INTERVIEW
What song or moment in time sparked your passion for music?
To be honest, I was seated at the piano with my dad, who is a pianist and composer before I was able to walk! I began formal training on the piano at 9 years old, but had already written my first songs beginning at age 8.
If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?
I would have to say, David Bowie (his first 4-5 albums), Gentle Giant, Yes, Elton John (his first 4-5 albums). But there are many more artists that have influenced my writing.
How does your creative process work from the moment you develop the idea to the completion of the record?
I am usually inspired by the world around me and translated that into poetic form. From there I set it to music, and record a piano/vocal demo. I then let my drummer, bassist, and guitarist hear the demo in preparation for recording. We usually record the backing tracks first, i.e. drums, piano and bass with a scratch vocal track. From there I work one on one with my guitarist/producer/engineer, Billy Kennedy to add guitars. I continue to write accompanying keyboard parts with my dad, who also co-produces my records, and finally I add the final vocal tracks.
As for this release, who is the producer and what about the production moved you?
As I said my producer is Billy Kennedy and my dad, John. I was going for a different melancholy feel for this record, to be in tune with my lyrical message. I am very happy with the outcome and the moodiness of the recording.
When it comes to the songwriting on this record, what is the message you want to get across to your listeners?
This song was written as an expression of the unrest in the world, whose inception began during the pandemic, but has continued to manifest as uncontrolled gun violence, war, and strife among mankind. Even the weather has become more frequently violent--another sign of the times. During one of my all-time lows, mentally speaking, I express my utter grief at not being able to even write about these happenings, much less think about tomorrow, and realize that only the Lord can save us from the wrong mindset we are taking as a human race. I ultimately believe in hope for the future, that we will come together as a race, overcome our differences, live in peace, become responsible stewards of our planet.
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