Meet Matt Adame-Valencia | Creative Director & Video Editor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matt Adame-Valencia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matt, how do you think about risk?
For me risk has been an essential part in my journey and making me who I am. I was on a whole different career path when I was younger. I graduated with my Associates degree in fire science and had just graduated as fire academy, while working as an EMT. I for sure thought that’s what I was going to do for the rest of my life. In the process while I was applying for different fire departments I decided to transfer to University and pursue my bachelor’s as a backup option. At the timeI was in love with concerts and making videos with my friends and picked up my camera again after years. I got a job on campus at Cal Poly as photographer for the marketing dept. Along with working and going to school full-time I was going to clubs 3 times a week sneaking my camera inside these different clubs and posting my photos and videos on instagram trying to get the attention of those artists and event companies. I did this for almost a year and built my portfolio while shooting for free and was finally making amazing networking connections that would later lead to be game changing for my career. Around graduation time I was offered an internship with a top 3 Supply Chain management company. My photography and videography career with nightlife and entertainment was bigger than I could have imagined at the time as well. I decided to leave the safety net of that internship and pursue freelancing with my art full-time right after college. Not only did this risk seem crazy to some at the time, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made and has truly shaped me as the person I am and everything I have accomplished. In the past almost 5 years I have been on several different tours and have worked with several different electronic, hip hop, and alternative artists. I have had the pleasure of meeting some of my best friends and inspirations throughout this journey. Not to mention traveling all over the world and being able to see almost every country in the world. The biggest risk I took was taking my passion, my love for the camera and devoting everything I had to making myself better. Now almost five years later I have been able to work for myself, make a great living and show myself that anything is possible when you put your mind to it. if you would have asked me 6 years ago if I would be on that Journey I probably would have said you’re crazy. I definitely think that taking risks is an essential part of being an entrepreneur, it can really be the difference and taking your art or your passion to the next level.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think what sets me apart from others about my art is that I don’t have a particular style. I like expressing my art in various ways and trying new things always and working with people with New Visions that help me become the best artist I can be and always continuing to grow. I think the thing I’m most excited about now is my new Journey. after almost 5 years a freelancing and running my business which I continue to do on the side, I was given the opportunity to work for my dream company as a video editor. so now along with my passion projects I was given the opportunity to work for Insomniac events and have happily accepted and The Best Is Yet To Come. the journey to where I’m at now has definitely not been easy, I have had people doubt me so many obstacles in my way days that I felt I wasn’t going to be able to do this anymore Financial struggles with being an entrepreneur, etc. but the one thing that I never did was give up. I knew that tomorrow was a new day and me being the Hustler that I am I was going to find a way to overcome whatever it was that I was going through and I reminded myself every day how much I love what I do and how lucky I was to be doing it. I dedicated hours and days and practice to make sure I could be the best I could be. I think the thing that I want people to take out of my story is that perseverance is key and never giving up will always win. I’m just a kid from Torrance California With a dream, who never could have imagined the position I would be in today. Thankful to god everyday for everything I have endured and still growing everyday in my career and field.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
So for me being from the South Bay in Los Angeles definitely every time I have friends visit or colleagues from all over the world I always make sure we hit up the beach cities. I personally love Hermosa Beach in Manhattan Beach on a sunny day for brunch and me being such a big sports fan and light events fan I definitely always check to see what’s going on in the city. I love trying new restaurants so that’s definitely on the itinerary when I have people visit or maybe a Dodgers game or some bar-hopping Around Los Angeles. I’m very social person so i like to be outside and exploring the city as much as I can or I’ll definitely take my people ouit of town as well for day trips. A lot of friends who visit me as well or photographers and creatives so something on our itinerary is going through different locations and seeing where we can get the best content. shout out to my boy Lukas every time he comes out to visit it’s a Non-Stop creative Marathon exploring new parts of LA.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There’s so many people that I honestly could not have gone this far and have succeeded the way I have without. For one my family, They have been some of the biggest supporters and have seen the journey unfold since day one. my mom for 1 help me out so much and has always supported my interest as best as she could ever since I was a little kid. she saw what I was doing along with the accomplishments and dedication of what I was trying to do and she from day one has supported and has been very proud of everything I’ve done. also my aunt who is like a second mother to me has been there since the beginning as well and has been very supportive and has always helped me with anything I’ve needed in my journey. definitely the 2 strongest women in my life and I wouldn’t be here without them. also have to give a big shout out to my uncle Javi. his support and guidance has truly helped me along the way and without his support who knows where I would be. He has definitely been a father figure to me and I know my dad is looking down and I’m smiling. There are so many family members to thank and I wouldn’t be anything without them from my brother and sister to my cousins, They all hold a special place in my heart. Lastly, I want to give thanks to a person who has meant alot to me through my journey. Without this person I don’t think I would have been half the person I am today, not to mention this person was there from the start and saw a dream flourish into reality and always held me down at all times. For that this person will always have a special place in my heart and I’ll always love them.

I also want to give a big shout out to all my colleagues and people who have supported my journey and gave me opportunities. There’s no better feeling then having people believe in your vision and what you’re trying to accomplish and without all my clients, some of whom I consider family, I would never be where I’m at today. A huge shout out to my FBN family as well. My brothers for real and these guys keep breaking barriers and inspire me everyday and I apprecaiate all they’ve done for my career.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/omgitsmattyvee

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattadamev/

Image Credits
@franki3.jay @lrxd__ @fknstrada