Meet Alex Gonzales | Music Producer and Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alex Gonzales and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alex, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
My wife and friends will probably laugh reading this, I’m always busy and I add more businesses and projects into the mix, even though I’m most likely redlining. However, I still manage to make time for friends, family, health, and creativity. I view my life in the same way that I look at a pie chart. Work, Family/Friends, Creativity, and Health are all divided equally in my chart. The moment I start poring more into one area, I begin to see the others fall apart and I start feeling overwhelmed and sort of depressed. If I look back seven years, I would work hard for 9 hours the day and still bring it home with me. I’d bring my laptop and answer work calls while on tour with my band. I found out quickly I can’t operate this way, and I felt awful. This goes the same with anything else, I wish I could sit around and make beats all day but it’ll start to feel dull and uninspiring and it’ll drive my wife crazy. Balance is not something you just stumble upon, it is something you design and construct.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started a new band called “Matte Blvck” with 2 of my childhood friends, and we released our first record, “I’m Waving, not Drowning,” in late 2020. It’s been a wild rollercoaster seeing it all unfold, and I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve done in such a short period. We just returned from our first U.S. tour and released a new single, “Midnight & Angel,” from our forthcoming album “Vows.” What makes this so special is that we’re finally doing what we’ve always wanted to do; we’re not following any rules or trends. We write intending to make the best song possible and treat our events the same way. We will spend all our budget on visuals and crew that can help make this a fantastic experience for whoever attends. It has been challenging; we’ve constantly had to prove our worth. I remember while trying to book the first show, we reached out to a few promoters, and they said we were too new and that no one would go to our show, so we reached out to the venue directly and booked a Saturday. We sold out the event. It’s been a similar experience while attending meetings with labels, agents, and marketing professionals. We learned that doing everything in-house always delivers positive results. You must trust your gut; if something seems wrong, it probably is.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d take them to my favorite breakfast spot, Cafe 21, and its tapas-style brunch. You could close your eyes and point at anything on the menu, and it’s guaranteed to taste exquisite. We most likely would need to walk the food off, and we would take a trip to Barrio Logan for a dose of Mexican culture. I love going there to remind myself of my heritage, the place jam-packed with art, music, great food, and some of the best Micheladas. For lunch, I’d take them to my favorite food truck, La Reyna del Sur, the best Baja-style fish tacos in San Diego. We must stop by my side of town in North Park and visit all the local bars and breweries, such as Fall Brewing, Second Chance, Pure Project, The Office, and True North. Shortly after, we would have dinner at my favorite Chinese restaurant, Fortunate Son. We’d end the night by catching a goth show at the Casbah, The Merrow, or Ken Club.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There is one individual that stands out, and his name is Javi Nunez. He’s humble and would hate that I’m throwing him under the bus, but he deserves it. What can I say? The dude is a stud; he curates one of the best dark electronic events in San Diego, “Club Nothing,” and owns a successful screen printing business called “Aka Apparel.” If you’re a band in San Diego, you’ve most likely called Javi for a last-minute shirt order, and he’s been there to the rescue. I admire his art; he treats everything with integrity and honesty and believes in old fashion hard work. He points to befriending the voiceless, the outcasts, and those in need. Many artists and business owners in San Diego would agree with me.

Website: matteblvckmusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matteblvckus/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/matteblvckus

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matteblvckus

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MATTEBLVCK

Image Credits
Press photos all take by Alex Casillas Live band photos take by Tyler Dison at Music Box San Diego