Meet Matty Carlock | Artist & Record Producer

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

Hi Matty, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I have an odd relationship with the concept of risk. As a producer, songwriter, and artist – risk is something you get to know almost instantly. As a kid I left my whole life behind, rolled the dice, and went on tour. I risked my family, my friends, stability, potential future stability, my relationship, and my future, to chase an idea I truly believed in. A better life. The life I wanted. Its easy to be complacent when you achieve accolades – no matter the size. So currently the role a risk plays is a feeling I get when I know something great is on the horizon. If I didnt take risks, I wouldn’t have the life or career I have today.

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Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is something I am extremely passionate about, in a world where it is very easy and common to be complacent and uninterested in artistic freedom and expression. What sets me apart from others is that being raised in Central Jersey, I am a product of New Jersey Hardcore, and earlier on, the church of Springsteen, working class families, who survive by swinging hammers for a living. I attack the pop / rap industry with the same ethics my father raised me with – from his construction background. With that ideology – I’ve covered ground playing sold out shows in over 15 countries by the age of 24, put out 6 albums spanning from Punk, Hardcore, Country, Rock n Roll, and Hip-hop, all self produced and written by me. I got to where I am at from those very same blue collar ethics. It was extremely difficult – early on I would leave town for months on end, by myself, with no money, and sleep in parking lots all over the country, begging and stealing for food money, just to build my fanbase brick by brick – playing in strangers living rooms and basements. Anywhere, anyone, would let me play. The lessons ive learned along the way are double down on yourself, your vision, invest in people, and have animalistic relentless behavior when it comes to attacking your goals.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in LA now, departing from NJ. If it was New Jersey I would take them immediately to the Middletown Diner, the Spy House in Port Monmouth, Danny Clinches Gallery in Asbury Park, then obviously Convention Hall right across the street. The culture in Asbury is so liberating and powerful, its a must experience.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
A great encouragement of my success is my grandfather “Bepa” – he taught me by example how to be extremely kind, compassionate, hard working, and to invest in people. He allowed me the luxury to feel safe in my own skin and to chase the crazy dream I had. At the same time, my mother is my biggest inspiration and motivation. She showed me everything I know about music, the world I operate inside musically, the ability to do music, and being able to share the reality of the things she was raised on, is a lifetime of fulfillment for me. There were a few key people in my come up that without them, I would have been in the same spot. Jeff Raspe, Jesse Malin, Danny Clinch, Annie Licata, and Pete Andrews. Collectively, they saw something in me early on and provided their wisdom, forward pushes with opportunity, and just an incredible amount of inspiring friendship. A circle like that is bulletproof.

Instagram: @mattycarlock

Twitter: @mattycarlock

Facebook: @mattycarlock

Youtube: 115 Collective

Image Credits
Photos by Nicole Mago + Rob Sellig