What can you tell us and your listeners about this debut single?
It’s a song called “Acting Out” that I started writing in September 2018 and probably finished later that year. It went through a lot of different phases because I kept writing parts of songs that I wasn’t happy with. One night, I realized a couple of the separate parts fit together really well and that inspired me to finish the rest of the song. But it wasn’t until late 2019 that we (my brother Alex and I) actually recorded it with some musical chops from Gabe Sexton (bass), Sam Killian (drums), and John Bynum (keys).
What does this song mean to you?
For me, it can take months after finishing a song for the meaning to reveal itself to me. This was one of those. It’s summarily a song about getting yourself stuck in a self-destructive loop as a reaction to feeling isolated. If I believe I’m sliding down a dark slope, I’m going to act like it. And that only intensifies the sense of isolation. That’s the loop. Those are the “twin engines” mentioned in the song.
Of course, the song touches on more specific and symptomatic details of my life at the time – strange and regretful interactions with an ex, frustration with
still being in college (I was a year away from graduating at the time), finding it difficult to establish new relationships in a new town, and a general sense of doom related to the big life decisions I was making/had recently made.
The song ends on a note that’s hard for me to put into words. It feels both triumphant and desperate – like I’m saying what I’m saying for me to know it as much as for the listener to know it. It’s saying, “I’m still kicking, and if that’s all I can claim for now, then I’ll take it.”
I’ve always been really drawn to writing that demonstrates a sort of sober mindedness in the face of defeating circumstances. This song feels like it’s written from a place where that mindset was long overdue and the speaker (who is me, or a certain narrative of me) finally finds some determination to step out of or at least critique the cycle.
Where did inspiration come from for this song?
There’s always some specific song or album I’m listening to when I’m writing a song. I’m not sure if I remember what that was for this song.
Thematically, however, all my memories of writing this song have this overwhelming sense of feeling frustrated and stuck. Listening to the song even now, it’s shocking how viscerally those feelings come through, more than my other songs.
As far as the recording and production process goes, I remember Great Grandpa had just released their “Four of Arrows” LP and I remember feeling really inspired by that whole album. But that whole side of it is almost entirely in Alex’s hands — I mostly just describe the sound I want and we’re usually on the same page.
Why did you choose this particular song to be the first song you want to share with the world?
That’s a great question. We recorded this song as a project for a class that Alex was in at the time, and we were so happy with how it turned out that we immediately started talking about it being my debut release. It’s definitely one of my heavy-hitters, so I’m hoping it’ll make people want to rock ‘n’ roll and maybe cry at the same time.
Does this song reflect what is to come of your music in the future?
I would say so. If you like this one, you’ll probably like the others. And if you don’t, you probably won’t.
What can we expect from you in the near future? An EP or an album in the works?
I am planning to release maybe another single or two before an EP. It’s still really up in the air which songs are going on the EP, or even how many. Alex and I are currently brainstorming ways to keep recording music during this global crisis.
When you were writing and recording this song, what was the creative process?
Just like every song to date, I wrote this on my acoustic guitar during some alone time. It existed that way for almost a year before we started messing around with different parts.
When we finally got into the studio with it, Alex and I spent several 8-hour sessions just laying down the rhythm & lead guitars and vocals. We had a very specific vision for the song and were determined to get it right. I remember at one point, we had nine different mics set up pointing at three different amps, and we just recorded a bunch of guitar takes through all nine mics using different pedals, pre-amps, and even switching out guitars each take. It was an intense process. I couldn’t tell you what from that ended up on the song, if any of it. I think we quit music altogether at least 4 or 5 times. But once it started coming together, it was such an enlivening feeling, and it became a lot easier to build on sounds and come up with new ideas.
It was awesome getting Sam and Gabe to come and play on the song for me (it was our first time reuniting since Hyp-Fest!). From having practiced and played this song together live, recording with them was such an easy part of the process.
Bynum was the new addition. He reached out to me on Instagram and told me that he was in Alex’s class and had heard the demo for the song and offered to play if I ever needed a keys player. I don’t know if he expected me to take him up on it so quickly but I was stoked. I was like, “yeah actually, we have a session booked this week, can you come into the studio?” He showed up and killed it. He’s such a fun guy to collaborate with because he’ll entertain any creative idea anybody throws out. I was so thrilled with how well his tones and style of playing fit with the music.
What message do you want to convey to our readers about this release?
It’s certainly not a mode of thinking I would prescribe, but I would hope that it might strike a chord with those of us who are feeling particularly isolated in these times of social distancing and self-quarantining. In more ways than one, I think people are having to consider what it means to survive. And I hope listening and singing along to this song can work to expel some of that anxiety in the way that writing it did.
Final Thoughts
Luckily, we have had the privilege of seeing Mathis live and we could not be more excited for the rest of the world to hear his music. Mathis proves to be an artist who makes thought provoking music with soulful sounds and influencing lyrics/vocals. This release gives a sense of relief in such a hectic and odd time.
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Stay safe, wash your hands, and support your local bands.
Hypnotic Bolt 