Music can be a tough industry to join, having to worry about getting signed, having enough radio play, producing music videos and of course the shows has kept many out of the business. Local up-and-coming rapper and producer Joel Matthew hasn’t shied away, and wants to be the best.
Matthew, 22, recently released his new EP, “Glow,” following a listening event at the Chartreuse Art Gallery in Phoenix.
“I want to be the biggest artist in the world,” Matthew says. “There are two different types of artists: People who want to get into the game and people who want to be remembered.”
Matthew wants to be remembered so fans will listen to his music for many years to come. However, Matthew hasn’t always been on the path that he hopes leads to musical greatness.
For most of his life, Matthew played baseball, and it wasn’t until he was 17-years-old when he decided to pursue his musical dreams.
“At that time, I really didn’t know anything musically,” he says.
Matthew first taught himself how to make beats. Then, he started to produce. He did it all, and over the years he has taught himself to be a better musician with experience.
Matthew says he wrote raps as a child, but his lyrics were just for fun until he hit the point when he decided to take music more seriously.
“Huh,” he thought, when he was just 17. “I enjoy this and I’ve been doing this for a while. I should try to do this for real.”
For a time Matthew attended ASU, but he decided to leave. It isn’t forever out of his mind, because school will always be there, he says, and he plans to return
“I am a person who never quits anything, so I will try to get my degree later down the line.”
Matthew’s show at the Chartreuse Art Gallery consisted of a combination of his music with a sequence of visuals. ASU students in attendance complimented the event.
“The visuals just put the music into a better perspective,” says ASU freshman Mikayla Morehead.
“You could see the passion as he sang,” says ASU freshman Desiree Cunningham. “I was able to see how much he put into it.”
Matthew says that when creating a combination of music and visuals, all aspects matter.
“Everything has to complement everything,” says Matthew.
Matthew makes all of the visuals himself. He’s trying to capture the ‘vibe’ of every song.
Matthew gets help to boost his music career by an eclectic team from various backgrounds. His brother, Jakob Matthew, is the right hand man who organizes everything that needs to be done.
“Nothing gets done without him,” says Matthew. “He just does whatever I need him to do.”
Jakob is also there to provide critiques for his brother’s music.
“I am someone who is brutally honest,” says Jakob. “I am able to listen to his music as a viewer and as a creator.”
Along with his brother, Matthew has team members with expertise ranging from instrumentals to graphic design.
Desiree Cunningham listens to various types of genres and she says she was still unable to specifically identify the type of music Matthew creates.
“I really can’t pinpoint a genre,” says Cunningham. “He’s definitely made something new for himself.”
Matthew is going for something unique.
“I really don’t know where to classify it,” he says.
Hip-hop is Matthew’s background. However, he also says he has influences of pop, alternative rock, and RnB.
“It’s kind of whatever I’m feeling at the moment.”
Matthew says he cannot emphasize attention to detail enough, and never puts in half effort for his work. He makes sure to avoid anyone who doesn’t put their full attention to their work.
Matthew takes a lot of time on the concept of his videos. He says he ensures all shots are taken well, the story line is consistent and the overall quality level is at the point where he wants it to be.
Even with his confidence, he still says he gets nervous. However, he sees it as a good thing.
“Nervousness is what pulls out the best in you.”
Matthew describes the feeling of performing as jumping out of a plane. But in this case, you have no parachute.
“You literally have to perform, or you’re done.”
