Interview: Matt Pless

I asked some questions of one of my favorite DIY musicians, Matt Pless, a person with a talent for spitfire lyricism that has made waves with hits such as "When The Frayed Wind Blows" and "Shots Fired".

Can you give a little bit about yourself and your background as a musician for people who don't know you?

My name is Matt Pless. I write songs that get stuck in your head. People say I'm an exceptional lyricist, and a guy in Indiana once said I was one of underground music's best kept secrets. I have probably played 2,000 shows in my lifetime in probably every type of venue imaginable. I love the diy scene more than i hate it and sometimes hate the fact that I love it, but i really just love playing with words and I think the Mountain Goats are overrated.

You were recently working with a label, but as I understand, parted ways because they were seeking to make unwanted changes to your material; do I have that correct? What's the official story on that that?

It wasn't a label. It was one of those shady hustler types trying to ride my train to pocket himself some dollars. He was managing me for a minute but started telling me to change my lyrics or remove some of them from my songs. He talked down to my fans and the diy scene in general as well and overall just wasn't very cool in how he treated me. i told him i didnt appreciate that and ditched his whole operation. Went back to handling things myself.

So you're just wrapping up a tour of Europe; how was that? What were some of the defining moments to you? 

I did the U.K as well and in Edinburgh, Scotland i walked into a 300 year old pub. A local group called The Auld Reekie String Band is jamming out songs.  There are people taking turns trading singing old Celtic folk tunes. I sit down with my guitar.  They ask me to play something. I played this unreleased song of mine called "Nero " and the string band starts playing with me. Picks it up easily.  Next thing I know, the whole drunken place is singing the chorus to my song that nobody had heard before. It was a really cool vibe and, for whatever reason, an emotionally heavy experience for me. They bought me like 6 beers and were super chill. Even after i got too drunk and accidentally broke a glass on the bar floor.
Finding out that there were people traveling as far as 5 hours to see me play overseas and had heard of my music before was mind blowing! There was at least 1 person who had heard of me thanks to the internet at every show.
Talking to people from other countries and learning about how they lived, their experiences, politics, and overall worldview was eye opening in many ways. People across the pond are so nice. Some of them got me hotels. Fed me food that you can't really acquire in the states, made sure I got paid, it was really amazing and I'm really grateful for the chance to have lived that dream. My friend Jak who runs a diy film group called Shibby Pictures booked and organized it all. I couldn't have done it without him so check out his stuff on YouTube if you're interested.
On a side note, seeing all the ancient castles just sitting, crumbling on hillsides made me think about how nothing lasts, no matter how powerful. Empires fall and ruins become overpriced tourist traps 800 year later.
The punk squats in Europe are a thing to experience. Huge warehouses covered in graffiti, walls adorned with political one liners scrawled in magic marker. Communities working together under one roof with over 6 floors worth of rooms. The shows at those spots were very memorable cause ' the USA just doesn't have those types of squats. At least none that I've seen
Rollin' in De Wallen, the red light district in Amsterdam was pretty cool too.

What about the new album you have coming out? 

It's the best record of 2019

When should we expect the new album?

It will be out probably around February or March. It's not "folk punk" whatever that term currently means. It has elements of folk and punk in the songs, as well as blues, some jazz. It's a mix of a bunch of styles.
The process was, I spent a year in relationship that wasn't healthy for me. I didn't see that at the time. I hardly wrote any music and kind of lost myself for a while. Once it ended, a flood of songs came to me that were inspired by the whole experience. I wrote most of the album in about a week over last summer. So its got a mix of relationship songs, social commentary songs, a song about a surrealist circus and a rap track along with some other things. I recorded it in long island new york. It's a mix of full band songs with electric guitar, solo acoustic songs and full band acoustic songs. There are 10 new tracks and 3 older solo songs re recorded with a full band. I'm pretty happy with it. My brother zac played drums and my friend Rob played bass, they are in a band called The Sharp Shadows from Brooklyn who you should Check out if you like garage pop rock n' roll.
It's gonna be a solid record .

I remember seeing something about you having a book in the works?

Yes, I've been working on a collection of what I think  are interesting stories about things that I've experienced  throughout my life, as well as some poetry and journal entries from touring and playing shows. I always wanted to write one, so i started putting it together 2 years ago. I dunno when its coming out. It should probably be released soon since its already up to 400 some pages long. I want it to inspire people to never be afraid to chase a cool story of their own and to never give up on something you love. I just need a good ending and I haven't made the cover of Rolling Stone or checked into an asylum yet.

Don't forget to check out Matt's music!
Also, see this interview with Skyler Husebye of Straight Line Arrival!