An Interview with Mateo
Photo Credit: Meeno, courtesy of Interscope Records
This past June, BET’s Music Matters showcase, brought the best of upstart talent including the soulful singer Mateo. If you are not already familiar with the Interscope Records signed artist, you will be. Coming from a musical family, the Morehouse College Graduate decided to pursue a different career; becoming a consultant for a New York City firm. That was of course until he could no longer restrain his powerful soul from pursuing his true talent and love: Music. He describes his “entry level” music days as a “5-9”; meaning after he leaves his 9-5, music became his 5-9. Mateo finally linked up with Quddus Phillipe and the rest is history written on a wiki file somewhere in the World Wide Web.
“I’m in a better place than I have ever been musically. With this EP, I want to show fans how I’ve evolved. They may have met me before, but I have so much more to give them,” comments Mateo.
Now Mateo has 2 EP’s and 4 mixtapes under his belt. He introduced us to his latest EP We’ve Met Before August 13th, 2013 (his birthday); which features productions by Kerry “Krucial” Brothers and Zeke MacUmber. This EP journeys through his emotions on a series of love songs; with his lyrics sometimes serving as a double entendre for both relationships and music. Each track lends its own signature sound that Mateo has cultivated over years. You can expect to hear a warm blend of R&B/Alternative music along with his sultry voice (that he plays with) creating musical utopia.
“Its all worth it…Don’t sweat the small stuff” – Mateo
The extremely talented, down to earth, and humble artist took precious creative time out of his day to sit and chat with us for a quick interview:
Bell: Thanks for taking out time chat with Houston Style Magazine! You are an extremely talented Artist!
Mateo: No problem, no problem, my pleasure.
Bell: I want to talk about your music first Mateo. You are obviously an amazingly talented young man, and we can clearly hear the trained classical influence in your music. Who or what other influences help shape Mateo the singer?
Mateo: Old school and new school really. Donny Hathaway, Whitney Houston (without a doubt), Lauren Hill, Steve Wonder, Kanye, Kendrick Lamar, and Coldplay. I love Coldplay.
Bell: You have a good collection there. I can definitely hear that fusion of R&B and Rock.
Mateo: Yes I think that’s where its [Music] headed; mixing genres together I think that’s awesome.
Bell: I can see that. Now We’ve Met Before is your 2nd EP with 1 EP and 4 mixtapes preceding. What do you want [your audience] to walk away with?
Mateo: Appetizer for them album. [Talking to the audience] This is the next level go pay attention. Its like I’m telling my fans you have heard some songs “we’ve met before” but I’m in a better place than I have ever been musically, I have evolved. I want them to see it’s not about just love songs but about what people go through on a daily basis.
Bell: Definitely… Now the cover of Sing About Me (Kendrick Lamar), such a powerful song, and one of my favorites…what does it mean to you and why did you decide to cover it?
Mateo: Yes, I recorded the song last winter in NYC and I was going through a lot. The ups and downs of the music business, being broke, putting my all into my music. I was depressed, and then Krucial [Kerry Krucial Brothers] said to do the cover. I didn’t want to do it at all and then one day the lyrics just started coming out. The song [cover] was a dreamers song basically I’m saying “it’s all worth it”, and “don’t sweat the small stuff”.
“[I have 100% control] they allow me to have fun and create good music” – Mateo on Interscope and creative control.
Bell: Very inspirational indeed. Now let’s switch gears a little bit.
Mateo: (Laughs) ok, go for it.
Bell: Growing up with famous grandfather Jazz and session guitarist Freddy Jordan, and Touring Vocalist grandmother, you decided not to pursue passion and you took another path. Explain your feelings and what you were going through when you decided “ok now its time to go back to music”.
Mateo: Good questions. I hated my job; my single How Good is Your Love sort of mimics the place I was in. I didn’t want to go through the struggle of trying to make something happen. I didn’t want to turn to the vices [drugs, alcohol] due to depression. So [when it was time to pursue my dream] I went to many studios and put demos together. I just kept pumping out as much music as I could. I started meeting people. Then I quit my job and moved to LA. I told myself if things are supposed to happen it will flow freely. And that’s how it felt like things were just flowing. I’m not saying I didn’t experience any struggle. Everyone knows you have to get through 1000 NOs before you get 1 YES.
Bell: Exactly! Speaking of family, some artist explains signing with a label like becoming a new member of a family. You have come from MySpace Records, to Krucial Noise and now recently signed to Interscope Records. Explain the feeling of leaving a label and do you feel you have finally found your home?
Mateo: Hmmm, well there weren’t any sadness or upset when we parted ways. At MySpace Records, I was able to put out a lot of mixtapes etc. I met Krucial at MySpace and there weren’t any sadness from leaving, it was just time to move on. Krucial understood where I was coming from and he is my family. He is the one who introduced me to Interscope. So yes, Interscope feels like home.
Bell: Just a follow up question, how much creativity do you have?
Mateo: 100% they allow me to have fun and create good Music.
Bell: That’s great! We love when you create because you also bring many talented artists with you on projects. You have worked with Goapele, Tierra Mari, Stacy Barthe, and of course the amazingly talented Alicia Keys. If you could [collaborate with only 5] who would be in your top 5 of artist to collaborate with?
Mateo: Hmmm. Well I would definitely want a duet with Alicia [Keys], 2. Would be Emeli Sande she is amazing, 3. Kendrick Lamar, 4. Drake, and 5. You are going to laugh at me.
Bell: No I won’t! I promise.
Mateo: 5. Would be Coldplay…whew!…if only I could… I love them!
Bell: [Laughs] Coldplay is an amazing group so legendary. A mashup between you two would be musical genius.
Mateo: Thank you! It would be a dream comes true.
Bell: Indeed. Now you performed on a stage that many independent artists only dreams about (BET’s Music Matters) do you think because of your background you had an advantage as an independent Artist.
Mateo: I would have to say yes. I had a slight upper hand. I was trained early; my family supported me musically, morally, and financially. Helping me out when I would pour my all into my music my family was there for me [because they understood]. So I would say yes.
Bell: So at the ripe age of 26 what advice would you give to other independent artist out there looking to travel the road to success?
Mateo: Discipline. Additionally, make a lot of music for free. I can’t stress this enough, especially if they are in the urban genre. Put it on the internet, start creating your own following, especially if you don’t live in those markets [New York, LA, Atlanta] where it’s easy to meet someone in the business. Also believe in your music and stick by it. There is a Kanye quote that sticks with me “Will you believe in what you believe in if you were the only one believing it?”
Bell: Very wise words. Well our time is wrapping up and I only have time for one more question.
Mateo: (Laughs) ok…go for it.
Bell: What is the biggest mistake you have ever made?
Mateo: Wow…That’s a good question… I have never thought about that before. Hmmm, I will have to say a song I made called Get to know me. I wrote it so people [my fans] could get to know me. It produced some publicity, but I regret putting it out there because I feel like I didn’t put myself out there enough. As an artist sometimes you wear your heart on your sleeve, I didn’t want people to criticize me. And the song did not speak [about me] like I wanted. So I would say that was the biggest mistake. You have to just put your Sh*t out there and believe in yourself and not (GAF) what anyone has to say!
Bell: Powerful lesson learned! Mateo thank you for chatting with Houston Style Magazine! I look forward to the release of the EP “We’ve Met Before” and all your future endeavors.
Mateo: It was definitely my pleasure! And I hope to see you at a show some day!
Bell: Touchdown in Houston and I am there!
Coming off of an impressive run on Keyshia Cole’s 18 cities Woman to Woman Tour, Mateo will continue to tour this fall and put the finishing touches on his forthcoming full length album. We’ve Met Before is in stores (and on ITunes) now.
To listen to, read on, or view EVERYTHING Mateo, please visit: www.mateoonline.com
Check out Mateo’s newest video How Good is Your Love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0wu-1iWas0
Check out Mateo’s Kendrick Lamar Sing about Me Cover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXorY0aVjzA&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PLC1A568A429BF8A97
Thank you so much Bell for introducing me to this artist. It has been a long time since I have found an artist swag that I like. This is definitely one of my new favorite artist. Can’t wait to see this artist in concert!!!
you are so welcome!!! he is amazing 🙂