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VENTS Magazine recently had the pleasure of interviewing Swiss singer-songwriter MattO about his new music video, “The Angels Went Back To Heaven.” The interview can be read below!
Can you describe your vision behind the “The Angels Went Back To Heaven” music video? What plotline(s) resonated with you the most?
It’s really reflected in the lyrics: The Western World is “enlightened” – we have turned from superstitious, uneducated people to “enlightened” rational individuals. We can explain the World around us, have unlocked many secrets of life, but do we feel more secure, less vulnerable? No, we believe we are in control, but our existential fears are still there and we have no one to share them with, no one to give us assurance in the face of evil and uncertainty. That’s where the angels come in. The video is about every day conflicts between people, be it lovers, mothers and sons, or incidents where people need help. It’s the guardian angel who brings people together again by helping them to see the other person’s point of view and to not despair when facing obstacles. When the mother takes the game console from her son, he is devastated and struggles with that injustice. She has second thoughts about her disciplinary measure and asks him to forgive her – and harmony is restored.
What is one message you would like your audience to take away from the “The Angels Went Back To Heaven” music video?
We are humans with our flaws and weaknesses that will put us in trouble time and again. Have patience, take a step back, don’t jump to conclusions, but put yourself into the shoes of the other person, try to understand his/her point of view before you judge. It takes so little to reach out and make up.
Does your Swiss heritage have any impact or potential impact on your musical journey?
No, my musical influences are predominantly Anglo-American. Since I was a boy, I have listened to American and British music. I do listen and appreciate Swiss, Italian, or Brazilian music, but when it comes to writing music, I think in terms of American or British music, because that is the music I loved and identified with when I grew up. I still feel that it is the kind of music that touches me the most.
Did you have anyone specific in mind when you wrote “The Angels Went Back To Heaven”?
No, the song is not linked to any particular person. I wrote it before Putin decided to invade Ukraine, if that is what you had in mind. Rather, it takes up a more general topic that I have been thinking about for some time. Today’s world is clearly in need of a lot of guardian angels to help build bridges between the competing factions in our Western societies. It seems people have forgotten how much we have in common and how much to lose if we keep on emphasizing differences and pursuing our individual interests without compromise.
What does the music production process look like for you? How were you able to find your sound and genre of music as an artist-songwriter in America?
I typically write the lyrics and the music and then I share it with my Producer, Jon Leidersdorff, who is the owner of Lakehouse Music Studios in Asbury Park, NJ. He provides his input and I revise and fine tune the song. When I have a batch of songs ready for production, I book a session at Lakehouse Music Studios and fly over to Asbury Park. Jon organizes the session musicians, many of whom I have worked with repeatedly over the last 10 years. They get a cold start: I show them the songs for the first time in the studio and ask them to provide their input when we rehearse and record the songs. So, the musicians are very much part of the creative recording process. When I walk into the studio, I have a pretty good idea of what I want the songs to sound like, but I am open for suggestions and often the recorded song is quite different in terms of arrangement or tempo from what I had in mind when I wrote it. I like the collaborative approach to music – as a songwriter it is easy to get stuck in a corner where you always do the same thing, just because you like it.
What’s next for MattO? What do you envision for your future in music?
I have thirty songs ready for release. They are part of three notional albums, which I will release over the next 18 months. At the same time, I plan to do some gigs in Switzerland, Italy, and the US North East to connect to my audience. I am determined to share my music with the World. Needless to say, I am working on a bunch of new songs….
Follow MattO:
http://matto-music.com/
https://www.facebook.com/mattomusicofficial/
https://www.instagram.com/matthiasoertle/
