The Real Matt Jones

Singer-Songwriter

This alt-country/new-country band from Albuquerque, NM has more than likely touched some corner of the musical world where you hail from or have at least visited - the 4 members in the band have collectively appeared on over 1000 recording projects. Easily one of the most palatable bands you will hear this year, The Real Matt Jones has played shows all over the world, won awards for musicality and songwriting, and has shared the stage with multiple international acts including Colin Hay of Men at Work, Sister Hazel, and Rod Stewart (yes, that Rod Stewart!)

When did you first get into music? Please explain.

I’ve been singing ever since I could talk. I started playing guitar when I was 13 after I saw the music video for “HeartShaped Box” by Nirvana (oddly enough on a network TV station called “The Box” that came in fuzzy on my 13-inch TV) - I had never heard anything like that before, and thought, “ Wow...I want to do that.”

Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music?

When I started playing, and always thought I had something to contribute - whether that be musically or lyrically, to someone’s experience. If you have a unique story to tell or a unique way to tell a story, usually people are interested in hearing it.

How has your music evolved since you first started in the music industry?

When I started releasing music, I was a lot more stylistically narrow - I had a sound and I wanted to stay inside of that vein. As I’ve grown as a musician, and so have my tastes, I’m a lot less constrictive on the style as long as I can still convey a message that makes someone feel something.

If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other, drives you to stay in this tough industry? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why?

For me, it has to be joy. Even more than two decades into playing professionally, I still love sharing music in a live setting with people. Whether it’s a crowd of 5 or 5000, I’ve learned to be grateful for anyone who is willing to go on the journey with me.

Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new faces and ideas?

To me, art is not a selfish thing. Anyone who is gifted with an artistic ability isn’t meant to hoard it for themselves, but to share it with people. I spend a lot of effort trying to refine my art from initial conception to finished piece in order to try to make sure that it connects what I was feeling to the listeners. Plus, my voice is just different enough to hopefully have people give it a second listen.

What has been your biggest challenge as a performing artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

The biggest challenge for me has been the lifestyle of touring and constantly having to be “on.” I never thought I would reach the point where the things surrounding what I love to do would be a detriment to me doing it. Touring life is difficult because you’re often separated from your true community, the temptation to abuse drugs or alcohol (or both) is very real, and it can be easy to become more about what you’re doing than who you are becoming.

A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art.” Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art?

I’m not sure if one “must” suffer for their art, but I certainly think that suffering refines it. We are shaped as artists (and as people) as we go through difficulties. We can empathize more with other people’s experiences too as we go through the suffering, and I think that makes writers better.

How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business?

The internet has made the music business much more accessible to everyone. In some ways, I think it’s great because artists who may never have seen commercial success are able to make careers out of writing and playing because they can directly reach their audience. On the other hand, I think the ability to write, record, mix, master, and distribute music worldwide has caused many of us to not seek out feedback and collaborative writing/producing that can tend to make our music much better. I’ve tried to seek out a lot of collaboration in the last few records I’ve written and recorded.

If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?

As both a music fan, and a music creator, I wish there was a better way presently to sift through all of the options. I feel like the way I hear about most artists/bands is through word of mouth, which is counterintuitive based on how many mediums of communication and mediums of recommendation are currently surrounding us.

I’m sure you have shared the stage with many talented artists. Please share 1 or 2 of your favorite stories with us.

When I was 22, my rock band got to play the opening stage for Rod Stewart. We never got to meet him, and I thought it would impress girls when I told them we opened for Rod Stewart, but they would always just say, “Yeah, my mom really likes him…”

Later on in my 20’s, I got to play a show with Colin Hay (singer from Men at Work) in Houston. I spent time with him beforehand, and he encouraged me to always be writing and was a class act all the way around. He was hilarious in-between songs too, so I have tried to emulate that portion of storytelling to engage more with my audiences.

What are the 5 albums that have helped make you the person you are today? And why?

Rockin’ the Suburbs - Ben Folds - Melodies for days, arrangements like I had never heard, and a realness with subject matter that somehow seemed to fit exactly with the record, but always felt like it was longing for something else. I still feel that when I listen to it.

Air Stereo - The Damnwells - I felt like I had discovered Tom Petty all over again, but this time he was from Brooklyn, and his name was Alex Dezen. Love this heartland, rock n’ roll record, that didn’t take itself too seriously, but was super sincere at the same time. This record helped me realize that I wanted to play with a band again after doing the solo acoustic singer/songwriter thing for a while.

MTV Unplugged in New York - Nirvana - No joke, this was the second CD I ever bought. I mentioned earlier that when I heard “Heart-Shaped Box” on TV, I wanted to play like that...but had no understanding how to. When I got an acoustic guitar, and saw that Nirvana played acoustic music too, I was sold. I learned every song on that record.

Tom Petty’s Greatest Hits - Tom Petty - I know. It’s incredibly lame to list a greatest hits record, but that was my first exposure to Tom Petty. I never listened to someone that made me want to write as much as he did, and he always made me feel like I could write like he did.

You Are My Sunshine - Copeland -This record made me want to explore everything that I could do with my own voice, and also made me realize that vibe matters, a lot. I also started playing way more electric guitar after spending about a year listening to this record, so I’m thankful for that too.

What is the best advice you have received?

“It’s hard to steer a parked car.”

How did COVID-19 affect you and your music career?

Like many musicians, live performances came to almost a complete standstill during the initial stages of COVID-19. The benefit I did not expect was time in quiet reflection, and time spent with my family enjoying the “mundane.” I wrote this upcoming record during that time. I also realized that I don’t really prefer streaming concerts, because you don’t really connect with people during them...or, at least, I haven’t figured out how to connect with people during them.

Tell us about your single, Halfway There. How did it come about?

During the stay-in portion of the pandemic, I read lots of articles talking about how alcoholism was becoming more acceptable, and more of a problem in people’s lives. I had a friend who I hadn’t seen for a year, and when I saw him for the first time after we had all basically stayed in for a year, he had gained about 30 pounds and told me it was because of “drinking copious amounts of alcohol.” It caused me to realize my own tendencies toward excess during the last few months, and how easy it is to rationalize having “just one more.” So, I wrote a song about it. It has somewhat of a 60’s feel to the choruses, which, I think juxtaposes (I have to use that word in every interview that I do) the feelings of feeling on top of the world to what we are actually experiencing when we keep adding drinks to the queue.

What’s next for you? Please explain.

I’ve got a record coming out in September called “The Desert.” I recently signed a publishing deal earlier this year, so hopefully these songs will get out to the ears of more people than I have with previous records, and it will have an effect on them. That’s always my hope with a new record.

How can fans-to-be gain access to your music and follow your career?

I’ve got music on all the major streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple, Amazon, etc.) and I still order CD’s, if people still have a device that will allow them to play those. I update my show calendar on my website, therealmattjones.com, and mostly post updates on Instagram and Facebook. My Insta handle is @therealmattjones and you can search The Real Matt Jones on Facebook.