“Ecstatic to present “Quickly Aging Here,” my new EP, with you all — 5 songs I’ve been working on for what feels like ages.
Two of these songs were started as far back as 2021, the final completed in 2024; my life has, to put it mildly, improved exponentially since then, and — as I mixed the last few months — I became increasingly aware of the lyrical, textural, and atmospheric changes that accompanied this growth. It’s been a fascinating lesson in the often subconscious ways that transformation surfaces in our art.
As I see it, “Quickly Aging Here,” bookends my time in Austin, where everything changed for the better — I hope it comes through in these songs.
Thanks for all the support, my friends, I hope you enjoy.”
This was the message that I received with the submission for this EP.
I stumbled upon Matthew’s music during our collaboration on Z Tapes, a cherished memory that goes back in time. However, even before that, I had written about his music on our blog. It’s a common occurrence for me to discover an artist, and then we converse about a potential release after I write about their music. Although we haven’t released his latest EP yet, it is undoubtedly a masterpiece that I would love to release in the future. If you feel the same and would like to own this EP on tape, do let us know, so we can make potentially arrangements.
Matthew’s music is a perfect blend of indie folk pop with alt-country vibes and a slacker lo-fi rock undertone that elevates the overall feel of the music. The texture of Matthew’s voice is enchanting, pulling me into his songs time and time again. With every listen, this new EP grows on me, and I can already tell it’s going to be a staple on my playlist for a while.
The EP is a treasure trove of sounds and nuances that contribute to its colorful and intriguing nature. Every element of the music is thoughtfully crafted, and every note plays an essential part in creating a beautiful melody that can make you feel it in your bones. It’s the kind of EP that can transport you somewhere else entirely, allowing you to escape into a world of pure blissful listening. Overall, this EP is a thing of beauty that deserves to be recognized and celebrated.
I reached out to Matthew and asked our 3 Qs:
What inspired you to start making music and what keeps you making music?
The first few DIY Bright Eyes, Elliott Smith, and Microphones records were a revelation at age 15 or so. They ingrained in me a lifelong love of sonic texture, and recording has been an inextricable part of my songwriting process ever since. I think the recording process is what keeps me returning to music; there’s something therapeutic about carving a sound to match a feeling.
What was the most challenging thing in your music (artistic) path?
Learning to finish songs — to overcome that impulse to rush and release — took longer than it probably should have. Often, once you’re like 80% finished with a song or project, there’s a point when it can become sort of a drag — something’s always missing, could always sound sharper, etc. It took me a while to learn that, as liberating as the art-making process is, it requires a certain amount of discipline to see things through until the end. It’s a lesson I’m constantly relearning!
What would you dream to do if anything was possible?
Currently, I’m finishing up the first year of an MFA program, so most of my time is spent on poetry. If anything were possible, I’d aspire towards a more perfect synthesis of music and poetry, like David Berman of the Silver Jews — find a niche where I’m able to devote all my time to both, release as much as possible