Matt Jaffe interview with Scott McGlynn

Matt Jaffe is an American Singer/Songwriter, and founder of the band “Matt Jaffe & The Distractions”, I Skype called Matt to have a Q&A check it out..

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Scott – Your a amazingly talented singer/ performer who inspired you growing up?

Matt – My main inspirations are songwriters. The people who originally motivated me to write and perform were mostly punk rock and New Wave folks like David Byrne, Elvis Costello, Joe Strummer, and Debbie Harry. Recently, I’ve been really inspired by country music and Americana, artists like Hank Williams, Lucinda Williams, Gram Parsons, Townes Van Zandt. Some of my favorite musicians, like John Doe and Old 97’s bridge these worlds really well.

Scott – Can you remember the first record your bought?

Matt – I believe the first album I owned was “How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb,” by U2. Although I really dig some of U2’s earlier stuff, that particular record didn’t do too much for me. The first actual vinyl album that blew me away was Elvis Costello’s debut, “My Aim is True.” I found it in my parents’ basement, and wouldn’t stop spinning it.

Scott – Your YouTube channel is a massive hit, Tell me which was your favourite one to film?

Matt – My favorite one we have up right now is a live video of our tune “Wander No More” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJQTYtakV-0). It was filmed live, and I remember feeling very free during that performance.

Scott – I seen your performed in some great places what’s been your most remember-able and why?

Matt – I really enjoyed playing at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa. It had terrific portraits of Hank Williams and Bob Wills and Loretta Lynn and other incredible country acts. I felt catapulted by that history. And the people in Tulsa are real nice.

Scott – Your new song “Write A Song About Me” is my personal favourite, Can you tell us what the song is about?

Matt – It’s meant to be a narrative of a relationship. A pretty commonplace relationship, one that goes sour pretty quickly. The twist is that the song sort of begins en media res with me being asked to write her a song, but only doing so in spite after that loving feeling had decayed. The style of the music was meant to be a rockabilly travelogue a la Johnny Cash.

Scott – If you had the chance to do a collaboration with anyone in the world who would it be and why?

Matt – I’d like to star in an Alfred Hitchcock movie. I don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon.

Scott – Have you ever thought about going on American Idol or The X Factor USA?

Matt – Not really. I don’t think original music belongs on those shows.

Scott – What advice would you give to anyone who is looking to start out in the music industry solo or band?

Matt – Find a pure love of songwriting and performing. If you’re doing it for money or attention or celebrity or any other kind of external validation, you’re going to be very disappointed, even if you succeed. If you love music for music, nobody can take that from you.

Scott – Do you advice to start up a YouTube channel?

Matt – I’m not sure, but I think people like videos that make them feel close to the artist, stuff filmed at home or in a DIY style. They want connection.

Scott – What is your 3 top emoji’s you use all the time?

Matt – I’m afraid I don’t use emojis very much, but I like the dog emoji where its the profile of a dog, the dog emoji where its the head of a dog, and the thumbs up is a timeless standby.