Alli's Articles
INTERVIEWS, REVIEWS, CULTURE PIECES, MUSICAL RAMBLINGS.
As you’ve seen by the very obvious influx of “New Scene, New Paltz” articles, I’ve been very, very busy. I’ve met with multiple artists so far on SUNY New Paltz’ campus, and they’ve all changed my view on the music scene for the better. I’ve been absolutely overwhelmed with all of the musicians I’ve befriended, but it’s a beautiful feeling. The connection I feel with the community here has heightened, and it’s only getting higher from here. This past Tuesday in the SUNY New Paltz Student Union Building lounge, I sat with Matt Motherway and Jack Salzman, who make up the New Paltz-based indie band Man’s Mother. They released their first EP under this name, Scudder Sessions, this October. Since then, they’ve been releasing singles and demos on their Spotify and Soundcloud. Their newest release, a two song EP titled For The Better, was just put out this Friday. I take a psychology class with Matt, and I’ve been listening to their EP and singles a lot lately. This was definitely an interview I was very excited to conduct. Alli: At what age did you guys start making music together? Matt: We were in 6th grade, we were in DMJ Squared, a stupid pop band. We played, like, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and what was the other one… Jack: He was drumming, I was playing guitar, and there was no bass player. It was totally switched. Matt: There were two singers, that we’re friends with now, but it was awful. Oh, we played Neon Trees, and we would perform in, like, talent shows. So yeah, that was like the origin of it. God, that’s disgusting. Alli: Oh my god, Neon Trees. I forgot they existed. Now, I feel like I know the answer to this already, but what’s the meaning behind your band name? Matt: Oh, it’s so deep... Jack: Is it deep? Matt: Not at all. My last name is Motherway, and his last name is Salzman. Jack: But that’s not even why I said it though! I don’t even know why it came out of my mouth. I think we were just talking about “mother…" Matt: Yeah, no. When he said that, I didn’t even realize it until he explained. I think it has such a cool ring to it. Like if you don’t know our last names, I think it’s so cool, but once you know our last names it’s like “Oh, that was so not creative.” Jack: Some people didn’t get it though! Matt: I didn’t get it, and I’m involved... Alli: Yeah, I kinda figured it was your last names, but it just sounds coincidentally awesome. Who are some of your biggest inspirations musician-wise? Matt: We have some different ones. Recently, while we’ve been writing the stuff that we’re putting out now, I’ve been listening to a lot of Bon Iver, huge inspiration for both of us, Ray LaMontagne, and I listen to The 1975 constantly. But inspiration-wise, I’d say definitely John Mayer, I can’t lie and say he’s not an inspiration. Jack: For me, I guess, Ben Howard is big with the acoustic stuff. Grateful Dead, we’re not even realizing it, but they play a huge part in our music, especially the way we play live. Mac Demarco was also a huge inspiration for synths in our music. Alli: What do you want people to feel when they listen to your music? Matt: Wow. Um...lemme sit on that for a sec. I guess the stuff that we’re putting out Friday, that’s like, happier than our other stuff. It’s more up-tempo. Jack: I think there’s potential in all of our songs to travel with the music, in a sense. I think that’s a cool dynamic to have with a crowd, they could, like, feel it. They could feel where it’s going. Matt: Lyrically, half of the shit I’m saying doesn’t necessarily make any sense, but it works in our favor, because you can kinda interpret it however you would like. Everyone will interpret it differently. But it’s more about the connection. You can just enjoy it in however way you internalize it. Alli: I was gonna tell you guys how your songs make me feel before, but I didn’t want to influence your answer. *laughs* I get a very warm, welcoming, and just a very comfortable vibe from it. Jack: Yeah. “Love U,” it’s just trippy, man. It just feels like a dream Alli: Yeah, I agree. Huge fan of that single. You recently came out with your first EP, Scudder Sessions. What was the writing/recording process of that like? Jack: That was fun. That was one of the best weeks ever. All of the songs Matt pretty much had a base for. We wrote one from start to finish here, by the lake. Matt: Yeah, “From Delaware.” We sat down by the lake and wrote that one. But all the other ones have been in the bank for a while. We went to my dorm room in Scudder Hall, and put a mic in the middle of the floor and sat on the sides of it. We just sang and played guitar. It’s pretty much a live album. We don’t know what we’re doing mastering or mixing wise, so it’s not mastered or mixed at all. We just recorded it and put it out there. It was wholesome, I loved it, but I would love to remaster it at some point. Alli: For the “Best Of” album, for the “Greatest Hits!” But yeah, I loved that vibe, personally. I felt like I was in the dorm room with you guys, like just sitting there on the floor, while listening to it. And also, I really like the designs of your newest single covers. They totally fit your sound. Matt: Ohhh, where is he?! Alli: Oh, it’s a guy who makes them? I was gonna ask if you guys make those covers yourselves! Jack: No, we have no artistic ability whatsoever. Matt: No, none at all. It’s our friend who makes them, he also goes here. His name is Paulie, He makes all of them, but he’s super scared about putting them out. He’s in our Spotify Bio, it says all artistic aspects courtesy of Paulie Tucci, and he’s like, scared, to be put out there. Jack: He’s a graphic design major! It’s good stuff! Matt: Yeah, I really love what he did with the Scudder Sessions cover, and what he’s doing with the singles. Alli: Yeah, it is! Like the crumpled paper effect? How does he do it? I love it! Matt: I have no idea, but I love it too. It’s so cool. Alli: Right?! He deserves the recognition. How are you enjoying the New Paltz music scene so far? Jack: I can see it in everyone, everyone is really into music to an extreme degree here. Matt: I like that, that a lot of people are involved in it, and pretty much everyone is interested in it. We went to one show, at the Skatehouse I think, and I like the vibe. We just have no idea, personally, how to get involved. Like we’re putting out music and stuff, but… Jack: I’m sure eventually it’ll be easier. Matt: Yeah, hopefully we’ll try and figure it out. I saw Andre (Sleeked)’s answer, and I was like “Yeah, that’s kinda true, too.” His was like “It’s a lot of the same sounds,” and you and I both agree with it. Not even the same exact band, but a similar type of music. Like the show we were at, it was all kind of punk rock-ish, which I can appreciate, but I just feel like there needs to be a little more diversity. Alli: Yes, exactly! And hopefully, you guys get booked, because I feel like a nice little acoustic show would be a good change. It’s weird, when I first started asking that question, I thought everyone would be like “Oh, I love it,” but then everyone was like “Actually...there are some issues.” *laughs* I really hope that all gets fixed. Matt: I feel like if everyone’s aware of it, then hopefully it’ll start to fix itself. Alli: Yeah, it definitely has the potential to do that. But that’s why I keep on asking that question, because I like the topics that are being brought up. My last question is...what’s next for the band? Are you guys looking to release a full length album soon? Jack: Yeah! Right now, in total, we got like 16 or 17 songs? Matt: I think we have a good amount of songs that we’re probably gonna split into two albums, like two 8 or 7-song albums. Jack: And right now we’re trying to figure out how to perform it live. Matt: It’s hard with two guys to get all of the production and everything set up. But yeah, hopefully by sometime next year after the long winter break, we’re hoping to put out one of the two albums. Jack: I just wanna play live so badly here. Matt: Yeah, that’s our biggest thing. Before we put an album out we want to get a live performance together. ~~ Thanks so much to Matt and Jack for taking the time to sit with me and answer my questions! I really love their sound, and I hope you do, too. I can tell that they’re going to do great things, and hopefully they play a live show sometime soon. Listen to Man’s Mother on Spotify! Follow them on Instagram!
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