Exclusive Interview with Mattiel: On Isolation, Inspirations, and Evolution

1. “Georgia Gothic” was born out of isolation in the Appalachian Mountains. How did being surrounded by nature influence the themes and tone of the album? Were there moments where the isolation felt more inspiring or more daunting?

It was essential to cut out all the noise from the city – Jonah and I wrote that record in about a week in an isolated cabin in north Georgia. It was great for our creativity and that isolation truly inspired the whole album.  I’m really glad we chose to write that way. Every day it was –

 1) coffee / breakfast

2) write for hours

3) dinner

4) write some more

5) sleep —- repeat.

We did that for five or six days straight.

2. Your music often feels like it captures a sense of place, whether it’s the Southern Gothic tones of Georgia Gothic or the more intimate vibe of Somebody’s Knockin’. What do you hope listeners feel when they hear the new single?

I hope they feel the magic that people felt when Somebody’s Knockin’ first came out in the early 80’s. It’s just such a cool song, kinda fusing disco and mainstream country at that time. For a short time it was a huge hit back then. And I had been singing it so much for fun on my own time that I figured I should record it with my friend Troy Stains (who produced the cover we made).

Troy is an amazing producer and musician. That’s very obvious in our recording of that song. We also did a cover of Dylan’s “Tonight I’ll be Staying here with You,” which turned out pretty nice. Our friend Alex Kidd is playing pedal steel on both of those new tracks, too. He rips.

3. Performing “Moon River” with Jeff Goldblum must have been a surreal experience! What was it like sharing the stage with him? Did he bring any of his quirky energy to rehearsals? Is he as alluring in real life as I imagine him to be?

Jeff is one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met. It’s kinda scary. He is extremely focused and present in every moment and he brings you along for the ride. He’s also a true gentlemen – he remembers everyone’s names and mentions his band members and collaborators in his personal interviews. That is not the norm – many people in showbiz don’t take the time to do that because they don’t have to. But he is extremely conscious and gracious about that stuff and I noticed it immediately. 

Playing music with him and his jazz group was very refreshing for me, too. Obviously it’s nothing like playing rock n roll in a dive bar. There’s a lot of room for subtlety and I could really hear myself sing. I was able to do a lot with my voice and I learned a lot on that tour about my own abilities. And I have nothing but love and gratitude toward Jeff for giving me those amazing memories. He’s a guy who creates magic wherever he goes.

4. “Somebody’s Knockin’” has a warm, bluesy texture but also feels modern and sleek. Can you share what inspired the song’s sound and how working with Troy Stains helped bring that vision to life?

Yeah, I think we wanted to stay pretty true to the original recording, but give it a slightly new style. It was originally performed by Terri Gibbs and my vocal delivery is pretty different from hers, but the attitude is the same. It’s pretty funny. She’s like “Oh, I’m being tempted by the Devil! This guy in his blue jeans is trying to get into mine!” Haha

Our production tools are obviously also like, 40 years newer than the ones from the original song. So it’s going to sound a little more modern.

5. Looking back on the themes of Georgia Gothic, there’s this blend of Americana and introspection. Do you feel like the new single builds on those ideas, or does it mark a new chapter for Mattiel’s sound?

Oh, no. We just recorded those country tracks for fun. Absolutely no conceptual agenda there, at least not from me. 

I’m just trying to have more fun these days. But I am working on album 4, which is very introspective and definitely conceptual. It’s 11 tracks so far. Maybe I’ve got a few more in me before it’s all done. 

6. Looking back to when you first formed Mattiel, how has your songwriting process changed? Are there any rituals or habits you’ve developed that help you tap into your creative flow?

I think only recently, in the last two years or so, I’ve realized that I can write entire songs from top to bottom without co-writers and they don’t suck. They’re actually really, really good. 

I surprise myself. I’ve always written all my lyrics, but the musical compositions were often other people’s work. 

And I absolutely love writing songs with other people, too. I still do. But it’s been very important to prove to myself that I can write great songs alone. For some reason gaining that confidence took me ages. 

7. For your fourth album, have you taken a different approach to its creation? Is it more of a “create as you go” process, or have you retreated to another magical location to work on it?

The majority of this next album is my own writing. Mattiel as it exists now is my solo project.

Jonah is focusing on his own projects, not Mattiel anymore. 

So I’ve been writing it, directing it and recording it in London with a couple of producers.”

8. Both Georgia Gothic and Somebody’s Knockin’ showcase a blend of retro influences with a fresh, contemporary edge. If you had to name a song, artist, or memory that feels like the heartbeat of your new single, what would it be—and why?

It’s 1982 and your dad is in the backyard grilling a big steak wearing a trucker hat with a shirt on that’s too small for him. He’s cracking open his 3rd beer and the radio is playing, outside, propped up in a lawn chair, attached to an extension cord running into the side of the house. Then you hear “You’re listening to 98.9 FM, and now, the new hit single from Terri Gibbs, Somebody’s Knockin….” 

Stay tuned for Mattiel’s latest releases and updates on their highly anticipated fourth album. Thanks again to Mattiel Brown for taking the time to answer our questions.