Memphis-born and Mississippi-bred, Matt Hectorne understands the musical pedigree of his home states. And while he is clearly indebted to the blues, country, and rock n' roll the Mid South has created, he isn’t beholden to any one genre. With a healthy dose of the Heartland rock of the 1970’s and 80’s, Hectorne has developed an amalgam of sound both familiar and distinct. With that foundation, mixed with the 90’s and 2000’s indie-rock that shaped his youth, Hectorne has found a space in the slice of life storytelling and well-worn heart-on-the sleeve ethos that gave way to cultivating his craft - confident, vulnerable, and undeniably human. In advance of his album Work (due 1/19), Hectorne took the time to answer his Essential 8 and discuss the album's title, road life, and much more.
What’s the story behind your album’s title? The title has a tri-fold meaning for me: First, I’m acknowledging the sheer amount of work that goes into making a life in the arts. Especially as a one-man operation, I want people to be aware of the amount of time and dedication it actually takes to make it happen, even on a small scale. I’m proud of all my hard work and want people to know this is at once a labor of love and a necessity for healthy living. Which leads to the second layer: As hard as this job is, I’ve come to accept my fate as it were that this is what I’m doing with my time given in this life. This is what I’m leaving behind. Growing older has made me begin to revere what was once something I did without much purpose (other than feeling compelled to). I’ve been able to separate my identity from making music which has given me the chance to see it more as my art. I see it all now as a concerted focus and craft that I want to continually be growing and learning in. Which then leads to the third and final meaning for me: I have spent the past 2 or 3 years really working on myself as an artist but also on a much deeper, spiritual, and personal level. My perspective as well as my awareness of myself and the world around me has grown exponentially. I’ve slowly been dismantling the trivialities that we let plague our everyday lives. Not only has that gotten rid of a lot of unnecessary anxiety and fear, but it has freed up so much space to see and focus on what really matters. Maybe it is just me “growing up”, but I really think it has been one if not the most significant periods of my life. And I think the lyrics and tone of the album really reflect that discovery as well as the continuing journey to keep expanding and becoming.
What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out?
Just do it. Sounds simple, but the biggest hurdle most people seem to face when it comes to making music is just getting it on the page and/or on record. Definitely put in the work, but know that it’ll never be perfect. You have to write a song, and then another, and then another before you even get close to good at it. Don’t be afraid of failure- there will be a lot of that. But it’s the only way to get better. It’s a craft like anything else - you’ve got to put the time in. Do you have any touring tips? Keep your overhead low. Don’t blow all your money on food/alcohol. Crash on peoples’ floors when possible. And don’t forget: no one has ever heard of you. You’ll have to promote like crazy to get a few people out at first. Network and build relationships with other bands and venues. Be nice. People don’t want to work with bands that show up late, promise things they can’t deliver, and are generally rude/unprofessional. How do you kill the long hours in the van? I don’t really listen to that much music on the road unless I’m really obsessed with a certain record/artist at the moment. I do however listen to a ton of podcasts. I tour by myself a lot, so a bunch of comedy, politics, and interview-based podcasts definitely help with the long drives. What’s the most frustrating thing about being on the road? I would say it’s the waiting. Being away from home for long stretches of time can definitely be uncomfortable, but you learn to find routines and ways to make yourself feel more settled even though you’re constantly on the move. But the name of the game is waiting. Waiting until you’re in the next city. Waiting to load in. Waiting to play. Waiting to leave. Waiting to sleep. It can be challenging or just plain lonesome to try and fill the additional 23 hours a day, but it definitely forces you to be more creative and adventurous with your time. What do you love most about being on the road? It might sound obvious, but more than anything I love being able to connect with people. Whether it’s a friend/fan I only see when I come through their town, or a newcomer that spills their guts to me after a show because one of my songs triggered a deep, seismic conversation. I don’t know if people realize that I get as much if not more out of those interactions than they do. After sitting in your room for 6 months writing a record, spending so much time in the studio to get everything exactly how you want to say it, then driving 4 hours on no sleep to play a show in a small college town to a small group of people there to SEE YOU, it’s the only time when you really see all that work pay off. What’s your dream venue and why? Like a lot of people, I think my dream venue would have to be the Ryman. It might also be my favorite place to see a show. There’s just an energy there that is palpable. It’s a spiritual experience. Playing there would be so surreal- like everyone that’s ever graced that stage would be standing up there with me. It’s heavy. Favorite thing to do on a day off? Since I’m usually on tour by myself, days off are nice to not have to be The Guy (driving, navigating, load in/out, tour manager, etc.). I like to go to the movies, read, catch up on emails, try and find a good napping spot. I like to explore cities and towns more when I’m with my band or someone else to share that experience with, but when I’m out by myself I tend to lay low a little more. For more information Website Purchase
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February 2019
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