After returning from his third and final deployment in 2010, Matt Williams discovered another battle waiting for him here at home. PTSD and depression loomed near, as he had been wounded - and two of his best friends were killed - by an IED attack during his last tour in Afghanistan. Things only seemed to intensify when Matt's father passed just three weeks after he had returned home from the Army. Matt desperately sought an outlet where he could direct his emotion, and he turned back to his roots: MUSIC.
Matt's love of music stretches back as far as he can remember. His mother bought him a drum set at 18 months and he never looked back, learning piano by ear, singing in the choir at church, even becoming one of the top marching snare drummers in the country while in high school. Matt found a solace in music that he couldn't find elsewhere, and it became the perfect emotional outlet. "I began writing the story of my life in the form of songs that I hope other people can relate to in many different ways. I want to tell the world about my life to show that I’m not ashamed of who I am and that no one is perfect. Music, along with God, really can save the soul, and it can influence and impact people in ways that they cannot do for themselves. Music saved my life in more ways than one and I believe that it can help others as well." Here, Matt answers his Essential 8 and talks writing, success and struggle, Eric Church, and more. Where do you draw inspiration from when writing? I draw my inspiration through life. I don't just want to write fun songs, I want to write songs that the people will love and relate to on a personal level. What has been your biggest success? My biggest success is hearing the stories from my fans about how my music got them through hard times and that I am someone they look up to. Changing someone's life for the better is something money can't buy. Is drinking at gigs a positive or a negative? For me, a negative. I personally feel that if you have people paying money to come see you as an entertainer then you are obligated to give them the best show of your life every single time. Drinking definetly doesn't allow you to do that, but after the show, yeah have a nice cold one and talk to your fans! 
Who would you love to collaborate with?
Eric Church! He is the reason I am in country music today. His song "Sinners Like Me" spoke to me in a way that no other song has. It was my life in a song and in my opinion, the best song I've ever heard. What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out? Be real and be honest about everything. Fans will appreciate you more when they can understand you on a personal level. They will relate to you and stay with you through your career. When/where do you do your best writing? That's hard to say really. I don't write unless I have something to write about. Again, I write about life so when it comes to me, I'll write wherever I am so I don't lose the moment. What has been your biggest struggle so far? My struggle has been getting to radio. I want to be there because I want everyone to hear these stories, but we all know it's not easy as an independent artist to to get that fish in the boat, lol. What’s your dream venue and why? All of them! There will be no greater feeling than to be on any grand stage and hearing the crowd sing my songs. I'll stop singing completely and just take it in and thank them for fulfilling my dream. Website/Facebook/Twitter
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |