Matthew Koma Interview

Matthew Koma Interview The Grammy Award winning Matthew Koma is back with his brand new single ‘Kisses Back’. With a new album on the way and a huge tour set to follow, we caught up with the super talented writer, producer and remixer recently to talk about his new album, Japan and the importance of Bruce Springsteen.

Matthew Koma Interview Hi Matthew, how are you?
I am currently on the favorable side of manic.

Where are you right now and how is it?
Right now I’m in Los Angeles recording, writing and getting ready to head to New York for the holidays to see some family.
What’s this week been like for you?
I drank a ton of coffee, wrote a song with Steve James, saw Jonathan Richman play something along the lines of a concert, and am getting ready to release a bunch of acoustic versions of songs from my album.

So, your new single is called ‘Kisses Back’ – can you tell us a bit more about what this track is about?
It’s a song about infidelity. I think we’ve all been in relationships that ended with some version of deceit…I wrote the song on the piano in a sitting and tapped my buddy Flux Pavilion to bring the track to life with his world of production. It feels like a good introduction into the album I’ve made.

Can you tell us a bit more about your new album that is coming out?
It’s the first time I’ve gotten to dig in and work on a body of work that is completely mine. It’s truly my story and I got to work with some incredible producers on it like Louis The Child, Jai Wolf, Grey, Steve James, Flux, Lophiile… I think for people who have heard my voice or songs through other collaborations, the album will make a lot of sense as a natural progression… and for the new audience, they’ll get a real look into who I am and where I come from.

Your song ‘Clarity’ won you a Grammy award; did you ever expect to win such a prestigious award when you started out in music? How did it affect you?
I don’t think a “Grammy” was ever something I even thought about…It’s such a far fetched thought or dream when you’re first starting out that it hadn’t even registered as a possibility. That particular song took on a life of its own and I could never have predicted any of it. It was an exciting ride.

Out of all the places you’ve got to travel to on tour what is the country that you fell in love with the most and why?
I love spending time in Japan. I’m a sushi fanatic and I’ve always dug getting clothes in Tokyo. It’s just a really fun city to spend time in. Lots of beauty. Lots of culture. Lots of music.

Do you often get time on tour to soak in the culture?
Very rarely. I tend to work around the clock and when I’m traveling, I’m usually in and out of places very quickly.

You are a self-proclaimed writer, producer and remixer, but what do you consider to be your speciality when it comes to making music?
That’s a really interesting question. I think at the core, I always wanted to be a storyteller. To tell a story in your own way, that can resonate universally is such an exciting idea to me. I love being a part of that process because it’s part craft but mostly magic. Something that’s delivered to you. There’s something still really romantic about that for me.

Your brand of music is not typically known as a lyricist genre but you seem to break that stereotype. Is this something you strive to change with your work?
I think it’s more just a reflection of what I grew up listening to and being influenced by matched with a unique opportunity to collaborate with artists from a different set of references. I feel very lucky to have had the ability to work with so many artists in the electronic world and still maintain what it is that I’ve always been happy doing.

What was your biggest highlight of 2016?
I got to introduce my father to Bruce Springsteen who my dad turned me onto when I was 5 years old… It was my first concert and a huge part of my father and I’s bond. To see that come full circle was really special.

What does 2017 hold for you Matthew?
Releasing more music of my own than I ever have before!

What country are you most looking forward to visiting in the coming year?
Australia. I’ve never been and am dying to go.

What’s on your Christmas wish list this year?
Sweatpants.