MATTHEW DEAR
A slightly different frequency
interview: Daniel Perlaky
images: courtesy Matthew Dear
International and intergalactic, Matthew Dear resonates at a slightly different frequency than most of us are used to – his slight tampering with our dials remixes this moment and nudges us towards a dark, seductive detour. Just ask any of your audiophile DJ friends what they think and the places they've been with a Matthew Dear cinematic soundtrack leading their imaginations – they'll likely reminisce about the unsettling vibrancy of Berlin DIY masquerades or about the day the palm trees turned black in Echo Park.
Having recently released his Headcage EP on Ghostly as limited vinyl and digital, Matthew Dear dispatched this correspondence from some wayward corner of insomniac Europe.
As a kid what's something you recall being really proud of?
I loved going to carnivals in Texas when I was a child. One of my earliest feats was riding a ride called The Zipper. You got in a steel cage with a friend and it went straight up into the air on a track doing somersaults. I remember being sore for about two days after that.
What's a dustbin record you think a younger version of yourself should discover as soon as possible?
Precious - Definition Of A Track (In Motion)
You have a sweet new record out yourself -- what are some hidden or little-known things about it you think musicians would appreciate?
There is one song on the album that uses sounds from the street outside my studio. I opened a window during a vocal take.
If you were deaf and had to visualize your music, what would a few snapshots look like?
My songs are about my life, and the people I share it with. I could think of my songs and be reminded of the experiences that made those songs. I would see images of those I love.
You co-founded Ghostly International -- what was your hope for it and have you achieved it? Or is the goal perpetually moving into a fog ahead?
The vision to release provocative music has been achieved. We are pleased with where we find ourselves, and what we’ve accomplished, but are far from finished. We are constantly looking for new music from our established artists, as well as new artists from around the world.
I look for a blend of obscure and familiarity. My favorite acts make me feel comfortable and mesmerized at the same time.
Are you involved with selecting artists? And what do you look for in them?
I keep an ear open when I am on tour. The road is a great place to hear new music, whether it be when I am DJ’ing or playing with my band. I look for a blend of obscure and familiarity. My favorite acts make me feel comfortable and mesmerized at the same time.
"I could think of my songs and be reminded of the experiences that made those songs. I would see images of those I love."
Is there an art space (official or non) you go to that you can count on for inspiration, and what about it makes it special?
There is still a lot of street art in flux on the streets of Brooklyn. I enjoy seeing one or two word slogans here and there. Text. There will be occasional pieces left on the sidewalk. They are interesting to look at.
What's a neighborhood you'd be proud to be the unofficial mayor of? Please describe it a bit (what do you see, smell or hear?).
Any Shel Silverstein poem. Everything would be upside down and right side out.
Where in your travels were you struck by how stylish people were?
Style is not as important as self expression. I enjoy seeing people having a good time and being expressive. This happens all over the world, but I’ve seen it most recently in Mexico City, St. Louis and El Paso.
Is your personal style more Scandinavian Winter Sun or Harajuku Neon Dust or something else entirely?
I enjoy wearing suits and button up shirts.
Download "In The Middle (I Met You There)"
+ Matthew Dear website
+ Ghostly International
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