Danny Matos – Q&A Interview

Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? How long have you been making Hip Hop?

I’m from New York City, New York. I was born and raised in a neighborhood called Yorkville that has a lot of history. It’s since been gentrified like many other neighborhoods within the five boroughs. In fact, I even found a New York Times article from the 1980’s saying the neighborhood is becoming way more expensive. My great grandparents raised my grandmother there, and my mom was raised there as well.

I’ve always wanted to write, perform, and “rap,” but I never allowed myself to do so for various personal reasons. I would write random bars here and there, but I never thought they were any good and didn’t really know how to expand my thoughts. I started writing poetry a little over two years ago and began performing at various open mics and poetry slams, but my influence has always been Hip Hop. A lot of my material would involved complex rhyming patterns, and like I said, since I always wanted to do it, I started writing to beats about a year and a half ago.

What influences you in making Hip Hop?

Life influences me. My experience influences me. Loss influences me. Injustice influences me. Love influences me. Loneliness influences me. Rhyming influences me in the ability to not only bend words, but to use words that may not be used often. I always like to think if my mind can come up with it, then it must exist somewhere in the world. I’m fascinated with the idea that two people from very distant places can feel the same thing at the same time even within the context of different experiences and circumstances. Feelings are universal.

Describe your music, and what separates you from other MCs?

I think of my music as Human. I feel like I’m different than many MC’s because I’m not afraid to either talk about serious issues, but I’m also not afraid to be honest and talk about feelings either how I personally feel or how someone else personally feels. I’m not afraid to say I’m not always confident, and I don’t shy away from the idea of not knowing everything because I really don’t know anything. Things change constantly.

Who have you collaborated with? Who would you like to collab with in the near future?

I’ve collaborated with some indie.underground artists like myself – people who I’ve met from open mics and various other featured events.

I’d love to collaborate with so many people. I can’t even name them. Honestly though, I think it’s equally important to collaborate with people who share your outlook and people who don’t There are a lot of creative concepts that can be drawn from differences as long as respect is present.

Your definition of “Underground Hip Hop”?

Underground Hip Hop is really no different than mainstream stuff. The only difference is placement and perception. There is a lot of talent in this world, and sometimes it blows my mind how something I come across is not more widely recognized. I try my very best to stay away from definitions and labels in general because things can get tricky. A mainstream artist can be considered mainstream because they’re simply exposed to the public more than someone “underground.” However, that may not make them any different. I genuinely feel there is no difference aside from circumstance, but even then, it’s really just a matter or who’s listening.

Production wise, who are your influences? Who does your production? And who would you like to work with?

I’ve leased or purchased the beats on my project. I wasn’t someone in high school and college who was particularly outgoing, so I didn’t meet a lot of people. I simply looked online extensively for beats that I liked. There are so many sounds I like, so I can’t really narrow it down. I’m particularly drawn to piano, guitar, heavy drum patterns, but that’s not a ceiling either. I really like almost anything that my ears feel sounds good. Again, there’s so many people I’d like to work with. At this point, I’m really looking for producers who want to work with me and who want to make sounds specifically for me in the studio together. I feel there is something special and organic about a relationship like that.

Any current or future projects you are promoting?

The project I’m promoting now is called “Nothing Without You” which I just released. I’m already working on my second project as we speak.

Can you give us a brief description of the creative process of your latest album “NOTHING WITHOUT YOU”? Also/ tell us a little bit about the concept and idea behind your Album Cover Art.

I really just recorded a bunch of songs, and then I looked for common themes. Once I had that, I looked for a way to end the album with a little foreshadowing because the ending of this one will connect with the beginning of the next. At least that’s how it’s planned right now.

The cover art in inspired by the quote “If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound.” I’m fascinated by that quote because it relates to human interaction. If one of the best artists alive is making music, but no one pays attention, is it still the best. If a light is on, but you can’t see it – is it still on?

There was a very well known violinist who sat in a bus/train terminal somewhere (I forget the exact location). They played for hours while people walked by mindlessly not paying attention. The same dude played for a sold out theatre the nigh before. This life is a game of perception, and that’s the concept of the cover art.

In addition to that, “Nothing Without You” is honestly dedicated to the people who give me a fair shot. It’s dedicated to the people who have and are going to listen to me and take me serious. It’s my way of saying thank you before anything big happens because I think people forget that pivotal part of the equation sometimes.

We are absolutely nothing without support.

Where can we find your music and info?

You can find my music at: https://soundcloud.com/dmatos-1 and if you don’t always have that direct link, you can always type DMatos105 in google and it’ll come up.

You can also find my on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/DMatos105 and
Instagram at: DMatos105

Any shout outs?

I would like to shoutout my mom, Ethel, as well as Jay Bombaye, DJ Zeke, Keon Torres, Samantha Leon, Charlie Scott, David Rey Martinez, Charlie Scott, Mark Arreaga, Jake Matthews. I’m sure there’s a few I missed. I apologize!

https://soundcloud.com/dmatos-1/sets/nothing-without-you