In RGM Magazine’s latest interview, Chase Matthews reminisces about his childhood making music, the current state of the industry and how Chase the Feeling creates music in a post-pandemic and always-connected world.
Hiya folks thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today, grab a brew and take a seat.
I hear you have a new music, what can you tell us about it.
It’s our first single and pairs nicely with a hot summer day, a few friends and a garden BBQ.
Introduce us everyone and your musical history.
“I’m Chase Matthews and write and produce music for Chase the Feeling. I’ve been producing multi-genre music for the last few years and have had the chance to work with some great new upcoming artists. SILKI is the lead vocalist for this release and she has been active in the Manchester house and DJ scene releasing music to great critical response under the name of GOUX. Xerxes-K provides supporting vocals from all the way over in sunny California and has been releasing and producing melodic house and EDM with other artists from all around the world.“
Talk me through the thought process of the new tune.
“…as a recording band and starting from quite literally no fans, it was important that our first single attract as many listeners from our genre range as possible. We needed to give them something that sounded familiar but also hints at our tone and of things to come. It was a bit of a strategical play as we needed to cast a wide net to get things rolling – but the best is by far yet to come!“
What was the recording process like?
“Off the back of the pandemic and remote working, I decided I wanted to [work on remote collaborative projects], so our recording process is broken up into stages. I would work on some ideas and then share them with the others. We would all then lay down some versions and suggestions going back and forth until we get something we liked. We all have home studios which allow us to record quality stems that we then bounce about between us until we get to what we want and then I take it away and pull it all together.“
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tune?
“Patience. Typically, when you’re jamming together, you see the final product taking shape. Whereas working remotely, you have to wait patiently for your turn and the next stage to hear how your ideas are coming together.“
“…starting from quite literally no fans, it was important that our first single attract as many listeners from our genre range as possible…”
What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
“I’ve grown up surrounded by music so it’s hard to pin-point when it became a “thing” as it has always just kinda been there. I remember splicing and mixing music with my older brother back in the 80’s using a couple of tape decks all wired up together, some makeshift mics and keyboard. Boy did it sounded bad, but I’ve basically been doing this since I was writing lyrics in crayons. Saying that, it was probably when I discovered music sequence tracking software on my Amiga when I was like, hell yeah, this I can do! Since then, bedroom producing has come on leaps and bounds to where you can have an entire digital studio in the spare room in your house.“
Name me your 3 favorite albums.
“Albums? I can barely name the artist currently playing on my Spotify account. I think that living in a world of playlists, recommendations and music discovery, music as a collection has become disconnected. Which is sad, because I remember buying a CD and listening to it to death, reading and re-reading the inlay and committing the lyrics to memory – but now we’ve traded in our carefully curated collection of 50 CDs for millions of songs at our fingertips. It’s sad – but I love how we can discover new music every second of every day. However, I’m surprised my CD player didn’t burn a whole in my copy of All Killer No Filler by Sum 41.“
– However, I’m surprised my CD player didn’t burn a whole in my copy of All Killer No Filler by Sum 41
What was the first song you heard that steered you into a music path?
If I’m embarrassingly honest, it was when I heard Whenever You’re Ready by 5 Star as a kid. I know it isn’t a profound song by a legendary artist and is just a snippet of pop culture long forgotten about, but I loved the up-beat synth sounds and killer breakdance baseline along with the poppy vocals bouncing over the top of it. It’s just always stuck with me and pushed me into the more fun side of music from pop-punk to electronic pop.
The music industry is the hardest industry in the world to progress in, how do you feel you are doing?
“Well, we launched our first song about a month ago to a whopping zero fans. Since then we’ve got tens of thousands of plays, hundreds of followers, got air time on BBC radio and I’m doing this interview. We’re probably as far away from “getting into the industry” as you can possibly get – but you have to start somewhere.“
As you develop as an artist and develop using socials what ways do you get new ears on your music? Any tips?
“Get on some good playlists, there’s lots out there, find them and contact the owner. Also, collaborate with other similar artists, that way you can feed off each other’s audience.“
Remixes and covers by Chase the Feeling
What are your thoughts on Spotify’s monopoly on the music industry?
If you’re successfully providing a product that people find useful and shake up the industry while doing so, then you deserve the monopoly. There’s competition with the likes of Apple and Amazon, but they typically tie that into their wider products and have other agendas. Spotify is purely music, they do one thing, and they do it right.
Tell us two truths and a lie about you.
- I lie
- I never lie
- I just lied
Do you sign up to any conspiracy theories?
“The truth is out there.”
Did you buy anything you don’t need in the pandemic?
“You mean apart from half the world’s stock of hand sanitizer?“
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
“As Bill and Ted say, be excellent to each other and party on, dudes.“