Lakeland, Florida artist Matthew Lowry is gearing up to release his new album this Friday, September 15th. The collection of tracks features a blend of Sunshine State inspired rock n roll with an alternative spin. Matthew was kind enough to spend some time with us diving into how it came together and where and when fans can hear some of the new songs live in the coming months.
Congratulations on the upcoming release of “Flamingo County”! It’s a fantastic album that takes its listener on quite a unique journey. Thanks for taking a few minutes to chat with SwitchBitch Noise. What feelings are you experiencing now that we are just days away from it being out in the world?
First of all, thank you very much! It’s honestly just a hot mess of excitement that it will finally be out in the world, and a bit of anxiousness about the album release show being so close. Been putting in a lot of rehearsal with the guys, and gearing up to play all the songs, some of which we have not played live before.. We’re also doing a low country boil for the show to match the album cover and put people in that Flamingo County state of mind. So I’m gearing up to celebrate the with everyone who comes out to join us for that special night.
All that to say, I’m equal parts proud, nervous, and excited. I am definitely ready to let it fly away and do what it will, and I will be here to play the shows and sing the songs to whoever wants to hear them.
What is your ideal atmosphere for song writing? Also, what usually comes first, melody or lyrics?
Oh man, the ideas come whenever they want to, in whatever way they want. I have a lot of weird phrases that come to mind with a melody, and i will try to capture those with a little video on my phone. I watch them back and recreate / mess with the base idea.
I also love just being able to sit and play, and kind of let little ideas come out from wherever in my mind and fingers they escape from. A lot of the time I am just playing to enjoy and the ideas come from that.
Now once I have those basic ideas / melodies, unless the whole thing comes in a flash, I have to sit down and work it into the song I want it to be . That environment for me is normally at my home, with all my piano and guitars in a space I feel comfortable. That way I can just allow myself to work through my little ideas and try things out. Gotta give some songs a chance to breathe.
Which song on Flamingo County was the most difficult and time consuming to write? Which was the easiest?
I think Deconstruction was the most time consuming, from both a musical and lyrical place. The verse and chorus chords were written at two different times. I just had these ideas I realized I wanted to put together. And lyrically I had some real feelings I let flow out, and then had to dig to find the rest of what I wanted to convey. Just the kind of song that takes over a year to really feel like I was done writing. And that was just the chords/lyrics/melody. The instrumentation when we added the full band and made it a rock song was a whole other part of the equation. Micah and I worked through those drum parts over and over to get everything just right. Very proud of that one.
Easiest song was All My Friends Are Selling Out. Can’t have taken more than a half hour to get it out. Just flowed from me once the idea popped in my head while I was messing around on my acoustic guitar one day. Made me feel amazing right away, so that was satisfying.
You’ve got a couple live shows coming up in Tampa and Lakeland in celebration of the album. Do you have any tour plans or other live appearances in the works that fans can look forward to?
We will be heading up to Pensacola at the start of October to play with our good friends in Nervous Pulp who are coming down for the release show. Also doing a few gigs in St Pete and Orlando in early October that will be announced this week as well.
Working on more Florida/Southeast shows over the rest of the year and already starting to see what we can do after the holidays. My wife and I are expecting our first at the end of February, so I’m getting all the shows I can in before I take a month or two off to spend with my little family.
Favorite band you’ve ever seen live and why?
Live music is such a huge part of my life, and the thing that has always brought me so much joy. There are so many performances over the years that impacted me in different ways, but when I saw Manchester Orchestra at The Social in Orlando on the Mean Everything To Nothing Tour, my life was changed. They were already in the running for one of my favorites, but that night confirmed it, and they remain my favorite band to this day. I truly believe that their live show matches and even outshines the already immaculate songwriting that Andy Hull (and all members) bring to the table. I have seen them well over a dozen times and have never been let down, only more in love with what they do.
Can I give some honorable mentions to Underoath, Mute Math, A Day To Remember, and Roger Waters (Pink Floyd).
If you were to cover any one album in its entirety, what would it be and why?
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here My favorite album of all time, as it brings everything amazing about writing music and rock together in one. So much freedom and instinct and pure rock and roll. They made a perfect album, and just being able to play Shine On You Crazy Diamond would make me happy. But the whole album itself, well that would be a feat I would be proud of and would love to give my own interpretation. Now I might have to think about this…
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers, be it music related or something random like the best book or movie you’ve seen recently?
Ya know, I was talking to someone earlier about the song Deconstruction and it’s meaning / what it all shakes down to. And it’s really just a story of someone taking the time to be honest with themselves, ask the tough questions, push forward in life even when you feel beat down and tired, while still figuring out what you really believe and want. It gets scary when you’re in a new frame of mind and it’s not what you may have grown up feeling or thinking. Be that with your worldview, spirituality, thoughts on family and culture, etc.
Take the time to ask yourself the hard questions, and figure out the changes you need to make to be who you want, because you’re the one living your life. You owe it to yourself to be the best you that you can. If you can’t do it for yourself, you won’t be able to do it for anyone else either, and that is what brings life’s greatest joys. Love yourself because you need to, and then you can love others more fully.
Oh, and keep living in that Flamingo County state of mind…
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