Meet the last Center Stage Artist of 2014 Jeff Matey. Folk, blues and rock n' roll artist who started
playing the guitar at the age of 12. He left his home state of NJ in 1989 to pursue music
in Austin, TX. Before hanging up his guitar in 1998, Jeff made an effort for an entire decade performing in Texas, New Jersey, and New York City.
In
2010 from his new home in Houston, TX he took up the guitar again and started revisiting and re-releasing
some music he had recorded in the 90's. In 2012, the full-length
record of brand new material "Time Doesn't Wait" was release on Jeff's own record label Lone Oak Records. The
record was recorded at SugarHill Recording Studios.
A full stream of the record is available at http://jeffmatey.bandcamp.
Describe your sound in one ramble-on sentence
Drawing
on traditional elements - folk, blues, and rock 'n roll - usually
guitar-based, with a focus on the song, sometimes elaborate, but most
often concise, and always with arrangements that perfectly suit.
What inspires you to make music?
Life, love, and the guitar.
What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?
Right
now I've been most excited about getting out to play in town and
meeting and listening to other musicians, as well as the possibility of
collaborating with others down the road.
What aspect of making music gets you the most discouraged?
I'm
not discouraged about making music at all; I'm more discouraged that I
can't do it more often. These days - and I see it all around me - it's
really hard for most to make a living doing music. I do it because I
love it, but I would hope someday to make a modest living doing it. You
never know.
What's one of your all-time favorite recordings?
There
are so many. Records that you live with for months, playing over and
over again in your car, etc. I have a lot of favorites, from stuff
recorded in the 1920's through to the present day. I'll just throw one
of them out there that's a little out of my genre, but man I just love
it: Mose Allison, "You're Mind is on Vacation." Great record!
Name three people who have influenced your music, and tell us why- Living or dead.
1. Bob Dylan - the words, the melodies, the deep connection it makes to the subconscious mind.
2. the Beatles - cheating here (that's 4 people) but I can't really pick one of them. What can you say? - Greatest songs ever.
3.
Daniel Lanois - I really felt a strong connection to his sound which
has it's own unique character no matter who he's producing. I like the
studio bands he puts together, the arrangements, the sonics of his
recordings.
+ many more!
Do you have any recent or upcoming projects you'd like to share with us? Tell us about it.
I
just finished a major project, my new record 'Two Trees, Three Leaves.'
I intend to focus on performing for the time being, making music in
the moment. That's where it's at for me now.
What do you like the most about Radio Airplay?
I
like the fact that you have an international audience, and I really
appreciate all the great feedback and support from the listeners.
Press release for my latest record (2014) can be found in this link: