Matthew Hannon: An exploration of solo artistry
Signifying the start of his solo journey, Matthew Hannon released his debut album, Matthew Hannon’s Thesis, on July 7th. As a long-time musician, Hannon is ready for fans to take a peek into his indie inspired musicality and emotional lyricism. It is with great pleasure that TGR introduces our one-on-one interview with Matthew Hannon who aims to share his musical passion and connection with the world in a new light.
Image provided by Jordan Bradford
When asked about the inspiration behind the debut album that manifested his solo journey, Matthew Hannon’s Thesis, Hannon remarked that “the main ones (within multiple different inspirations) were falling in love, feeling inadequate, being emotionally and physically exhausted, and just really wanting to leave some kind of impact through my art.”
With the use of instrumentation in songs such as Kafka and Quiet Moments, Hannon instantly draws listeners into a state of being. These thought-provoking pieces, although slow, allow space to find similarities in the things Hannon writes about to our own lives. Specifically, Hannon writes, “It’s those quiet, quiet moments that tell me I’m in love” in Quiet Moments, reflecting on finding love. Whether young and naive or older and wiser, we all can relate to the foreign feeling of falling in love that Hannon encapsulates.
If Matthew Hannon could describe his own music genre, he expresses that he would agree with his girlfriend who categorized his music with Clairo, as a boy. “I can’t really argue with that…I’d recommend my stuff to fans of Elliott Smith, Phil Elverum, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Silver Jews, as I’m similarly lo-fi, DIY, and lyrically focused as them.”
With such broad comparisons, Matthew Hannon’s dream collaboration would be Paul Westerberg, in hopes of producing something with him – not solely focused on cowriting. These aspirations feed Hannon’s hope of becoming more experienced in producing.
Since Hannon is experienced in contemporary writing and production, as a Berklee alumni, he says “music has been one of the only ways I’ve been able to fully express emotions that I can’t always put into words. It’s a way to relieve the intensity of my sadness and anger and…a way for me to augment my joy. No matter if I’m writing from a negative or positive headspace.”
This is especially important to help maintain Hannon’s mental health as he continues to delve into the music industry. Musicians have begun relying heavily on social media to spread their music. Due to this fact, our reliance on the media has plagued our connection to humanity. It is not uncommon for artists to become engulfed in opinions and become pressured by their careers. Hannon’s undeniable passion for his craft is his light. It, not only, highlights his dedication but his selflessness in sharing with the world.
Starting early in his musical career at Berklee, Hannon shared that his secret is to keep the passion alive. “Before, music was this escape from everything else going on in life. But once it became my focus every day, it started to feel like work…I had to relearn how to enjoy it again, finding new ways to make it fun for myself.”
In order to achieve this, Hannon worked towards getting involved locally by attending shows. After graduating and working in service, music returned as his escape. “…I wouldn’t say Berklee weakened my passion for music. It just made it present itself differently.”
It is clear that Matthew Hannon is accustomed to making changes for the sake of his true love, music. Finding multiple ways to build your passion, as Hannon has done, is a healthy way to consistently grow with your dreams.
After imparting this knowledge, Matthew Hannon leaves TGR with one last statement. Contrary to his belief of not yet being qualified to answer this question, we asked what advice he would give to struggling artists looking to get involved in the music industry. The answer was simple:
“…you should be going to shows. Go see a band you’ve never heard of at a bar or a house. Make friends. Meet like-minded people but also ones that’ll challenge your perspective and open your mind. Form a band with them. Listen to your friends’ music and tell everyone about it. It takes a village to make it in this industry, and I’m still trying to build mine up.” As Matthew Hannon redefines his artistry, you do not want to miss his upcoming work. Be sure to check out his original single, Again. As well as that, take a listen to his songs on Matthew Hannon’s Thesis. You will not regret it! Enjoy this one-on-one from artist, Matthew Hannon.
Featured Image provided by Jordan Bradford