Bedroom Pop Music Producer

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: My latest project, that is scheduled for release soon. It's a 12 track album about queer love, identity and hardship. It was for my Honours Degree at the Conservatorium of Music Sydney and it scored High Distinction. It was also the first time I got to work with the legend Paul Mac, who just elevated it completely. I've learnt so much from him, and he's a huge inspiration of mine. I wrote the lyrics, music, produced, mixed and mastered everything on it, and I'm super proud of it

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Currently, I'm working on my second full length album. Or possibly it's an EP. I don't know, I'm just writing!!!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital everyday. I have so many options, and all from my bedroom.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: I promise to help you bring your song to life!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: It's always fulfilling

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: How do I write a song? I always answer - it only needs 1 thing to start. A tune, a lyric, a chord. Keep going, writing, playing and it'll come :)

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What's your vision with the song? What do you feel is the song about? What are you trying to communicate? What do you want communicated? What sounds do you like? What songs do you like? What artists do you like?

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: Be you! Songwrite how you want! I'm here only to help that happen!

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: Laptop, sax, mic, guitar, notepad/pen

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I studied Contemporary Music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. I graduated with First Class Honours and a High Distinction graded album. I'm now looking at releasing it, and starting a living from making and teaching music to others :)

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Big dreams from a small bedroom :)

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: I'd love to work with G Flip sometime. I think they're a killer musician, artist and producer. I think we're quite similar, but I think I could learn a heap from them. Otherwise, sometimes I find the best artists come from out of nowhere.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don't be afraid to try anything! You never know what idea is just beyond curiousity!

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: I usually write bedroom pop under my artist name "Matt Landi". But I also write singer/songwriter lyrics, perform jazz-influenced sax solos, cinematic production and classical melodies. My genres are: Pop, Folk, Singer/Songwriter, Jazz, Soul, Dance and Experimental/Hyperpop

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is variety. I'm very good at hearing what a song is trying to say, catching the emotion of it, and then figuring out the best way of telling that story.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I think I bring a unique storytelling method to music. I think creating music is like painting a picture. I have to choose the right instruments to guide certain lyrics, I must write lyrics in a certain pattern, I must sing vocals like I feel them. I take a very creative approach to mixing as well. I'll search for a certain sound atmosphere, impact, feeling... whether through reverb, compression, delay or saturation.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I songwrite/produce/mix for a certain amount of time, without break. Generally it ranges from 1 hour to 3. This is so I have every chance to enter what some call the "Flow State", where I inevitably forget about time, and only am thinking about the one task infront of me. This is where my best ideas come from, best lyrics, vocals etc...

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a bedroom music studio setup. My studio is at the back half of my room, with a great amount of space to go from desk to piano or desk to any of my instruments, and record on the spot. My speakers are Pre Sonus E3.5BT, small, yet clear and perfect for my space. Whilst my microphone is the highly regarded Neumann TLM 102, plugged into a Focusrite interface. On my right, I have a Yamaha YTS 60 Tenor Saxophone, my pride and joy. Next to it is my Yamaha 450 Clarinet and my SIGMA M Acoustic Guitar. I feel that sometimes there's nothing better than using real instruments to make songs. My laptop is perhaps where the best quality gear is located. It's a 2020 Macbook Pro with enough power to run 130 channels in one project. I use Logic Pro X and have Native Instruments Komplete 13, along with Isotope, Waves, Arturia and Surge plugins installed. This is as I want to make sure I produce with quality sounds. Overall, I am a firm believer in creating quality from what you have around you, and that's why I take a minimal bedroom studio approach!! It also makes music way more personal, in my opinion :)

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: Caroline Polachek Angel Rider James Arthur Michael Buble Paul Mac Troye Sivan Clairo Billie Eilish Charlie Puth Girl In Red Elias Melita

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: My most common field is producing and songwriting. Although, I have spent hours mixing and mastering, which you will hear in my songs - they're all mixed by me! Lastly, I have sung and played instruments for years. So I guess you could say everything!?