The Zurich-based musician provides some fresh new perspective on our tendency to advance ourselves without considering those around us.
In a society where self-absorption is often celebrated, it often takes an outsider to shed light on the corrosive effects of radical individualism. Hailing from Zurich, Switzerland, singer, songwriter, and observer MattO has decided to step up to the plate. In his latest single, “It’s All About Me,” he affectionately examines America’s pursuit of personal interest, skillfully satirizing the overzealous grinder who prioritizes personal goals at the expense of community and compassion.
MattO's portrait of this relentless character is witty, compassionate, and, most importantly, free from malice or contempt. MattO's love for America and its people is evident throughout his music, as he tackles themes of racism, social division, inequality, and the inherent selfishness that permeates the human condition. Although “It’s All About Me” excels in several areas, MattO truly shines through his storytelling and songwriting, which he uses to paint vivid pictures and imagery that are sure to strike the hearts of listeners everywhere.
“It's All About Me” showcases MattO's reflective and soulful vocals, laden with the weight of hard-earned experience. The instrumental performance builds up, seemingly marching towards a future you can see but can’t quite grasp, led by a hypnotizing strumming of guitars. MattO drops lyrics like “Don’t count on me, to give you more” and “I want it all, I don’t care if the world’s gonna fall” in a vocal performance that melds perfectly with the instrumentals, making for a hauntingly beautiful performance.
MattO's “It's All About Me” urges us to reflect on our all-encompassing pursuit of self and instead reminds us to pay attention to our loved ones just as much. With his witty ability to think outside the box and provide some perspective, MattO’s “It’s All About Me” will surely leave a powerful impression on listeners everywhere. When you’re ready, tap in and stream “It’s All About Me,” available everywhere.
Welcome to BuzzMusic MattO! We loved “It’s All About Me," it felt like such a breath of fresh air and perspective that we hadn’t seen in a long time! Can you tell us how the inspiration for this song came about? I was working on a concept album titled From Tribal To Modern Man, a history of Mankind. While men in early history were “herd animals” who only survived in groups, modern man has become increasingly autonomous. Individualism is today's buzzword: everyone can make his/her own choices and live life as he/she pleases. On the flip side of this positive development, there is a lack of solidarity in Western societies. We do not feel part of a bigger group anymore, which threatens our societies' cohesion. Ironically, the song talks about this feature of the modern man, who thinks that “it’s all about me.” What was your favorite part about taking the vision for “It's All About Me” and bringing it to life in a music video? Could you take us through the creative process for it?
Marcello Bumbica, the video director, had the idea of presenting the artist in his little recording studio (Lakehouse Music), where it is all about him and his work, and to put those images in contrast to the big city (New York), where the individual is lost in the masses. So, we mixed some footage from the studio recordings with video material that Marcello shot in New York and along the New Jersey shoreline. I quite like the result. So you mentioned you’re currently based in Zurich, Switzerland. What’s the music scene like there, and how has it influenced you as an artist?
Zurich has a very international music scene, from local folk music to rock, blues, South American dance vibes, African beats - everything! Bruce Springsteen filled the soccer stadium on June 13, and Depeche Mode filled a big indoor venue the day before. I am inspired by the music of the artists I listened to in the late sixties and seventies. So, my roots are mainly in American and British folk, rock, and blues. So as evidenced by “It's All About Me,” you don’t shy away from some of the more complex problems we as a society face. Would you say addressing your thoughts on modern society is important for your music, and what goals would you like to achieve through your music?
I am a critical observer of our times. I want to know where we come from as this will help us understand where we are today and where we might go tomorrow. From Tribal To Modern Man is a special project I had and is not necessarily representative of my music overall. I do not have an objective or goal when I write music. I want to create interesting stories, look at things from a different angle, and express true emotions that people can relate to. If I could capture my listeners’ attention and make them think about important issues that affect us all, I would have done a good job as a songwriter. What’s next for MattO? Can we expect to hear more new music soon?
I have close to 30 songs ready for release, so expect more songs to come your way: I plan to publish an EP in July and two albums over the next 18 months. In addition, I have scheduled some gigs in Italy and Switzerland later this year and hope to make it to the US East Coast as well.
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