Conversations with Matt TV

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt TV.

Hi Matt, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up in a homeschool household, my world was filled with reruns of classic TV shows and, secretly, early SNL. But, It was through my mom’s old Beatles LPs, especially “Magical Mystery Tour,” that my musical imagination took flight. She noticed this and, thankfully, recognized a potential talent. At ten, sitting behind a drum kit for the first time felt instantly right, sparking an obsession that led to my first drum set and electric guitar the following year. I spent countless hours learning Green Day and Weezer songs, and by twelve, I was writing my own music and drumming in a couple of bands.

At fifteen, my first iMac and its pre-loaded GarageBand became my late-night haven for home recording, resulting in hundreds of demos I never knew what to do with. Around this time, I played drums in a band called Phonoluxe, unknowingly becoming comfortable in a supporting role. Despite receiving nothing but positive acclaim for my solo acoustic performances, the idea of being a solo artist didn’t resonate.

My first experience as a frontman and primary songwriter came with Calicocat in 2010. We recorded extensively in a home studio but our sound didn’t fit the Nashville scene, leading to our disbandment. This was followed by a dark period of depression and addiction, culminating in a life-changing rehab stay in 2015 that reignited my commitment to music.

The years that followed were about recovery and reconnection, but music took a backseat for a while.

Inspiration struck around 2019-2020, leading me back to my roots with an Early-Weezer-inspired project that, Despite a promising start with a live band, COVID derailed that project, so I then pivoted to a new wave sound, recording an EP with my pal Evan Donahue producing. In the end, ultimately the project felt rushed and unfulfilled, so released my favorite mixes, and then shelved it and moved on.

In 2021, an unexpected invitation to play bass in a new band, Mall Gag, led to 3 years of writing, recording and eventually, in October of 2023 we began performing, but the pressures eventually led me to step away in early 2025 to focus on my own music. Now, at 35, I’m finally embracing a solo career as Matt TV, aiming to create a unique musical and visual live show experience,

My first single “Driving(On Adderall)” will be dropping this week, with more releases a debut full-band show planned for this September at PossumStock.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In my early days playing Nashville, I could never find my place in the Garage Rock revival of the 2010s, and in turn played a lot of shows to no one, subsequently getting my soul sucked out by the scene I so desperately wanted to be a part of.

Because of this, I dealt with extreme depression, drug addiction, and even gave up on music entirely for a few years, because I lost all self-esteem, and wanted to blame everything but my addiction for my problems.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a multi-instrumentalist, and a songwriter who truly studies and understands the art of songwriting.

I’m not sure what I’m most proud of…I guess just making it this far and not giving up.

And what sets me apart?
I think I know the answer to that, but time will tell if I’m correct. Ask me again in a year haha.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I’d say I’ve been a strategic NON-risk taker in my past, so for me, going out on a limb and putting myself out there as a solo artist and investing everything I have into it is probably the biggest risk I’ve ever taken, musically.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matt.t_v