Interview: D.Matthews Discusses His Latest Single/Video "My Race"
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When you were just starting out as a music creator, who were some of your artistic influences, and when did you know for certain that you had the talent to take your musical aspirations to the next level?
Definitely Patoranking/Fela Kuti/Wizkid/Burna Boy.
I knew I had it in me from a very tender age. It just was not marinated and over the years I have done that and still doing.
Congratulations on the release of your new single "My Race", as well as its live music video. Tell us about your creative process for the development of the song in terms of the theme and message. Also, who produced it?
I had the song right there in my head . I think I flew over to New Zealand discreetly for a couple of things and hit up one of my producers that I need to get a studio session in. Got on the mic and the rest was history.
But prior to that, EARDRUMZ, my producer. I told him I needed a calm & chill vibe and I think we went back & forth once or twice and the vibe just felt right.
We're blown away by the "My Race" music video; it really gave us a taste of what a live show of yours would look like. Why did you decide to film an acoustic version of the song with a backing band?
It felt right in my gut. It had to be done. You definitely know where something had to be done. Yeah. That feeling. That backing band you saw there are my team right there.
Is "My Race" a part of an upcoming EP or album you're working on? If so, what can you tell us about it? If not, what's next for you musically?
No. Just another phenomenal piece of art. There’s definitely more work in stock. But I will keep that for another day. The fans will understand.
How would you compare the Afrobeats music scenes in Australia vs New Zealand? Would you say that the audiences you perform for are receptive to Afrobeats compared to the R&B or pop sounds that they are used to?
Well, over the past 6 years, things have changed in my musical career and in general with the music scene. Personally. Its been more of me trying to put on a shoe that can fit as per my music style etc. At the time in New Zealand, more people were receptive towards afrobeats as it was a majority lover than Pop. I did not perform much of a pop style 6 years ago. But Afrobeats was a number 1 “go to” for most people.