Record Producer – Matt Wallace

Some folks are born with fire in their bellies. You might not recognize it at first, as some part of you screams out at the continual injustice in the world, but for some, it’s always there. I suspect that if there’s a God it’s that feeling you get when your soul rages against humanities inhumanity. If there isn’t, well…it’s probably the same.

The nightly news is a constant rerun of atrocities, a Syrian boy washes up on a shore dead, Darth Cheeto once again spits on a less fortunate group. The list could go on indefinitely.

Personally, I don’t know how anyone lives in this world and doesn’t want to punch society in the face, with a Hulk hand…at least from time to time. I guess that too many people have let those feelings quietly die or traded them for comforts. I know those feelings well, because I have them and they never let up. Always stalking in the corners of my mind ready to pounce out of a hidden closet of forgotten dreams or things left undone. I call it tortured Soul Syndrome and I suspect that Matt Wallace has it too. I don’t know him personally and I wish that I did, but I know him from the music that he’s helped to create and I suspect he’s has a plethora of fire in his belly.

Matt has produced some of my favorite music including Maroon 5, Andy Grammer and of course Faith no More. Great artists that you should listen to right now. Speaking of music…computers and committees make most of it and I hate that! Consequently I think of current music as sonic-representations-of-square-boxes, but I digress.

One of the things that’s impressed me about Matt’s approach is that he believes vibe and performance are the only things that really matter. In other words…things that make you feel. I love that!

I find him to be an intelligent and thoughtful person, who has empathy for his fellow human beings. While digging around, I found some of his wisdom, “The right song at the right time will make somebody make a decision to maybe stick around a day longer. Music at it’s best can be a source of change.”

I find great comfort in that. I’ll wrap myself up in those words tonight and sleep peacefully.

Without further ado, Matt Wallace.

P.S. Even though I’ve presented some weighty topics don’t let the first questions throw you. We’re going to tip-toe into Matt’s head.

 

Q: What is your favorite sandwich and who makes the best one?

The Farmer’s Market sandwich at PitFire Grill in North Hollywood. That or any Beyond Burger or Impossible Burger.

Q: What is your favorite meal that your mom makes?

No meal in particular as they were all good but her chocolate cake with peanut butter icing was a treat during birthdays.

Q: How did you meet your best friend?

In PE/Gym class… singing Carpenters’ songs. Then met my other best friend while taking a Literature of The Sea and ended up living at Stinson Beach in Northern California for a month.

Q: When or how did you find what you wanted to do?

From when I was 13 years old I played guitar (and eventually bass, drums, and vocals) in various bands. Subsequently, I built an 8-track studio in my parents’ garage and started recording my friends’ music (all while taking a full load of classes at U.C. Berkeley. As time passed, I became an engineer and, eventually a mixer, then a producer.

Q: How did you pursue it?

Sold almost all of my instruments, got in debt with a credit card company, borrowed money from my parents, then built the physical structure, purchased the equipment, and started recording. Eventually built a larger, 8-track studio in Oakland with a variety of acoustic rooms/spaces which made up for the notable lack of professional equipment, specifically good reverberation units.

Q: Did you have a mentor or mentors? Who were they and what did they do for you?

Only one, Dave Porter taught a music recording class at DVC, a community college in Contra Costa County, North and East of San Francisco. He taught me audio basics, physics, etc. After that, I stayed in touch with him and sought out his advice over the years. He regularly told me to NOT get into the recording studio business.

Q: What do you dream of doing or, are you already doing it? If so, what is the goal? 

Sailing. Initially local sailing in Southern California and then up to San Francisco. Eventually, I’d like to sail from California to Hawai’i.

 And, I’d like to continue to help homeless youth in Los Angeles.

Q: What would your 15-year-old self say to you now?

‘Dude! You became a somewhat successful record producer! Sweet!’

Q: If life was a person what would you say? 

‘Take it easy and be nice to those who are struggling.’

Q:  If you were in charge of the world and you had no restrictions, real or imagined, what is the one thing you would give it?  

Peace for everyone. No wars.

Q: Has morality disintegrated to the point that we now need Yelp for people?

Absolutely not. That’s just a façade constructed by society and/or the internet. We need far, far less judging and far, far more compassion, acceptance, empathy, and genuine care for our fellow humans.

Q: How is society getting things right?

Things are getting better, albeit painfully slowly, in terms of the reduction of racism and sexism. It is still horrible but it’s incrementally getting better.

Q:  What do people need in order to see each other as equals?

Far less judgement and much more compassion, empathy, understanding, love, etc.

Q: Do we still need religion?

Absolutely not. It has done far more to divide us into ‘us and them’, to render women as second class citizens, created the false perception of ‘the chosen few’, and given us false boundaries and differences that have justified far too many wars.

Q: Do you have hope for the future?

Always. Good will prevail. Society is bending towards fairness and justice… painfully slowly, to be sure, but we are heading in the right direction.

Q: Hot topic of the week: This is an open discussion. Could be Gay marriage or Confederate flag, Donald Trump, for example. 

Everyone deserves the ability to marry. Period. No man-made nor ‘God’-made rules shall deem any section of society ‘lesser than’ others. If one group can marry, then all can marry.

 Confederate flag is the equivalent of the Nazi flag in that they both have ugly histories and I believe that we should move on from the eras that both were known for. But, that being said, the American Flag has quite a bit of nasty business behind it, too.

Q: What are three things that work for you? For Example, I can’t find a good razor. Because of a near unbridled need for massive profits, I find that many products don’t live up to their advertising.  

Love.

Family.

Compassion.

Those three work for me.

Alternate Questions:

 1:  Do Americans have the right to complain about immigration?

Americans, by virtue of free speech, can complain about whatever they want. But, when they start making laws about immigration then it’s time to reflect on the fact that ALL Americans, except for the Native Americans/First Peoples, are immigrants. To say that one group of immigrants is ‘good’ or ‘legal’ and another isn’t goes against not only original American values but, if you happen to believe in The Bible, it says to something to the effect of loving the refugees as yourself.

2: If our value system is based on scarcity then what of a human life, now that the population is in the billions?

Hmmmm. Not sure that our value system is based on scarcity but, what are my thoughts regarding the value of a single human life when compared to a growing human population? We need to better address our stewardship of Earth and its people. There are far too many trajectories to discuss but, basically, slow down on the consumption of our Earth, care for one another, consider ways to stem the growing human population, care for animals, plants, etc.

 3: Would life be easier if racism were accurate?

I’m not even sure how to answer that question.

Are you asking if life would be better if discrimination, antagonism, and society’s downward pressure on non-white people because one group feels superior would make life easier? If so, sure, it will be easier for the oppressors and but even more horrific than it already is for those being oppressed. Life would be easier if racism didn’t exist.

That’s an odd question and ends the interview on an uncomfortable note.