Matt Sucich

Because this Queens singer-songwriter is trying to break your heart. What appear at first glance to be simple love songs quickly reveal a Wilco- and Iron & Wine-like depth (and desperation).

Read more: Bonnaroo 2012 Playlist - The Other Best Bands of Bonnaroo 2012 - Esquire http://www.esquire.com/the-side/music/best-new-songs/best-bands-bonnaroo-2012#ixzz2HE0iyq2q - Esquire.com

Direct Message: Singer Matt Sucich
We hope he breaks a leg

We first laid eyes on Matt Sucich at a co-worker’s wedding (he sang and played guitar during the ceremony). And it seems we’re not the only ones enamored by the New York-based singer/songwriter’s musical chops; he’s on the Bonnaroo bill this weekend. We grilled him (and wished him luck) before he hit the road.

Describe your sound in six words or less.
Reverb-a-folk.

What’s your preshow ritual?
I like to make sure everything is in place for the set, and I have to flick the green-room light switch exactly fifteen times before I go on. But would you call that a ritual?

What’s your favorite candy?
Do Sugar-Free Popsicles count? I think I went through eighteen in one sitting the other day. I have no control, and my apartment gets really hot.

What’s your favorite song to play and why?
With the band, I’ve really enjoyed playing “The Bridge” for its lush arrangement, and I love where the piano goes. When I’m solo, lately it’s been the title track of my new record, “Layers” (fall 2012). But you should ask me this question again tomorrow.

Whom are you listening to right now?
This is another one of those ask-me-again-tomorrow questions. I haven’t been able to stop with the new Regina Spektor album. I think she’s such a smart writer.

What’s your drink?
Bourbon (Woodford or Maker’s, please) or Guinness.

Matt Sucich performs Saturday and Sunday at Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee (lineup.bonnaroo.com). Download “The Bridge” and “Supposing I Was Tough” at esmatteo.com.

Photo: Portrayable Photography / Courtesy of Matt Sucich - Daily Candy

Matt Sucich has been playing music for years, finding open mic nights across the city of New York and opening his heart to strangers. He has done what many musicians aspire to do: record an album, release an album, play a major venue celebrating that album. And on top of everything, he’s done it all himself (mostly). The recording, the promoting, everything has been keeping Matt insanely busy. - Free Gotham

To be a musician that touches the hearts and souls of his fans is a rarity these days but Matt does this as if he has been doing this for decades. Matt Sucich wrote his first record “Jubilation & Jealousy” in a time where it takes a gimmick to be heard but it’s his honesty and the sincerity in his voice that sets himself apart from other songwriters in this day and age. - Hear Now Live!

We have Kate Sland and Matt Sucich’s rendition of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” on repeat.
- Daily Candy

Matt Sucich gives us a little “Jubilation & Jealousy”
WRITTEN BY: LYNDA ON MARCH 15, 2011 NO COMMENT

How did “esmatteo” come about? Did someone call you that or was that something you have been called forever?
A friend of mine jokingly called me that once, and when I needed a website it came to me as a good way to get people there, as opposed to my name which isn’t as simple as others. I also like that it’s mildly confusing from a language standpoint…people ask if I’m Spanish (no) and/or Italian (yes), and I like to see them scratch their heads when I hand them a card.
By the way, Sucich is pronounced Sue.Sitch.

Everyone is always looking to place music into a genre – what category would you put your music into?
I generally call it “Reverb-a-Folk”…I’d say its that familiar cross between electric tinged/acoustic based/songwriter focused music.

What is the title track or single off of your next album? What made you choose this song?
The title track is “Jubilation & Jealousy.” I play out in NYC pretty much every night of the week, and after I wrote this song it instantly connected with the audience. It’s the high and the low. For example: the supreme joy you feel when someone writes an amazing song and you love it so much that you wish you wrote it. There’s no escaping that in all walks of life. It’s the title track because the concept is so broad… and also because of it’s kick ass alliteration. Plus my friend Marc said it’d be a good album title.

What will the album be called and where did you produce it?
The album is called Jubilation & Jealousy
I produced it in 2 places: 1. I recorded about 95% at a friends house in Pennsylvania over the course of one week back in November. I’d been going through a pretty rough patch, and I’m pretty certain I was unpleasant to be around. I knew the only way I’d be productive was to isolate myself. So I drove out with all of my equipment (guitars, mics & laptop) to this house that was completely renovated, but also completely unfurnished. An air mattress, a case of Abita TurboDog, some homemade chicken soup and I got cracking. Things got scary when the sun went down, though. I had to tape paper against the windows so neighbors couldn’t see in and exposed lightbulbs everywhere, no lamp shade, with a pitch black forest outside.
Also, I didn’t have enough paper to get all the windows. frightening.
The second location was my apartment in Astoria, Queens. All of the post production was done over the next few months. Just a lot of listening and mixing in my living room, with a pretty limited number of overdubs.
My friend Devon C. Johnson took on the mastering duties once it was all said and done, and aside from the drums which were performed by Matt Farina, and amazing cover art by my good friend James Vanderberg – I’m proud to say I created this album from cover to cover, production, design and all.
Proof to those who are looking to make a record on a budget. IT CAN BE DONE!

Musicians come from all walks of life and start playing/performing for many reasons. What did you do first sing or play guitar? How long have you been doing both?
I played guitar first. Unless you count singing oldies on the way to Montauk, Long Island with my family as a kid. When I was 18, my friend Scott bought a guitar and our competitive relationship just begged me to pick it up. I haven’t stopped playing since. Singing became a necessity because I was writing songs. Popular song covers are one of my least favorite things to do as a musician. I didn’t generally call myself a singer because I can’t sing popular songs like those artists do, and when I try, I just feel silly…which is why Im very uncomfortable when karaoke is nearby. I had no choice but to find my own voice.

Who are the other members of your band and how did you meet them?
I don’t exactly have a steady band, but at Joe’s Pub the extremely talented Brian Kesley will be playing bass for me, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Rubbing elbows on the NYC music scene, I saw Brian play bass for a good friend, and beautiful songwriter, Jamie Bendell. I was instantly impressed by his style and told him I’d be in touch when my record was finished. When the time came, he was the first person I called.
I’m also thrilled to be playing with my friend Matt Farina on drums. He and I have played out a few times together, and it’s his drum work that you’ll hear on the record. It’s only fitting that he be the one to play those songs live on the 26th. We share a batch of mutual friends from growing up in Astoria, Queens together.

What is the best show you have ever done and why?
Opening for the legendary Levon Helm at his Midnight Ramble in Woodstock, NY with my band of friends: The Vanderettes. It’s a tough one, because it was early on and there are a lot of times I think back to that moment and slightly cringe. I never felt like I was fully ready, but I also couldn’t pass on the opportuni - New York Planet

Gotham Interview with Matt Sucich

Matt Sucich has been playing music for years, finding open mic nights across the city of New York and opening his heart to strangers. He has done what many musicians aspire to do: record an album, release an album, play a major venue celebrating that album. And on top of everything, he’s done it all himself (mostly). The recording, the promoting, everything has been keeping Matt insanely busy.

Luckily though, we scored an interview with the singer/songwriter. Get ready for Matt’s record release celebration at Joe’s Pub this Saturday night.

As his producer, Devon C. Johnson puts it, “It comes down to this: everyone hears something special when Matt sings. Everyone hears a story. You don’t have to listen hard either; the room is always silent.”

Enjoy.

You’ve been asked this a million times, so let me make it a million and one. Where did “Jubilation & Jealousy” come from?
It’s just that concept of loving something so much that you become envious of it. In my case this usually applies with other people’s songs…namely the artists I’m influenced by. The song itself came about when I was wandering lower Manhattan during Fashion Week in late 2010 and watching this sea of people looking to get noticed, each more so than the next…it was overwhelming. Mixed with what I was going through at the time, it turned out to be a decent recipe for a song about finding someone among the Jubilation & Jealousy of the city.

How long have you been playing music?
Not counting the childhood piano lessons…I’ve been playing guitar since I was 18, but it took me a long time to appreciate the great songwriters, and when that happened I started studying like never before.

As an aspiring professional musician, what’s a general week look like for you? How busy did you get during the recording of the album? How busy are you now promoting it?
This is a great question. These days I feel as though you’re as busy as you want to be. As an independent artist, there’s so much that goes into promotion and hustling and it’s very easy to get lazy, but at the same time it’s extremely addictive to go out there and meet new people, see whose music you dig, and who digs yours.

Sunday through Thursday for me is the main Open Mic schedule…Generally the same string of venues, but once in a while I’ll mix it up. The beautiful thing about New York City is for every constant group, you’ll also have an equal amount of new people being exposed to your songs, so it’s very much worth it to revisit these venues. There will certainly be slow nights when it’s just you and a few other people from the scene, but those nights aren’t any less fun. You still get to play in front of folks and that’s valuable experience.

When I was recording the album, I shut myself off from a lot of things because I needed to be isolated. I knew myself and how I would work best. When I was back in the real world, I still had a ton of work to do on the record, but I also had to get out and keep playing. One of the keys was to constantly tell people that I had a record in the works and it would be out soon. Forcing myself to make sure it happened. I’d say the hardest part of doing everything yourself is staying motivated. With a home studio, it’s very easy to pop open a bag of pita chips and stare at Facebook all day.

Promoting the album now can easily be a full time job. There isn’t a moment in the day where I don’t think of my next move or jot down a note on something to do the next chance I have. It’s very easy to lose sight of the art amidst the business. Clearly this is why management exists, but when you’re doing it alone, you’ve got to find a way to stay focused on what’s important.

What’s been your favorite venue to play in the city?
I’m pretty sure after Saturday night it’ll be Joe’s Pub. But from playing out night after night, I’d be crazy not to say Caffe Vivaldi on Jones Street (off Bleeker). It’s just a great group of people, an incredibly warm room and I owe a lot to their Monday night open mic. I definitely had a musical turning point there.

I’ve heard you explain it before, but tell me the story of your guitar.
My acoustic guitar was given to me by a close friend. It belonged to his neighbor’s tenant, and when the tenant passed away, it was left in the house. The guitar was in pretty rough shape, but I put a little money into it, and aside from some mild tuning issues, it’s a beautiful sound. Nothing pains me more than having to plug it in at most venues…it has such an amazing natural bottom.

Where do you find inspiration? Is it other artists? Personal experiences? Drugs, alcohol and sex?
My musical inspiration is absolutely from other artists. Lyrically, I’m inspired by love…always, mostly a personal experience and a healthy dose of exaggeration. I don’t necessarily have a hard time writing about other topics, its just when I do…I still manage to bring it back to love.

You’ve got a unique s - Free Gotham