Promising Newcomers: Mate
- Category: Artists
- Published on Thursday, 22 December 2011 21:11
- Written by Mario
- Hits: 257
Additional Info
Not really a newcomer on SellaBand, but definitely promising - let me introduce Mate to you. Just like the guys of My First Robot he comes from Trier, Germany and I really like his Pop/Rock mix. I'm sure he will hit his target soon.
50K MUSIC: Who are you, where do you come from, ...? Please tell us something about Mate.
Mate: My actual name is Matthias Lechner. I am from Trier, Germany and 24 years old. I've been around music since I was ten. Back then, I used to do a lot of “classical“ projects, for example I played flute in a wind orchestra for almost six years. However, I wanted to develop and change... maybe also influenced by my interest in all those pretty girls. Let's be honest here: Flute isn't the coolest instrument to impress 'em ;). So eventually I thought: “Maybe I should do something else, something which reaches a different audience beyond adults & grannies. When I later started to learn piano, I discovered myself singing along to any melody. Honestly... I have to tell you that my family must have had a hard time - though I was provided with an overload of self-confidence, I wasn't very skilled at all. My voice cracked – head registers? Impossible. However, all that negative feedback did not stop me. I continued writing down crazy ideas and sung out loud whenever it was possible. Some days I was on my own, on others I ruined songs in various karaoke bars. Then in 2005, I made it to record some of my early originals with the help of some friends. In retrospective, you could call this the beginning of “Mate”. Yet, my style was still strongly influenced by my idols. I glorified Robbie Williams, Oasis and the Counting Crows. It took me some time to learn that this wasn't the best way to go because it delayed the process of finding out what I really wanted AND actually could do. Luckily, this changed...especially in the collab with my good friend and former producer Johannes Bühler: we wrote & produced whatever came from our hearts. Even though some might still label our work as “recycled pop-trash”, others seem to enjoy it very much. And I'm cool with that. You will always have people around who don't like you and criticize everything you love. But: So many great folks joined me via Facebook, Youtube and Sellaband, it is clearly unbelievable. Good times after all.
50K MUSIC: How did you discover SellaBand? What are your expectations here?
Mate: Actually someone invited me to join it. His name is Frederik (Fregger65), he is from Belgium and listened to a song of mine on talentcast- radio. I'm always open for new ideas, so I gave it a shot. In my opinion, SellaBand is a great instrument which helps listeners & fans to support music they actually want to listen to. We're flooded every day with tons of uninspired music of major labels. Some of them might have forgotten that their products shouldn't be all about the financial outcome, but an exchange of something valuable between musician and believer. Furthermore, SellaBand is awesome because it gives us the opportunity to achieve/fund our aims, even if it is not for the big money. Simultaneously, I am able to return the favor. No longer is producing & listening an anonymous, one-way process. I can learn & improve everyday.
50K MUSIC: How are you going to convince people to believe (and invest) in you?
Mate: I guess the songs I put out so far, showed some magnificent results. “Aimless Journeys” made it to bigFM, “Morning Light” even climbed up to be No. 1 in the netparade- charts of DASDING, both well-known radio stations in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. However, there are tons of song-ideas which haven't been recorded yet... due to my financial situation – and this is sad, cause I am dying to show them to you. Besides my studies, I invest so much time on writing short notes down... chords and lyrical ideas – and I really hope that these will come to life and not remain dusty fiction. Besides that, I really like the international influence which daily overwhelmes me on my Facebook page and I hope I can keep up this some kind of intimate atmosphere that we have right now.
50K MUSIC: You've started your project on SellaBand a while ago. Have you thought about the time after reaching the funding goal yet? What are your plans then?
Mate: Ignoring the financial outcome of a possible SellaBand success, as an unsigned solo-artist it is hard to set up gigs, find musicians who want to support you etc. I am a fan of solo-acoustic sessions, had various of them before, but then again I do not want to limit myself and stay isolated. This shouldn't be the story about “one man only”, but about the music itself. Therefore, I decided to start a new group-project which will combine some of the greatest“Mate”-moments and completely new material. However, I am sure that everything we will release, will also be kindly appreciated by both “Mate” - believers and “brand-new” followers. I am so happy that we will be able to be on stage in 2012, maybe meeting some of you.
50K MUSIC: There are rumours that you're going to release a new song soon. Please tell us something about it.
Mate: The next song I will put out is called “Phrases”. It is about a shy girl who does not want to fall for half-baked men with their stupid pick-up lines. I developed the idea when I was out in some club, taking a peek at beautiful girl who surely could have had every guy around. But she just danced on her own – Of course I didn't know her exact reasons, maybe she was already taken, who knows... but she created that picture in my head of an untouched beauty who is scared about the rough world out there. My god, I see so many attractive women who fall for the cheapest lines and then feel ashamed about themselves. I liked the idea of a woman who stands above that – who realizes what she is worth, waiting for the right guy who will stay over after “the night”. The song leaves it up to the listener whether this will happen or not. The song itself is very calm, a little bit like “Ellen”, but then again much more emotional. It is the last song of my collaboration with my former producer Johannes – and I'm so proud of it...I had to save it up – But I guess, now is the right time. The video-director of “Ellen”, Philipp Bartz (http://www.blog,philippbartz,de) showed interest to create a suitable video for the song, which I really appreciate because he is a talented photographer & designer who clearly can provide the right frame for the song.
50K MUSIC: And last question: How can we support you to speed up raising your budget?
Mate: I already felt so proud when you guys asked me to do the interview. I hope I was able to give you a little insight – I really like the way you present unsigned artists, giving them a chance to spread the word. Call me a maniac, but music was and will always will be a special part of my life. However, things don't just happen by themselves, sometimes you have to get your butt out of bed and do something. I hope that (with your help) I can reach some more people out there who understand my situation and digg my style. Life is always about creating a network – and I am keen on expanding. I am not a daydreamer who takes success for granted, in the end my believers and followers decide what will happen next.
Mate on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/m8music
