 Better known as Matt, YelloW SticK MeN began making electronic music around seven years ago, but his actual beginning was a tape recorded song titled "Bogg's Takes Drugs." It was a rip on Wade Boggs as he was seen crying on the bench after losing the WorldSeries to the NY Mets, and when you're little kid, what's worse than being a drug user?...Not much. That song featured Matt on the pots & pans and backing vocals. From then on, music was in his blood. During a venture in the Marine Corps, Matt's roomie introduced him to the sounds of electronica, which he hated at first. You see, Matt grew up a fan of indie and punk music. To Matt's displeasure, his old roomie would dance and twirl around their room for hours and hours as the beats bled and pounded through the speakers. Although annoyed, Matt found some amusement. He was amused at the dedication and interest his roomie showed toward a music that was nothing but a bunch of clicks, pops, and beats. To make a long, pointless story short, the music had enough of an effect on Matt that he wanted more. Not just to hear more, but to find out the history behind it. He wanted to find out where it originated and figure out how it was made, bought, processed, distributed, and sold. .......he's been searching ever since. |
| Q & A with Yellow Stick Men Q: Where does your artist name come from? A: This is pretty silly. I don’t even like the color yellow much, but I drew the yellow smiley face with dead eyes awhile ago as a stick figure and decided to use him as a logo. Plus, I wanted my name to sound as if it had multiple members, as in a group. I also wanted it to be 3 words long. Hence the reason it’s Yellow Stick Men and not Yellow Stickmen. Q: Tell us more about your musical roots! A: I grew up a punk and skateboarder. My heart is definitely in old school punk. That’s what I grew up listening to and it’s still a part of me today in some ways. Q: How did you start producing music? A: Right around the time I really started getting into electronic music…with one of the first Magix programs, basically a “click and drag” loop based music maker. I just loved messing around with it. It was really cheap. I don’t even think you could chop the loop up, if I remember right. You definitely couldn’t make your own sounds and that’s what I wanted to do. Q: Are you also a DJ? A: Only in a bedroom setting, but if I could put in some time and get a little better, I would give it a go. DJ’s are definitely important for underground music. Without them, the majority of the music would go unheard. Q: Do you work together with other artists also? E.g. Remixes? A: I have in the past and will continue to do it today. I am usually up for anything. I haven’t remixed in awhile but love doing them. Not to mention, hearing someone else’s remix of one of your own tracks, that’s always a lot of fun. Q: Do you have any special musical aims? A: Hands down, to continually improve my sound and production skills. I try to learn something with every track. Q: What do you think of the contemporary popular music which is played by normal radio stations? A: Hmm, tough one. Honestly, I don’t think anything of it at all. I don’t listen to the radio much, and if I do, it’s usually talk radio. I guess that’s why I carry my iPod with me. I will say this though, if something sounds good to me, I’ll like it no matter what it is. If something sounds bad to me, I won’t like it. It doesn’t matter what kind of music it is. I’m a sucker for melody, so if it’s got a good hook or melody, I’m usually on board. Q: What have you read recently (book, play, film, etc.) that moved or surprised you? A: Spike Lee’s documentary on New Orleans, “When the Levees Broke.” & A documentary on The Minutemen called “We Jam Econo.” Q: What is your all-time favorite track? Why? A: Just off the top of my head, The Pixies “Where is My Mind” stands out as one of my all time favorite songs, but as far as electronic music goes, right now I’ve been listening to Luke Dzierzek- “Echo” (Original and Dahlback’s remix) a lot. The melody is frickin insane and won’t leave your head....The Justin Martin remix of “Beware of the Bird” also stands out for the same reason, not to mention, the drums sound amazing as well…..hmmm….I also love the Sebastian remix of Revln9’s “Walking Machine”….that’s gotta be the hardest, punchiest track I’ve heard in awhile…..those all stand out right now, but there are countless others, and I’ll probably be mad at myself for not mentioning them. Q: What's one thing you're a fan of that people might not expect? A: 80’s synthpop…and B-movies. |
Arkd
baMM
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Brockout
carrige
Durden
E.F.O.
eFIGI
eSJay
fvzz
Hardeep Riot
Jaildigger
Khouse
Kontrast Boy
Kreyz
Kundalini Project
lusyD
mAvA
MdW
Mischief & Mayhem
Mistic
Mr.
monolog
parKa
Patton
Pond
Projekt 2501
Psyko Konceptor
Ric Dolore
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RxYLab
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SDDJ
Senru
shYne
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Squeeb
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The UnReal Project
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Yellow Stick Men
