Life & Work with Matt Riley of Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Riley.

Hi Matt, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
started out in Australia as a DJ, playing local shows and working my way up through festivals and club circuits across Australia and Asia. Early on, I became obsessed with not just playing music, but creating it, and building something that felt distinctive as an artist and producer. That led me into songwriting and production, where I’ve now accumulated over 200 million streams across my work.

Over time, my focus shifted more toward writing and producing, especially in pop, dance, and sync. I’ve had releases and collaborations with artists in the electronic space, and my music has been played at major festivals globally. Alongside that, I built a strong presence in sync, with placements for brands like Coca Cola, Mitsubishi, and major TV shows, which helped me develop a reputation for high energy, commercially driven music.

A big turning point was moving to Los Angeles, where I’ve spent the past couple of years building deeper industry relationships, working closely with artists, and refining my sound in a more competitive market. I now run studio sessions, develop artists, and focus heavily on creating music that connects both emotionally and commercially.

More recently, I’ve expanded into building ProLyrics, an AI powered songwriting tool designed to help writers make better creative decisions and overcome writer’s block. That project comes directly from my own experience as a songwriter and my interest in combining creativity with technology.

Overall, my journey has been a mix of performing, creating, and building, with a consistent focus on pushing toward bigger, more impactful work.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. The music industry is built on rejection, and that’s something you learn very quickly. You might hear no hundreds of times before you get a single yes, and even then, that yes doesn’t guarantee anything long term. Learning to handle that mentally and keep showing up has been one of the biggest challenges.

Another challenge has been evolving my identity within the industry. Early on, I was focused on being the artist on stage, the face of the project. Over time, as I better understood how the industry really works and where my strengths were, I had to pivot into songwriting, production, and building behind the scenes. That shift wasn’t always easy, but it ended up being one of the most important decisions for my career.

Moving countries has also been a major hurdle. Relocating from Australia to Los Angeles meant starting again in many ways, building a new network, establishing credibility in a new market, and doing it at a stage in life where most people are already settled. It forced me to step outside my comfort zone and rebuild momentum from scratch.

Overall, the challenges have been a combination of rejection, reinvention, and resilience, but each of them has played a key role in shaping where I am now.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a songwriter, producer, and artist working across pop, dance, and sync music. My work sits at the intersection of commercial songwriting and high energy production, with a strong focus on creating music that connects emotionally while also having real world impact whether that’s on streaming platforms, in clubs, or across film, TV, and brand campaigns.

I specialize in building songs from the ground up, from concept and topline through to full production, as well as working closely with artists to develop their sound and bring out their best performances in the studio. A big part of what I’m known for is my ability to quickly take an idea and turn it into a polished, release ready record, while keeping the core emotion and authenticity intact.

Alongside artist work, I’ve built a strong presence in sync, creating music that has been placed with major global brands and platforms. That has shaped my approach to writing, where I think not just about the song itself, but how it translates across different contexts and audiences.

What I’m most proud of is the consistency of output and the body of work I’ve built over time, including over 200 million streams across my catalogue, as well as the relationships I’ve developed with artists, collaborators, and companies internationally.

What sets me apart is a combination of creative instinct and practical execution. I understand both the artistic side of songwriting and the commercial realities of the industry, which allows me to bridge the gap between creativity and outcome. I’m also constantly evolving, whether that’s through exploring new sounds or building tools like ProLyrics to support the next generation of songwriters.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I think people would be surprised by how much work goes into staying in a positive mindset. On the surface, I probably seem pretty confident and driven, but behind that is a lot of intentional effort. I spend a significant amount of time each week on things like meditation and mindset work, because I’ve realized that in an industry full of ups and downs, your internal state really shapes your external results. It’s something I’ve had to build and maintain over time, and feel like Im constantly back at square one mindset wise.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.prolyrics.ai
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wastelandmusic