Art & Life with Matthew Jared

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Jared.

Matthew Jared, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Born in Cleveland Ohio, I started out learning simply how to listen, developing my ear for music through the music played around me and instruments. The first one I learned was the saxophone, then clarinet, and eventually guitar. Growing up in church was ground zero for learning all about vocal techniques and harmonies. So, once I was old enough to join the choir, I started to sing in front of people for the first time.

I started doing talent shows in high school and once I went off to college to attend North Carolina A&T, I joined a R&B group called Artistic Theory. We performed practically every weekend at venues around North Carolina and Virginia, gaining a pretty good name for ourselves on the local live music scene. I became heavily influenced by not just Gospel music, but also Contemporary jazz, Country, Hip-hop, Pop, and especially Soul.

In 2009, my creative journey eventually led me to Los Angeles to pursue a solo career. At that time, I wrote and released my debut album entitled, “Radio-Friendly”. Gaining the confidence to now share my music and start networking, I landed what would be a 3-year residency at a bar-venue in Downtown LA. With some of the best musicians LA has to offer, we put on amazing show after show and I eventually expanded into performing in the Hollywood area — even internationally in Japan.

In 2018, I released a new single called “Faces”, really putting into words my dating experience in LA — it’s been an interesting ride. Check it out on all music platforms for download and streaming. Today, I enjoy the unique experience of managing my music career while also working behind the scenes with a major entertainment company. I am excited to continue creating new content as I live more life and have more experiences. My goal is to always connect to the people listening, and of course, take bigger chances along the way. LA has taught me so much about my artistry and I’m hype for what’s to come!

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I am a multi-genre singer/songwriter/music creator, primarily based in the R&B sound. I create music as not only a therapeutic outlet for myself but also to inspire anyone listening. I think the best way to connect to another human is to share your own story or even share a different story from your own. I tend to naturally be a more reserved guy and music is the one place that I can paint my own picture and have the story told the way I want it — be it abstract or plain and “in your face”.

As a music creator, I hope people listen to my music and see a clear story in their heads. For those few minutes, I want them to feel what I felt at the time I wrote the song. These days, I no longer aim for just a catchy tune but I want people to actually have a connection by the end of the song. Live shows are my favorite, just for the ability to immediately feed off of the crowd’s energy. My approach to music continues to evolve and I love looking back, seeing that evolution, and using that to challenge myself. Ultimately, what I want people to know about my music is — it’s honest, heartfelt, and relatable to everyone.

Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
Money struggles are no joke for indie artists trying to make a name for themselves. The first thing I’d say to artists out there is — Everyone’s journey is different. Some people seem to always be busy working but we ALL have high and low seasons as artists. Most artists just don’t advertise the low seasons. So, don’t be ashamed of having to make money working on non music-related things to survive. If you have the drive to continue networking and can still find time to create, by all means, do what you have to do. LA is an expensive city.

The most important thing to know about this artist path is, it’s really about who you know. So, go to open mics, music jams, and CONNECT with people. Why is this important? Because just like you, there are other artists and musicians out there looking to create music and not spend an arm and a leg. So, collaborations with mutual interests (for example, producer needing a singer) always work out to saving money. So, stay encouraged! It’s definitely not easy but we all know the artist life never is.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Follow me on social media for up-to-date info on upcoming shows and events!
Instagram: @matthewjaredmusic
Twitter: @MatthewJared
YouTube Channel: MatthewJaredMusic (Watch the music video “Know Her”)

You can support my music on iTunes/Apple Music, Google Play, Amazon, CDBaby, Spotify, and other digital download and streaming sites – just search for “Matthew Jared!”

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cdbaby.com/Artist/MatthewJared
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/matthewjaredmusic
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/matthewjaredmusic
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/matthewjared
• Other: www.soundcloud.com/matthewjaredmusic

Image Credit:
Jared Grimble, Conner McCauley

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.