We recently caught up with Matt Black to discuss his upcoming EP with Nunca Duerma.

NuHype: What sounds have influenced your music?

Matt Black: My music is heavily influenced by a variety of acts. I draw inspiration from Gorillaz, Souls of Mischief, Nujabes, The Neptunes, J dilla, Portishead, A Tribe Called Quest and Wu Tang. I love acid rock, like Hendrix & Jefferson Airplane. Other sixties-seventies music like The Beatles, Queen and Bob Marley. I listen to different music all the time, and I try to read a lot to expand my vocabulary. Pop culture and random internet stumblings may sometimes slip into my rhymes as well.

NuHype: What is the essence of the EP?

Matt Black: Bliss Management, conceptually, is about keeping your vices in check. Trying to find that balance between what you want to do, what you need to do and what you love to do. Musically the soundscapes that Nunca Duerma makes are heavy, atmospheric, and wonderfully abstract. They’re all very groove-heavy which makes it exciting to try and put words to them. This project is a lot more mature and introspective than my last one. It’s also just about two artists coming together to hone their respective skills and advance them to the next level.

NuHype: Who are some people that have influenced you/motivated you.

Matt Black: Musically, My peers and fellow artists have motivated me the most personally. I think I can safely say Nunca Duerma feels the same way. All my fellow Young Heavy Souls artists are all producing amazing music right now and it just makes me want to work that much harder. The producers and DJs on Deepblip records are all making some really innovative stuff right now as well, so I don’t have to look too far for inspiration. Obviously my family and friends are also a huge influence in my life. 75% of my lyrics are about my personal experiences and how they relate to them.

NuHype: What makes it worthwhile for you?

Matt Black: When I finally have a product in my hands or sitting in my iTunes playlist. After putting in countless hours writing, recording and mixing, and then finally having some audio art to enjoy, that’s the best part for me. Turning an idea into reality. However long it may take, it’s all worth it in the end. There’s something intrinsically rewarding about formulating an idea one day, and then seeing it manifest in real life another. Positive feedback from people is a big positive reinforncer, and rocking out live at shows, gaining new fans. There is just so much about being a musician that I love.

NuHype: Where can we expect to see you next?!

Matt Black: I’ll be playing some shows to promote the album with Nunca Duerma, we’ll be playing all over in March and April. Marcutio, MC Friendly and myself will be in Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, Chicago and Ohio all before springtime. Besides that I’ll be in the studio or working to promote new music from fellow YHS artists Band Of The Hawk and Caralie. So basically you can expect a lot of good things.

Tommie Green, coming off his fifth mixtape, ‘History of Art’ has just dropped a very inspirational produced by his very own multimedia entertainment company, Whitewood Entertainment. It’s reassuring to see some positive messages being portrayed through hip hop during these times of great turmoil. Check it out and spread the love!

Deepblip Records has done it again with this classic Winter Compilation featuring 20 tracks from some of the hottest emerging beat producers in the game right now. Name your own price for the tape at Bandcamp and make sure to check them out on Facebook! Stay tuned for more hot releases!

Last Friday we rocked the house with M.L.A. at Lilly’s bar. They dropped some serious classics, many of which can be found on their latest album MDMA [M​]​odern​[​D​]​ay​[​M​]​usic​[​A​]​stronauts. Download the album free on bandcamp and make sure you like them on facebook.