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!

According to Wikipedia, the Grammy Award is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry. What no one knows, and a lot of people are asking is “Who decides who gets the award?”

Unlike many other awards, the people do NOT get to vote for who gets a Grammy award. It is done by the National Academy of Recording Arts through a four round elimination process.

Sonny Moore a.k.a Skrillex, is now a three-time grammy winner and award holder after being nominated for 5. Beating out some of the worlds best DJ’s such as DeadMau5 and David Guetta, Skrillex took home ‘Best Dance Recording’ for Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites, and ‘Best Remix Recording – Non Classical’ for his work on Benny Benassi’s ‘Cinema.’ His third and most shocking award was in the category of Best Dance/Electronica Album.

Skrillex seems to divide opinion among electronic music makers (and listeners, for that matter), but with three Grammy Awards now in his pocket, someone must think that he’s doing something right… right?

Skrillex is undoubtably a very talented musical artist and knows how to please his fans. However, many people are arguing that Skrillex should NOT have won three Grammy awards. This has been very debatable the past couple of days since the Grammy awards aired on TV Sunday night.

After discussing this topic with several other electronic music advocates, I am assured that I am not the only one who feels this way. Skrillex has produced some sick tracks that many people love to jam out to, although I personally would have preferred to see Pretty Lights, a.k.a Derek Vincent Smith, up there for all of his accomplishments with Pretty Lights Recording Label. Not to mention Pretty Lights has produced a few of the best remixes I have ever heard with the most original beats.

Beginning his solo musical career just 5 years ago in 2007, and being named MTV’s EDM artist of the year in December, 2011, Sonny Moore has walked away with three Grammy awards after being nominated for five. Congratulations Skrillex, you got lucky.

-Tyler

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!