Praise For Wallflower: How did you get started with music?
Matt Koziol: Well, when i was a kid the first sights of music I knew where Elvis Presley, and the California Raisins on Saturday morning cartoons. I knew from the moment i heard and saw what they did, [that] it was pretty much my life. I started singing at the young age of 8 in choirs and did some local theater. I started writing music around the age of 13 or 14. I came across the classic rock of Zeppelin, and the blues of Stevie Ray Vaughan. When I got into high school I came across more poppy tones of John Mayer, and Jack Johnson. Keeping to my choir roots, I performed all through high school in theater and choir. so it's always been a natural thing for me.
PFW: Did your home environment influence your writing, beyond the Raisins and cartoons?
MK: Yes of course - [The] Raisins were Motown. Marvin Gaye, and Ray Charles. But my environment opened me up to my parents styles. My mother a die hard jersey woman who loved the 80's and disco but who also loved the classics. My father, a HUGE James Taylor fan, and also a fan of the classics as well - then there's my grandmother who stressed the importance of people like Tony Bennett and Dean Martin...true singers with feeling.
PFW: And, you feel that your there are elements of these artists' work in y our writing?
MK: Usually, every song I write is based around a style - I kind of like it that way. this way not every song sounds the same. Variety is the key to music, because I mean, we all don't feel the same thing all the time...All [these] artists have put they're twist on my writing. When you come see [my] live show, usually you'll see a heavy Stevie Ray Vaughan and John Mayer influence. But on my record, "Good Man Down" you have the pop influence, the blues influence...but then, growing up in linden, NJ there's a great deal of hip hop, so of course it's going to play into [my] style. Everything comes around eventually.
PFW: If you could rewind and focus on a different instrument, would you, and what would it be?
MK: Honestly, I love what i play. i wouldn't have taken 8 years of y life to learn guitar, and 13 years to get this singing thing down if i really didn't enjoy it....but if i could learn a new instrument I would like to play sax for sure.
PFW: How did you meet and put your band together?
MK: Well, I was in a few bands [since] the age of 13, but i had played in a pop punk band with my bass player, Anthony Amato, and I had presented the idea of playing a different style to him right after i graduated high school. I had been performing solo for 4 years up until that point, so I figured it was time to step things up. Next was the drummer: Nick Veltre. I grew up with Nick since I was 6, and I always knew the kid was a performer. He was the lead singer of a very well known local group called "A Match Like Memory" in high school, and was never really much of a drummer. But one day of jamming at my house and he hasn't put the sticks down. Tracy was a friend of mine from high school, who was with me in choir and marching band. The kid has a heart and a voice of gold - one day at practice I realized I was missing something, so I asked Tracy to sing.
PFW: What does Tracy do?
MK: He does percussion as well as singing backup
PFW: We live in a world with a closed mind and little willingness to get into something that's not widely accepted as cool. As a musician with little to no financial backing and corporate support, what do you feel is the toughest obstacle between you and your goals?
MK: Well, the hardest thing is the constant struggle to be that much more different then the next artist. You have a lot of guys out there trying to do the John Mayer thing, or trying to be the next Jonas Brothers...but when it comes down to it there will be only ONE John Mayer, and ONE band that's the Jonas Brothers. You have to do YOU. And, not having any corporate support, sucks. Lets be honest - they're the ones who can get you publicity, but they're also the ones who can make or break you. I've already had a major label shoot me down, but does it stop me? No. If your teacher says "you'll never be a great writer" do you just stop writing? No, because it's what you love, and maybe it's not what they're used to. maybe it's not what the world is used to, but who ever set in stone what was normal?
PFW: With that said: Where do you see yourself as an artist in 5 years?
MK: Well, whenever I meet someone who deals with the music industry, and they ask "who are you?" my response is simple and to the point..."I'm the future of music, and who are you?"...now that's not me being cocky, but it's me simply believing in myself doing what i love. I see myself living that "dream" I've had since i was old enough to watch the California raisins, and know who Elvis was.
PFW: One last question, because I have to ask: favorite Ice Cream ?
MK: Cookie dough brotha! It really doesn't get better than that! actually there is this one place that i go two towns over from mine, and i get cookie dough with m&m's on top.....c'mon now.
You can find Matt and his music on these sites:
Matt Koziol Myspace
Official Website
PFW Feature on Matt Koziol
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