Ian Matthew is a rising musician from the small city of Torrington, Connecticut, on a journey to share his ever-evolving catalog of uniquely seasoned music with the world. After a 6-month release hiatus to focus on the next evolution of his sound and writing of future works, singer-songwriter Ian Matthew, from the small city of Torrington, CT, has unveiled his first of many new tracks in 2022 with a brand-new acoustic country-pop ballad titled, “Directions.” Ian’s trademark infectious vocals, relatable storytelling and moving production collaborations come alive in ways that connect with listeners from all corners of the globe. The ability to find a record for every mood has welcomed personal connection with supporters both near and far who passionately continue to push the reach of the Ian Matthew sound.
Ian’s new song “Directions” is a tender and forceful confrontation with toxic masculinity. The song may be steeped in pop country production, but Ian’s voice has a punk rock rasp that tempers his message with a sense of lived experience.
“I didn’t always know it, but I spent the last twenty-nine years writing this record,” Ian says. “As I move through time and continue to experience more of life through my own lens instead of that of the people and places that raised me, I’ve thankfully gone and continue to go through countless moments of self-discovery. The older I get the more I’ve realized emotions aren’t supposed to be confusing. They’re supposed to help us maneuver through life while learning about our own wants and desires. This song is a culmination of different bad lessons I had to learn on my own in hopes someone else will learn from this song rather than learn the hard way like I did.”
In our interview, discuses his early infatuation with Billy Joel and his approaches to songwriting.
Explain the title of “Directions.”
‘The title of “Directions” comes from the chorus of the song. It’s a little ironic I suppose. The song is about how a lot of the “direction” or lessons we were taught as kids were actually wrong. But as a whole I actually think the song gives good directions to the listener. The song speaks about having to suppress emotions and dealing with the pride of figuring everything out on your own and how sometimes the stress of pride can be really damaging to a young person.
Who are some of your musical influences?
There’s a ton but if i had to narrow it down to the most influential i would have to say Billy Joel. I’ve been fascinated by his writing ever since I was a kid. I stole my mom’s Billy Joel box set when I was younger as a revenge tactic after getting grounded. However I ended up spending my time in punishment listening to the box set and reading along with the lyrics. Hearing “Anthony’s Song” after you just fantasized about moving out cause you’re mad at your mom was almost poetic. I can still remember reading the lyrics to “Vienna” and thinking “how do you come up with something like this?” Ever since then I’ve been a fan of capturing emotions of situations when I tell stories via song.
Do you have any songwriting tips you can share?
Experiment! Step outside the world you know. Write about a scene in a movie. Write from other perspectives. Write in different places with different sounds and smells around you. You never know what can trigger an idea so don’t be afraid to try and find triggers in un-ordinary spots! Oh…and don’t be afraid to put a song on the back burner and come back to it. Sometimes life will provide you with experiences that make some of those old ideas come to life again just by giving them some time to play out on life’s terms.
Do you start off with the music or lyrics first? Why?
This totally depends on the day. I have a ton of voice memos that have no instruments just a melody with some lyrics. Anywhere from 10 seconds to a minute. Some are just gibberish but those small ideas can transform into a piece of art insanely fast. I also have heard a chord progression and had words or melodies come to mind immediately after. Usually I get inspired by the music I hear but there are also plenty of times when I wait to find the perfect instrumentation for one of those crazy voice memos.
What’s the best way a fan can support you?
Fans can support in a multitude of ways. The beauty of the internet is how easy it is to connect. You can stream my catalogue on any of the streaming platforms, you can follow on social media and join in on the live feed when I’m on. I just recently started my Patreon page which allows my supporters to get a chance to be part of the creative process. I post unreleased songs there for feedback and to give people a chance to hear the process of creating. I also post all of my music releases there up to a month early so my Patrons get the music and merch before anyone else.