Singer/songwriter Mati Gavriel opens up about his beautiful, achingly intimate latest release “Someone to Somebody” a radiant theme of relationships and a deeply human record brimming with the aspects of loving and wanting to be loved and heartfelt reflection. We had the pleasure of interviewing Mati Gavriel, and here is what he had to say:
Q: Hi Mati, first off… How have you been? What has 2023 been like for you so far, especially compared to last year?
MATI: Hi, thank you very much for having me on your blog. I am really appreciative of the positive feedback I have received for my release “Someone to Somebody”. So far, this year has been great! I am surrounded by beautiful people and creativity and I am feeling very positive about the future. This year, I had the pleasure of working with amazing and talented people. In 2022, I produced an EP for Belinda Carlisle with songs written by Diane Warren. The single has just been released, and I am very excited about it.
It’s been a while since I released music for my own artist project. When I wrote the song “Someone to Somebody”, I loved the feel and flow of it. When I heard about NPR’s “Tiny Desk” contest, I immediately thought of performing my new and unreleased song “Someone to Somebody” with a string quartet. This opportunity inspired me to pursue my artistic career.
Q: What does “Someone to Somebody” symbolize for you and your artistry trajectory?
MATI: With the release of this project, I finally brought together all of my different skills and inspirations into a cohesive work of art. Through this track, I discovered a creative direction that I am eager to explore further. As a musician, I have always dabbled in various genres and fields – from collaborating with other visual and recording artists to creating scores for films and advertisements.
For me, being an artist has meant wearing many different hats – from creating music to designing visuals for film, television, and art installations. It is both challenging and exciting to take on these different roles and fuse them into one cohesive vision. This song was an organic opportunity to converge my skillset as a composer, arranger, artist, producer, mixing engineer, and songwriter into a single work of art. It speaks to who I am as an artist.
Overall, this project feels like a significant milestone in my career. It has given me a clearer sense of direction and has helped me define my artistic voice. I am excited to continue exploring this new path and see where it takes me.
Q: With you being multi-talented as a musician, producer, and engineer, what has been your most memorable memory in the music industry and why?
MATI: One of my favorite memories is when I was signed as an artist to Warner Music which led me to perform at some of the biggest venues in Germany, where I would visit to see my favorite bands in concert such as Radiohead, Muse, Sigur Ros, and Damian Rice. That was definitely a highlight. Also, producing records and collaborating with icons like Diane Warren, Belinda Carlisle, and Jon Batiste has been a significant part of my creative journey. I am grateful for all of these opportunities and memories.
Q: What do you hope people will gain from “Someone To Somebody” and the whole experience that comes along with it?
MATI: The song explores the theme of relationships between humans, how love is forever changing and evolving, and the aspect of loving and wanting to be loved. With a universal message that can be interpreted in many different ways from different points of view, “Someone to Somebody” is a heartfelt expression of the human experience. I believe that sometimes we have to give parts of ourselves to our loved ones.
Q: Can you tell us about the music video for “Someone to Somebody”?
MATI: The music video was inspired by NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series. Actually, the video is a live performance filmed in my current dining room on Mt. Washington, Los Angeles. I wanted symmetry and tried to keep the frame aligned with the players on each side. Also, as a chess fan, I left the chessboard I play myself on, on the table. I still haven’t finished that game.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
MATI: In the next five years, I hope to continue being creative while building a portfolio of work I can stand behind. My goal is to play my music, compose for film, and write songs as I do while collaborating on as many exciting projects as possible. Ultimately, I want to continue living a life surrounded by friends and family in a world full of beauty, love, and peace.
Interviewed by Shertara Brazil
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