Paul Matthews – I Am Giant
Music is important because like all the arts, it evokes emotion within us. Whether it’s the power of Rage Against the Machine making adrenaline surge through you, or the theme to the Exorcist making you feel on edge. It becomes the soundtrack to people’s lives and the theme playing under their memories.
It facilitates communication and expression. It helps develop empathy through other peoples stories and thoughts, and in turn it inspires thought, which produces growth within the individual and humanity as a whole. And of course it’s a source of entertainment and enjoyment.
The first memory I have of liking music would be as an infant and it was Tim Finns “There’s A Fraction Too Much Friction”. I got my mum to keep rewinding the cassette so I could keep listening to it… I didn’t know what Tim was talking about – ”Friction” wasn’t a word I was gonna be using anytime soon.. I just liked the tune.
As a child whatever music my parents were playing and whatever was on the Radio at the time. So a fairly steady diet of the Eagles, Tom Petty, Police, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zep, Pink Floyd, Queen, David Bowie, Dire Straits etc as I got older and starting choosing my own music it was the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Guns & Roses, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, Soundgarden, Metallica etc? ?What made you first realize you wanted to pursue a career in music?
Of course I had no idea in the slightest about what a career in Music would entail in reality, but I guess at the time it was a combination of the buzz of playing live in front of a crowd, and writing music with my mates that I dug and was proud of. I thought “This is the best thing ever!”
We started I Am Giant about 3 years ago but we’d all been in previous bands. We had common tastes and I’d worked with Shelton previously so we thought we’d try writing some stuff for our own band and see how it went… and it turned out to be a great fit.
Who are your major musical and non musical influences?
I just couldn’t narrow them down! Musically anything that gives me goosebumps.. you could start with all the bands I listed previously as music I listened to growing up. I like Ernest Hemingway and John LeCarres writing. Stephen King is a great author.. Love the Shawshank Redemption although I’ve only actually seen the movie. I generally like Michael Mann’s films ie Heat and The Last of The Mohicans. Love all Quentin Tarantino’s work.? ? ?How has your music evolved since you first started?
I guess its matured with time and experience.. Firstly, every single project I collaborate on is heavily influenced by the people I’m working with at that point in time. I’m still inspired by the artists I listened to when I first started writing as a teenager, but of course my horizons have broadened and I’ve listened to so much more since then and been fortunate to work with a lot of other musicians and artists that I’ve learnt from and been inspired by. But essentially it’s still Rock music and fundamentally I think it comes from the same place the very first songs I was part of writing came from.
What have been your biggest challenges and opportunities?
The biggest challenge has just been staying afloat and surviving while still putting in the time, effort and imagination required to create an album that myself, and the rest of the band are happy with and that can potentially make an impression and not be swallowed up in a vast landscape of other aspiring band and artists. The biggest opportunity has been being able to work with the people who have had the skills and knowledge we lack to enable us to record and release our album in the manner it has been.
What is your favourite song?
Couldn’t possibly pick one! It changes periodically… but between the four of us in the band some favourites are; One Of These Nights by the Eagles, Breakdown by Tom Petty, Daytona White by Glass Jaw, Lullaby by the Cure, Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd, Day Of Suffering by Morbid Angel, You Don’t Pull No Punches But You Don’t Push The River by Van Morrison, Lover You Should Have Come Over by Jeff Buckley, Everything’s Ruined by Faith No More, Blood Sugar Sex Magic by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Visions by Stevie Wonder, Like Suicide by Soundgarden, Black by Pearl Jam, Long Forgotten by Oceansize, Blueberry Pancakes by Fink, My Very Best by Elbow.
What is the hardest part about creating music?
Creating something that you really love and are convicted about, that everybody elseloves too… and technically it would be getting across exactly what you want to say lyrically in the song while making it fit rhythmically and flow musically.
People have a misconception of Musicians driving around in Limo’s once their song is on the Radio but it’s largely a myth.I’ve experienced this first hand.. when you’re not making a living from your art, you have to do other work to pay rent and feed your family, medical bills etc etc… And you can’t live with your parents your whole life. You spend the best, most productive part of the week focused on just making money to survive and the leftovers are just not enough to create anything worthwhile. Without nurturing and working on it, your music starts to die.? ?On the value of music…
It hasn’t lost its value any more than the Mona Lisa.. It’s just become easier to steal. In the old days you had to put the CD up your shirt or down the front of your jeans. Nowadays it’s easier than pinching oranges from your next door neighbour’s tree.?Music is as powerful as it’s ever been.
In the digital age, and with internet data transfer it has just become so quick and easy to get music without paying for it, its reached the point where some people are actually unaware that their actions are not only illegal, but that they directly affect the Artists livelihood.
In terms of making music matter, most of us as artists have already done our part. Strived for years in bands, working our asses off, learning the hard way, not making a cent from it, to hopefully get to the point where the quality of our Music becomes something, not just worth listening to, but something that has a positive influence on people’s lives. Now it’s over to the listener to support the artist and make music matter..