"It has given me a chance to take my drumming into the realm of programming and experiment with a whole new vocabulary of tonalities."
Mudvayne are the type of band even your neighbours should know about by now. Having walked the same path as their metal forefathers, this band has been a force to be reckoned with since early ’96. Reflecting on their past achievements, it is no surprise that Mudvayne have become a flagship band who influence new artists to this day. Altsounds had the opportunity to put Matthew McDonough through their paces.
Altsounds: Your new album is self titled. Do you think it best sums you up as a band?
Matthew McDonough: I think each of the albums we've released have summed up the band as best as possible at that time in our career.
A self-titled album is obviously a statement of intent. It very simply states that we are no more nor less what we are sharing with our fans.
Altsounds: Where did the idea come from to have all the album artwork in blue light reactive ink?
Matthew McDonough: We have a history, stemming back to my interest in Yves Klein, that originated the artwork for "The Beginning Of All Things To End and The End Of All Things To Come". Both of those albums had solid color minimal covers inspired by Klein's "Blue".
We were approached about the new technology available utilizing black light printing. I don't believe anything like this had been done in the past. So this opened an opportunity to produce a solid "white" covered album in the same spirit as our previous releases.
Altsounds: Do you think that marketing and packaging gives the fans more value for their money and detracts from illegal downloading?
Matthew McDonough: There is an initiative in the music industry to provide "added value" with releases. This is an obvious reaction to illegal downloading of music. But the cool by-product of this is content that would not have been manufactured as widely by artists, if not for the economic crisis the same downloading caused.
True fans can benefit from a wide variety of mediums exercised in these efforts by artists and labels.
Altsounds: "Mudvayne" is your second album in a 12 month period following on from "The New Game." What inspired such creativity?
Matthew McDonough: We took it upon ourselves to take advantage of an opportunity to continue our writing/recording process after we finished The New Game. At the outset, it was intimidating. But the band rose to the challenge and made the best of the situation.
Altsounds: Your sound has mellowed and become more accessible while retaining some of that trademark sound we expect from Mudvayne. Do you feel you are a band that has grown into your skin over each release?
Matthew McDonough: I'm not sure if "mellowed" is an accurate description of the evolution of the band. It's curious the way the public perceives change in an artist. I don't believe we've ever operated from a position of expectation while we are creating. I don't enjoy reactionary art, so the moment is what I'm looking at while composing. I'd say each album is evidence of the state of the band at that time. Growth isn't really a concept that comes into play on a conscious level. It's more of an organic symptom of the artistic process.
Altsounds: How do you ensure as a band that you don't become repetitive and stale?
Matthew McDonough: I think this is a good question. It seems many artists hit a note and then try to replicate that over and over.
Mudvayne has never been a band that has tried to recreate the past. I honestly don't think we're smart enough to define a formula that could hit on a successful work over and over. We approach our writing without expectation or reaction to the past. The joy is in the work, and when we've been in it, there is nothing like it. I think we've always let that passion and experience guide us.
Altsounds: You were lazily lumped into the 'Nu Metal' scene when "LD.50" came out. Was that something you tried hard to break away from,or did you use that momentum to propel the band further?
Matthew McDonough: I think most genre titles like "nu metal" come about after the fact. By the time people were talking about it and attaching negative connotations to it, we were already not involved with it.
Altsounds: Your album 'For The People...' was made of tracks compiled by the fans. Was this a way for to thank your fans for their support?
Matthew McDonough: "By The People, For The People" was a great opportunity to express our gratitude to our fans. Their passion and intense desire to interact with the band brought about the idea to allow them to participate even more with the bands output. It was a fun and exciting process to hear the fans input and allow them a voice.
Altsounds: I read that Matt has started a new web based business with John Strate-Hootman Called Atmoworks.com. Could you explain a little about this project and what it is that you do?
Matthew McDonough: The name of my online label is called AtmoWorks:I am a co-owner/operator with my friend John Strate-Hootman aka Vir Unis. We run a download fulfilment site that features an online store that sells music through Pay Pal. We release independent, “DIY” musicians that focus mainly on ambient music.
I have had a lifelong appreciation for experimental and electronic music. So working with "AtmoWorks" has been a great opportunity for me to explore my other musical interests. I've met and been able to facilitate other musicians’ pursuits. And also find a place to release my own solo and side projects under the alias "MjDawn" and "miKroNaught".
Altsounds: Mikronaught which is the band that Matt formed with John Strate-Hootman aka Vir unis works in collaboration with Atmoworks.com to distribute their music. How does Mikronaughts compare to your work in Mudvayne?
Matthew McDonough: miKroNaught is an experimental project that delves into elements of IDM, industrial and abstract electronic music.
It has given me a chance to take my drumming into the realm of programming and experiment with a whole new vocabulary of tonalities. There are no parameters, so the sky has been the limit for me.
Altsounds: With various members of Mudvayne branching into other projects,what does the future hold for Mudvayne?
Matthew McDonough: The future for Mudvayne looks great. We're still experiencing a great reception from our fans. They have propelled us into a number one radio single for 2009 and shown wonderful support for our live touring.
Altsounds: Thanks for your time Matthew!
For more info on Mudvayne go here:
Altsounds: Your new album is self titled. Do you think it best sums you up as a band?
Matthew McDonough: I think each of the albums we've released have summed up the band as best as possible at that time in our career.
A self-titled album is obviously a statement of intent. It very simply states that we are no more nor less what we are sharing with our fans.
Altsounds: Where did the idea come from to have all the album artwork in blue light reactive ink?
Matthew McDonough: We have a history, stemming back to my interest in Yves Klein, that originated the artwork for "The Beginning Of All Things To End and The End Of All Things To Come". Both of those albums had solid color minimal covers inspired by Klein's "Blue".
We were approached about the new technology available utilizing black light printing. I don't believe anything like this had been done in the past. So this opened an opportunity to produce a solid "white" covered album in the same spirit as our previous releases.
Altsounds: Do you think that marketing and packaging gives the fans more value for their money and detracts from illegal downloading?
Matthew McDonough: There is an initiative in the music industry to provide "added value" with releases. This is an obvious reaction to illegal downloading of music. But the cool by-product of this is content that would not have been manufactured as widely by artists, if not for the economic crisis the same downloading caused.
True fans can benefit from a wide variety of mediums exercised in these efforts by artists and labels.
Matthew McDonough: We took it upon ourselves to take advantage of an opportunity to continue our writing/recording process after we finished The New Game. At the outset, it was intimidating. But the band rose to the challenge and made the best of the situation.
Altsounds: Your sound has mellowed and become more accessible while retaining some of that trademark sound we expect from Mudvayne. Do you feel you are a band that has grown into your skin over each release?
Matthew McDonough: I'm not sure if "mellowed" is an accurate description of the evolution of the band. It's curious the way the public perceives change in an artist. I don't believe we've ever operated from a position of expectation while we are creating. I don't enjoy reactionary art, so the moment is what I'm looking at while composing. I'd say each album is evidence of the state of the band at that time. Growth isn't really a concept that comes into play on a conscious level. It's more of an organic symptom of the artistic process.
Altsounds: How do you ensure as a band that you don't become repetitive and stale?
Matthew McDonough: I think this is a good question. It seems many artists hit a note and then try to replicate that over and over.
Mudvayne has never been a band that has tried to recreate the past. I honestly don't think we're smart enough to define a formula that could hit on a successful work over and over. We approach our writing without expectation or reaction to the past. The joy is in the work, and when we've been in it, there is nothing like it. I think we've always let that passion and experience guide us.
Altsounds: You were lazily lumped into the 'Nu Metal' scene when "LD.50" came out. Was that something you tried hard to break away from,or did you use that momentum to propel the band further?
Matthew McDonough: I think most genre titles like "nu metal" come about after the fact. By the time people were talking about it and attaching negative connotations to it, we were already not involved with it.
Altsounds: Your album 'For The People...' was made of tracks compiled by the fans. Was this a way for to thank your fans for their support?
Matthew McDonough: "By The People, For The People" was a great opportunity to express our gratitude to our fans. Their passion and intense desire to interact with the band brought about the idea to allow them to participate even more with the bands output. It was a fun and exciting process to hear the fans input and allow them a voice.
Altsounds: I read that Matt has started a new web based business with John Strate-Hootman Called Atmoworks.com. Could you explain a little about this project and what it is that you do?
Matthew McDonough: The name of my online label is called AtmoWorks:I am a co-owner/operator with my friend John Strate-Hootman aka Vir Unis. We run a download fulfilment site that features an online store that sells music through Pay Pal. We release independent, “DIY” musicians that focus mainly on ambient music.
I have had a lifelong appreciation for experimental and electronic music. So working with "AtmoWorks" has been a great opportunity for me to explore my other musical interests. I've met and been able to facilitate other musicians’ pursuits. And also find a place to release my own solo and side projects under the alias "MjDawn" and "miKroNaught".
Altsounds: Mikronaught which is the band that Matt formed with John Strate-Hootman aka Vir unis works in collaboration with Atmoworks.com to distribute their music. How does Mikronaughts compare to your work in Mudvayne?
Matthew McDonough: miKroNaught is an experimental project that delves into elements of IDM, industrial and abstract electronic music.
It has given me a chance to take my drumming into the realm of programming and experiment with a whole new vocabulary of tonalities. There are no parameters, so the sky has been the limit for me.
Altsounds: With various members of Mudvayne branching into other projects,what does the future hold for Mudvayne?
Matthew McDonough: The future for Mudvayne looks great. We're still experiencing a great reception from our fans. They have propelled us into a number one radio single for 2009 and shown wonderful support for our live touring.
Altsounds: Thanks for your time Matthew!
For more info on Mudvayne go here:
