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I have been working. A lot. 

I now have some collaborations under my belt, a few more on the horizon, a new band, a new album, a new live show, an overflow of unreleased material, remixes to work on, a new house in the woods, a happy dog, a loving wife, and a wish list of synthesizers. In other words, positive change surrounds me, and it is creatively inspiring. 

I was with my previous band from just before Asa Breed (2007)to just after Black City (2011). We toured extensively throughout the world. We ran through the surf in the Black Sea with our pants rolled up and sang Christmas songs while stuck on an Italian motorway for nine hours in a snowstorm. Mark Maynard (drums) and John Gaviglio (bass) are veterans, and stood proudly beside me in my live musical journey. I have them to thank for getting me here.

For the past six months, in preparation for the next album, Beams, I have formed and toured a new band. My live band is a five piece now. I play guitar, control the electronics and sing my songs. 

Greg Paulus (of No Regular Play) still plays trumpet and we have been joined by Ian Chang (Drums), Samer Ghadry (Percussion, Vocals), and Danny Scales (Bass, Vocals). Jason Powers still handles the mixing desk and remains just as integral a part of the team. I have never felt more certain of myself on stage as I do now, and I have John, Mark, Greg, Ian, Samer, Danny and Jason to thank for this. Playing with a live band for me was always a must, yet it always remains a work in progress. There are so many ways to convey music in a live setting, and it has to impact the viewer theatrically. Most importantly though, it has to sound good. I believe we are getting the balance right. 

Like my previous albums, Beams is a collection of songs that spans many years in my life. ‘Shake Me’ was written in 2003 around the same time as ‘Gem’ and ‘Deserter’. I like to revisit old songs that have been collecting dust and freshen them up with new things I’ve learned since their origination. It’s also akin to going back in time and having a conversation with my younger self. A lot has changed since 2003, and it’s pleasant to still find that voice lingering off in the distance. 

While it is not my job to contain my music in vocabularies, I will say that Beams is a turn toward the proverbial light. The songs are glossier and more rhythmically robust than those on Black City, but they are also still full of the obscurity I cannot escape in the studio. I try to write straight forward pop music, but it always comes out askew and off-kilter. The songs on this album are the most honest I’ve written yet. Most of them are still entwined in a cryptic lyrical mesh that I won’t figure out for another few years or so, but trust me, the mesh is honest. 

What is next for me? 

I plan to tour the world with this new band and album, build a magnificent studio at that house in the woods, continue to create and learn from my music, work with any number of the talented artists we find ourselves surrounded by, walk my dog, and add a few more recipes into my cooking repertoire. 

I look forward to seeing you all somewhere out on the road. 

- Matthew Dear