Showing posts with label Matt Zarley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matt Zarley. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Matt Zarley Is A "hopefulRomantic"


Broadway veteran, Billboard dance sensation and People Magazines first-ever gay “Hottest Bachelor” Matt Zarley has received critical acclaim as an LGBT artist for over a decade since his debut on the music scene.  As one of the first openly gay male artists in music, a lot has changed in the world for the LGBT community. In his latest endeavor, hopefulROMANTIC, Zarley has created an original musical film about one man's emotional journey through love, heartbreak, and healing. It's a universal story about loving, letting go, and holding onto faith that there's somebody for everybody.  In addition, the film also features film and TV icon, Star Trek star and LGBT activist, George Takei

The project consists of not only the film but, the original soundtrack and pop album titled hopefulROMANTIC  The Deluxe Edition, featuring new, acoustic renditions of songs featured in the film, as well as a bonus video duet with Jeb Havens – all available now!!!


Say Hello, Matt.

Matt Zarley

MS: I was just watching the trailer for "hopefulRomantic" for the third time when you called, it's gained a lot of fans.

MZ:  Yeah, well, thank you. It's really cool.


MS: So, what was the inspiration for the project?


MZ: Originally I was writing a little CD of love songs. Very fond and very sweet, I was in love at the time, in a relationship, very happy. I wrote a song called "Somebody For Everybody" it's very up and fun, and I wanted to stay on that path. A couple of weeks before the writing process for the EP my relationship ended. I was sideswiped, I didn't see it coming, it ended very abruptly. It really broke my heart. Well, than when that happened I wanted the EP to be really different and I wrote the song called "Constantly" which is featured in the film. It's about when you break-up with somebody and you run into each other in the future, you don't want them to see you dying. Your heart is broke and you don't want then to see you like that. All of it is completely opposite of what I meant the EP to be. This message was what was relate able to me at the time and everybody, universal. So I started finishing the songs with that idea in mind. In that process I re-connected with
Ben Pollack who directed my "Trust Me" music video. He called me and said: "What's going on?" I sent him the demo for "Constantly" and he said I'll direct this music video for free. So I told him I had an idea for three music videos for a project with one narrative. That's how it started. As I was finishing the song, as every writer I started to fall in love with my stuff. I started to think it would be great if this chorus would transition into this next song, so before I knew it all the songs were connected and it became an actual short film. 

MS: Very cool.

Oh My!
Matt Zarley & George Takei
MZ:  I wanted to have a figure in the film that represented a sort of mentor figure. The thought was to get George Takei, that would be a home run, that would be it! 

MS: Yeah, I was going to ask you about that, I thought, look! It's George!


MZ: Stafford Arima, who is the director of George's show on Broadway right now "Allegiance" is a really dear friend of mine. I was I New York, he was in New York and we were going to shoot a song and I asked him: "would you feel comfortable doing an E-Mail to George? I would love him to be involved in this project if he is interested."


MS: That's great!


MZ: Honestly, I didn't know if he was going to have the time. He was enjoying a revival in his career and all these incredible things are happening. Not to mention he has taken over social media.


MS: Yeah, he really has taken over social media. (both laugh)


MZ: The stars were aligned I guess. It just worked out. The whole shoot was an incredible experience. It's a very personal project, but I also learned in the creative process how much I am not married to my own stuff, which is very important for me to learn about myself. It also made me aware of a lot of skills I didn't realize I had. It's been a wonderful two years for me, it has opened my eyes a lot to where I want to go with my career. 
    

                                                       "hopefulRomantic" Trailer

MS: How do you think social media affects romantic relationships?

MZ: I think it depends on how much you buy into it and put yourself out there. My last relationship was a little more out there than I have ever been before. I keep a pretty private life I think, for the most part. But people knew who he was. We were just a little more visible I guess. I would not do that again. Because if it doesn't work out, you have to explain yourself and everyone gets in your business. You have all these snarky comments why people thought it ended. It's like: "None of you know." I'm not the type of person to air my laundry for everyone to know. It's not my scene, I don't need to do that for my own game.


MS: You're preaching to the choir on that one.


MZ: I can't stand people who post on Facebook, their single, their in a relationship, it's constant status changing. When they break-up with someone and air their whole fight on social media. It's just so tired. I don't get it and it leaves a really bad taste in my mouth.


MS: Mine too!


MZ: I don't even voice my critical opinion on pop culture. I never really voice my critical opinion on anything. Not only because you don't know who is going to read it and how it could back and bite you in the ass number one. But who cares what I think?! (both laugh)


MS: Ditto. 


MZ: When you're in love it's fine to share it. It's when you break up and shit comes down, and you get to the minute updates on stuff. That's when I'm like, ugh!


MS: I agree. Is it safe to assume Matt, that you are still a "hopefulRomantic?" 

MZ: Yes, I am. This project really helped heal me in a very personal way.  

hopefulROMANTIC (the short film and recording) is available on iTunes and other digital outlets. For more information visit MattZarley.com or hopefulROMANTICmovie.com.  

Follow Matt on Social Media at:
https://instagram.com/mattzarley/
https://twitter.com/mattzarley
https://www.facebook.com/mattzarley/

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

For The Love Of Whitney Houston


Being that Whitney Houston was the number one influence on him as a singer it was merely a matter of time before singer/musician/artist Matt Zarley dropped a cover of one of her many classics. That day has arrived! Yes today Matt's cover of I Look To You drops on iTunes.

To celebrate I asked Mr. Zarley to give me ten reasons Whitney was his favorite artist of all time.
Of course he gave the awesome type of answers only a super fan could.

Take it away Matt!

1. Her debut album (I played the cassette so much that I actually had to replace it)

2. “If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful” - I was so obsessed with this song. I used to play
the last half from the end of the bridge thru to the end and marvel at her stunning
vocals. https://youtu.be/IzYIBlA7hDs

3. “The Greatest Love of All” music video - The part where she walks across the stage in
her silver evening gown. To this day, there’s something simple yet magical in that
moment.  https://youtu.be/IYzlVDlE72w

4. “I’m Your Baby Tonight” album - This is when we started to hear her really rip thru a
song. Her first 2 albums were very refined; whereas this was the moment we started to
hear her true r&b roots.

5. “Welcome Home Heroes” HBO Concert - This is one of the greatest concerts ever.
She has never sounded better. Billy Porter and I would sit in my NYC apartment for
hours, watching and studying her nuances. This is also when Billy and I so lovingly
nicknamed her SONGSTRESS: ALL THAT IS VOICE. (I’m totally not lying) https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=11x2xf5BE6Q


6. The Bodyguard - This was her peak, vocally. She was the platinum standard of which
most singers of my generation looked up to.

7. Cinderella - I actually appeared in this Disney television tv movie. She was the exec
producer and star of this. Though I didn’t get to work with her (I worked with Brandy
for a month), I love to be able to say I was in the same film with her. :)

8. “The Star Spangled Banner” - THE BEST rendition of this classic. No one will ever top
her performance ever.

9. Her talent and artistry - I don’t think most people really appreciated how gifted she
was. She made it look so easy. She had a gift for connecting to a lyric and really
communicating that story to the listener. She could draw you in to her. Very few artists
can stand at a microphone and just sing….and make you feel something, really affect
you. She had that gift. She didn’t need to fly, flash her nipples, or kiss another woman
to get your attention. Her artistry was enough. https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=11x2xf5BE6Q

10. That voice - In my opinion, she was and is the greatest pop vocalist ever. She had that
mezzo soprano range that allowed her to glide thru octaves seemlessly. She knew the
importance of a melody and not to oversing or over embellish a song. She respected
the music. She would always establish the tune first before riffing her face off…which
always felt like it made sense. Her intonation and clarity of tone was off the charts
perfect. She truly had the most beautiful instrument we will likely ever hear. No one
even comes close. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cdEH_tTvug

Look to Matt at:
https://www.facebook.com/mattzarley
https://twitter.com/mattzarley
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/matt-zarley/id262463477

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

For Immediate Release: Matt Zarley Says "Trust Me"


Interview subject http://www.chorusandverse.com/content.php?id=20110425A and "Entertain Me" staple Matt Zarely wants your trust. With his latest song and video "Trust Me" the story goes something like this...

"When video footage of fictional GOP presidential candidate Matt Zarley surfaces showing him at a 70s style party making out with a sexy younger man (scenes complete with 70s facial hair, furry chested men and hot tubs), the "candidate" decides to come out from behind his false marriage and be who he truly is. At the end of the music video America embraces and elects it's first openly gay president."

In Matt We Trust.

www.mattzarley.com