Matty Grace (Crisis Party / Cluttered)
photo by Ming Wu
What are your top five albums that were released in 2022? (In order 1-5)
Signals Midwest - Dent
My most listened to album of the year. I had gotten into this band when they released the Pin EP and this album is such a huge step forward. From lyrical content and song structure to how the album flows so seamlessly that I can’t help but listen to it on repeat.
Martha - Please Don’t Take Me Back
New Martha! Will forever love this band. My old project Future Girls was lucky enough to open for them and they were just the sweetest people and the best band. The new songs do not disappoint. I didn’t know it was possible to have so much output and it all be exceptionally good.
Book Buddies - Best Before
I may have a bit of a bias as Becca and AJ play in Cluttered but I’ve been saying for a year that Book Buddies are the best band in Halifax. Perfect songs that encapsulate big feelings and they’re so good sonically that even though this was just released in December it will continue to be in steady rotation for the foreseeable future. A song like "Headspace" makes me want to continue to grow and push myself as a musician.
Puffer - Demo
Puffer are from Montreal and are so killer, I’ve seen them several times this year and Crisis Party even had the pleasure of playing a basement show them. Riffs for days and boundless energy. Also maybe the best bass playing I’ve heard on any punk record in years.
UZU - UZU
This album is stunning. Sonically it has so many cool textures and the melodies blew me away. I was lucky enough to catch this band at Varning in Montreal this year and they were so good. A perfect band.
Honourable Mention:
Spite House - Spite House
This record is perfect. Big Jawbreaker/Seaweed/Samiam vibes and a killer live show to accompany these incredible songs. In a year of discovering new bands and getting inspired by music again this was a big one for me.
What band did you discover in 2022 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? How so?
I’ve discovered a handful of bands in 2022. Blemish/Peeve/UZU/Puffer all come to mind.
These bands are all fiercely DIY and have members that are just genuinely sweet people. It’s really inspiring for what I want to do with my projects going forward.
How will you remember 2022? (In terms of music)
There was so much great music that came out in 2022. I managed to see a lot of new things and attend some really well curated events that really inspired me to keep pushing forward.
What can we look forward to from you in 2023?
2023 is going to be a big year. There will be new Crisis Party material including a full-length and some surprise releases. Cluttered has a full-length in the works. I have a new solo full-length almost done which will be my first full-length solo release. Alongside another G.R.O.S.S. Demo, a recording with my new project Zeal and whatever else will inevitably come out.
Also touring. Lots of touring.
What records are you looking forward to most in 2023?
Number 1 is the upcoming ZOOMAN demo and hopefully new releases from Sincere Engineer and The Last Mile. Selfishly I’m really excited about what I’ve been working on but I just wanna see people making things that they are proud of for me to get stoked on.
Live shows are still a mixed bag as we adapt to social gatherings in a COVID world. What is something positive you see about touring right now? Anything you’d like to see change?
In my experience most folks are being conscious that we are not in the clear yet and, regardless of the world opening up, we are still vulnerable. So there are still masks at a lot of shows and people are being encouraged to keep others' safety in mind. Crisis Party is going on our first tour this April and this will be my first longer tour since 2021. It will be interesting to see.
Matty Grace – social media links
- Twitter: @mattydisgrace
- Instagram: @clutteredband
