Matt Fox Shai Hulud
What is your name and band/label/etc?
My name is Matt Fox. I did not star in Lost, nor have I ever seen an episode, but that handsome guy with my name had something to do with it. I humbly share some of my thoughts and ideas in the band Shai Hulud.
What are your top five albums that were released in 2012? (In order 1-5)
- Propagandhi - Failed States
- Testament - Dark Roots Of Earth
- Accept - Stalingrad
- NOFX - Self Entitled
- Classics Of Love - Classics Of Love
What band did you discover in 2012 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
As silly as it may sound, I'd have to say Enya - I guess she's an artist, not necessarily a band; I hope that still counts. Of course, I've known who she is for over a decade, and I always knew what her music sounded like - I even liked everything I had heard, but I first began exploring her catalog this year, and it definitely made an impact. Though my first musical loves will always be Metal, Punk, and Hardcore, I can't listen to anything remotely aggressive when I'm feeling overly stressed. Enya calmly fills those stressful gaps nicely, stabilizing my mood so I can jump right back into listening to Death and Cryptic Slaughter again.
How will you remember 2012? (In terms of music)
Well, I'll never forget 2012 because I spent 6 + weeks in sunny California recording Shai Hulud's new album with Chad Gilbert. Recording is always a momentous occasion for Shai Hulud, as it's so seldom. And returning to the studio with Chad Gilbert (now as an adult!), for the first time in over ten years, that's something I won't soon forget. In terms of music, this experience largely defines 2012 for me.
What can we look forward to from you in 2013?
Why, Shai Hulud's new album "Reach Beyond The Sun," of course. February 19th, in fact. In addition to that, we'll be touring as much of the world as possible in support of it. It should be a busy year for Shai Hulud, with quite a few tours already lined up - incredibly, with some of our favorite bands of all time. Outside of Shai Hulud, I'll be working on a couple other musical projects I am pretty excited about. now, just to find the time.
What records are you looking forward to most in 2013?
Thus far I'm very excited for Bad Religion's new album, and "Unkind" by After The Fall. From what I've already heard, both are sure to rip.
Fundraising sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo have made a strong impact on the ability of artists to release music. Do you think this approach is a trend, or will it continue to shape how artists produce their material?
It seems to be happening often enough of late to call it a trend. Then again, that may just be the state of "the industry" - its financial aspects and funding more sparse than of the yesteryears. The DIY mentality has always been maintained, it will never go away. These fundraising sites, essentially, make it easier to indeed "do it yourself," but in using them, though technically "doing it yourself," it's not really all that DIY, at least not in the way I got to know DIY. All things considered, I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the matter. Not every project warrants fundraising, and these sites give opportunities to both worthwhile projects, and let's be honest… bullshit. All in all, people will always create. If someone is creating something of true value, I tend to think it will be funded by something, someone, somewhere: label, publisher, or layman. Said sites can be great and useful tools to really help someone or something take flight that otherwise might not have the chance. It's definitely up to those funding these projects to be discerning and not just throw money at bullshit to receive a 10 minute Skype conversation with the "artist." Ultimately, but of course with some circumstantial exceptions, I don't think people who are truly creating for the always nebulous "right reasons" will make much use of fundraising sites. These sites can, and probably already are to some degree, shaping the landscape of "art" for those with nothing artistic to offer to make a quick buck without really giving anything substantial in return. Not even the project needing funding.
