The Bobby Bones Show - Matt Stell: Country Music Singer/Songwriter-Nashville Music History

Episode Date: November 10, 2023

Matt Stell is a Country Music Singer/Songwriter signed to the Records label, described as a renaissance man in modern country.  Matt's heroes and influences stretch from Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley through Miranda Lambert and Jason Isbell.  His new EP is called One of Us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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the art of trash talk, and what it really means to be ladylike. Open your free IHeartRadio app. Search the matchup with Alia and listen now. Brought to you by Novartis, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports Network. Taking a walk. You know, now that I've been writing songs for a long time and lucky to get to do it all the time, I think it's more of a craps that people maybe would think. You know, it's definitely in art form, but to actually write a song, it's kind of like building an house. You know, you got to know how to swing a hammer and how to square corners

and how to, you know, follow up, plans and things like that. You've arrived at the Take-N-A-Walk podcast, an audio diary of music storytelling. Today, your host Buzz Knight talks with record labels country singer-songwriter Matt Stell. Rolling Stone named his song

Prayed for You in 2019, one of the 10 best country songs to hear now. He's releasing new music, and he talks about his songwriting process and much more on Taking a Walk. Well, Matt Stelle, welcome to the Taking a Walk virtual podcast. Man, I'm glad to be here. Thanks for having me.

So tell me what's going on these days. I know you're back in Nashville after doing some road warrior work, right? Yeah, man, we stay on the road quite a bit. We'll leave out again tomorrow. But like we were talking just a minute ago, I got to get home, sleep from my own bed, start a load of laundry. so we're a good shape. The fun stuff, right?

That's right. That's right. Well, take me back. When was the first moment in your life that you knew that you were going to be connected with music? You know, I always loved music. I just, I guess, assumed everybody loved music the way I did. But I guess in college, I found out that I just really had a passion for it. You know, that's where I kind of picked up a guitar and sat in front of a computer like this and learn how to play.

And, you know, that turned it to, you know, buddies's coming over and then, you know, frat houses and, you know, shows and stuff like that. And, you know, I kind of fell into it that way. But I guess I kind of knew I knew I was, I knew music was always going to be a part of what I did. But I didn't know that I was going to get to, you know, make my life about it, you know, build my life around it. Was anybody in your family associated with music or musicians? Yeah, so I have a pretty musical family, especially on my mom's side.

I actually had a couple cousins that had record deals and put out music and did that. And I was actually, I was always, you know, the athlete. I was the ballplayer and I never, you know, I wasn't playing music at the time. And then, you know, I sort of stumbled on it in college. It was this, you know, different thing. And I felt like I had this big learning curve that I had to catch up with everybody. So, but that was, that was probably good, you know, because it showed me how good, good is, and because they were really, really talented people. And, you know, I learned a lot from them,

both, both musically and then, you know, kind of on the business side of stuff, too. Who were some of the mentors that really made a difference for you? Oh, the mentors that really made a difference for me, you know, um, there's a lot going forward. I know that, you know, my cousin, Hannah, she was really gracious and, you know, including me and some rights early on. And Autumn McIntyre, songwriter here in town, really went out of the limb for me and helped me get, helped me get my first pub deal when I finally did.

And, you know, I've had people along the way. I've had, you know, it takes so many people in so many different ways to do this kind of stuff. Aspowers early on. He really, you know, he gave me an opportunity early on. And so I got to thank him for that. And a lot of writers, too, that I just kind of were, would write with me and I'd learn from them. You know, there's some great folks there as well. Scooter Caruso, you know, he's one that I've written with a lot and learned a lot from.

And so, so, yeah, man, I mean, the list is long, you know, especially from the radio side. You know, there's a lot of people from the label side. stuff like that. But it takes a lot of people. And I try to keep my eyes and ears open and ready to learn something as much as I can. You have a multifaceted sort of background in terms of your schooling and some of the other aspirations that you were associated with. So I want to click through a couple of them. I mean, you played college basketball, didn't you? I did. Yeah. Yeah. I did. I played. That's actually where I started playing guitar because you're on campus all winter break. You know, if you're playing PlayStation with your teammates or you're, you know, that's

a play at practice, you know, that's about it or traveling to play ball. You know, that's about it. So that's where I picked up with guitar. But basketball was my first love, was my first dream. And that one kind of turned into this one that I have now. As somebody who studied communications myself, I was fascinated that you, also studied communications. What aspirations around communications did you have? Well, you know, I was really more interested in kind of rhetorical studies, American studies, kind of social critique,

that kind of thing. I just, I always was interested in dealing with, you know, kind of big and new and interesting ideas. You know, my communication, my communication degree wasn't focused in like, organization or mass communication or broadcast or anything like that it was uh it was it was it was much more of uh of a uh an outcropping of uh of like social critique and things like that like i was just always interested in uh people's ideas of how things worked and i had my own ideas and and so yeah that was that's kind of my my uh communication in a nutshell where i could really just you know i could really call it like rhetoric or argumentation you know that uh you know that's what I was interested in.

And then the medical side of your aspirations. You were involved with the medical mission to Haiti, and you studied pre-med. Tell me about that. Well, so I didn't study pre-med. I thought I was going to maybe. I thought I was going to do it. So I went on that medical mission, Trilla, worked alongside with doctors, and I was just really blown away by how they could just improve people's lives by just, you know, helping, you know,

directly can help people, you know, that really needed it the most. And I was like, man, that's a, that's, that's pretty special. And so I applied to this premedical program because I had a lot, you know, I've been to a lot of school, but I still needed some hard sciences, you know, I needed my physics and chemistry and what have you to be able to apply to some of these med schools. And I got accepted in a program for that. But I, I, I, I, because I was in Nashville, trying to get a publishing deal so I could write a songs. And that hadn't happened. So I got to set into that program.

I was going to pull up states and move to the Northeast and just really take a fork in the road. And, man, I got the opportunity to write songs about two months before I was moving. So luckily, I didn't have to fail. I didn't have to flunk out of pre-med before not having to do it because it would have been pretty tough. But I did think that would be. I don't know. I was just very, very wild by the way that the medicine can help people right now. I'm going to come back to music and medicine a little bit later on.

So what was this band The Crashers all about? Man, that was my first band, dude. I was playing acoustic in bars and had a buddy that he and I said. started playing together, and then we put a band together. We, yeah, that was our, it was our first shot at it. I was really, a lot of those guys lived in Missouri, and I did too while I was in college. And then I moved back home around Little Rock, but we would still tour, tour around, play every show that we could, everywhere that we could.

And, yeah, that was my first experience with it. And learned a lot, learned what to do, what not to do. and, you know, it was a special time for sure. You still have some recordings of the crashes? There's probably some out there somewhere, yeah. Actually, I have recordings of the songs we were playing. I guess I probably recorded them with other musicians, but, you know, we tried to make a record together one time.

It didn't go great. And then so I ended up coming to Nashville and, you know, cutting a record with some studio guys. And, you know, we toured on that. And, you know, again, it was like because you can make music, because technology had kind of democratized music where you can make it, anybody can make, anybody can record record. You know, you can, I have a bunch of stuff from what I was learning how to make music and how to write music. And some of it's all right. And some of it's like a little cringy, but

at the end of the day, you know, that's that learning process, you know, that you kind of grow up through your trial and error. And there's plenty of error. That's for sure. I'd like to talk about your songwriting process, how you learn that process, and also what you like about it and what you don't like about the songwriting process. Yeah, well, I mean, my process starts with just having my antenna up and, you know, coming up with song titles anywhere that I can. You know, I just jot them down on my phone, whether one song makes me think of, you know, a different angle on something totally different. and if I read something, if I watch something, if I hear something, if I hear something, it's in a conversation, you know, whatever. I'm always job that down in my phone, you know.

And that's where it starts. And then generally, sometimes I'll write it by myself. Sometimes I get in a room with, sometimes I get in a room with a couple people, and we'll toss ideas around and come up with something and go from there. But I think, you know, now that I've done it, you know, now that I've been writing songs for a long time and, and I'm lucky to get to do it all the time, you know,

it's kind of like writing songs is a little bit like, I think it's more of a craps that people maybe would think, you know, it's definitely an art form, but to actually write a song, it's kind of like building a house, you know, you've got to know how to, you got to know how to swing a hammer and how to square corners and how to, you know, follow plans and things like that. but the songwriting part is very much that. It's very much knowing how to build a house.

And then the creative part of it is, you know, the title or the idea is like the plans of the house. It's like the blueprint kind of thing. So that's something that I've learned. That's how I think about it. And I try to not have any rules, but that's generally how it comes out for me. It usually starts with the lyric and goes from there.

Sometimes the melody, sometimes not. You know, or, you know, it turns of starting it. But that's generally my process. Well, since this podcast is called Taking a Walk, I'd be remissive. I didn't ask you. So if you're in the middle of that songwriting process, whether on your own or with others, and you get stalled at any point in time, do you go take a walk? I mean, sometimes we do. I mean, it's, I'm pretty, I like to just like literally walk. Sometimes I just get up and be pacing around the room. And there's something about that that. that I don't know, it kind of shifts gears a little bit than, you know, kind of sitting. So, yeah, definitely. I mean, we'll do that or sometimes we'll go at lunch or sometimes we'll just come back to it, you know, later.

And a lot of songs, and now I'm not bashful about it. Like a lot of times I get a song done or a demo done, I'll listen to it, and that'll kind of be a little bit of a rough draft, and I'll do some change into it too. So I definitely live with it and literally taking a walk in the room sometimes helps, yeah. And then also, it must be fitting at times to have some recordings from demos and pop it in while you're in the car driving, right? I mean, that must be also helpful. Absolutely. Absolutely.

It's kind of, I do it all the time. You know, that's kind of what the demos are for, you know, it's kind of to live with them. And then something to share it with people, you know, when they get to the right spot. typically, you know, now there's like a work tape will be what we've had to do in the room, even if it's, you know, pretty produced because of how people can, you know, use the, you know, build, make music inside the box, so to speak. So we'll have that work tape, and then we'll work on, then we'll get a demo, and then the demo will send out, and then if we decide to cut it, you know, we'll track that

and get a master out of it. So, yeah, definitely a lot of, a lot of hours of the car passed by listening to demos for sure. do you ever reach a point where you go, man, that's a stinker. I can't do anything with that and you just move on from it. You know, I'm lucky to get to write with a bunch of really talented people. So, you know, we can typically always build the house, you know, but it's like, is it, you know, is it a house you want to live in? You know what I'm talking about?

So, yeah, I mean, sometimes, you know, I write a lot of songs that get written and then that's it. And, you know, sometimes that's, uh, you sometimes it's the idea in the first place wasn't, you know, so I guess I said, worth writing or didn't, didn't produce something cool. We just didn't do a great job with the idea that day. So, yeah, all the time, man. I mean, it's a hit, you win some, you lose something, for sure. What's your memory of hearing for the first time one of your songs on the radio? Well, um, I remember.

maybe not the first time I heard it, you know, because you kind of, sometimes you hear it in small town, uh, in small town, you know, America, you'll hear, you know, the song get played on the radio station in town. But I really, like the first time I ever encountered my song sort of in the wild, I was in Vegas and I was in an Uber and, uh, and the lady had the radio on and, uh, my song came on and, and I was like, man, I was going to sound weird, but that's me right there on the radio.

And I don't know that she believed me, but I do remember that. I was in an Uber and thinking. What song was it? It was pretty for you. It was. Yeah. Yeah. Do you still, like, have goosebumps about that moment?

Man, it's pretty special, you know. It's tough to kind of put everything in perspective because at the time, you know, it's, you know, it kind of happens and it can just sort of wash over you a little bit. But definitely, it is, you know, I think. back on those moments and how special that is, how special that was. And, you know, the fact that, you know, people want to hear, you know, my music at all, you know, is the reason I want to start doing it. So it does give you that kind of goosebumps on, but, yeah. How great is it having someone like Barry Weiss, who's at the helm of records, you know, as part of guiding your career? Yeah, man, I mean, it's, it's great to have somebody believe in you and, uh, and sight of

to a record deal and then you have some success together. That's pretty special. That's what you want to happen when you move to town. And so, you know, very grateful for that opportunity and excited to get some new music out with them here. Actually, pretty soon. Here, what is today? Tonight, comes out tonight.

Breaking a boost my next single is out tonight. So it should be a fun ride again, hopefully. And what other stuff are you working on after that single. Man, I'm constantly writing. I've got another five tracks cut. I'm going to go back in the studio here in November and I finish out a project

and I can't wait to get that released out into the world because I think it's really proud of it. I'm proud of the songs I've written for it. This is the most personal stuff that I've done. You know, there was a time when I had people when I was, when I had people that thought they knew, what was best for me that I probably listened to too much. I tried to steer what I do and tell me who I am and what I should do.

You know, you make those kind of mistakes, and those are tough mistakes to make. But I learned a lesson that I'm going to let what I think is worth cutting be the funnel, and then everybody else can have their opinions and not the other way around. You know, I still want opinions from folks, but it has to, you know, at the end of the day, The reason I love music is because, you know, that kid that's sitting on the end of his dorm room, bed in his dorm, learning how to play on the computer. Like the feeling that my favorite songs gave me is what I'm chasing. And if I don't get that feeling, then that's, I'm in that feeling.

That's the kind of business I'm in. And anything short of that, I'm not going to do. What's some of the music from other folks that you're listening to these days? Oh, man, you know, I listen to that new Zach Bride record. I like it probably the best of anything that he's put out. I've listened to

Jason Nesboles of Weathervange record that's really grown on me. I mean, I liked it in the first place, but I find myself going back to it. Anytime, whenever he puts out stuff, it's definitely worth a listen. I'm trying to think of some great country records

that have dropped and some great songs. And I'd have to look on my phone right now. of all that stuff. But I listen to quite a bit of music and all genres too. You know, I love, I love country music. But, you know, I love all kinds of stuff. So I'm constantly looking for what's new and fresh. What would surprise your fans that you listen to that maybe they wouldn't think you would?

Oh, man, that's a good question. I mean, on the way, I was driving in Colorado yesterday, and we were listening to Giacart, and we were listening to J.P. Sacks and the same, and Jerry Jeff Walker all on the same playlist. And so I think that James McMurtry, he's one of my all-time favorites too. So, you know, like those kind of, those writers like that,

I don't know if that surprise folks all that much. I mean, I thought that last Taylor Swift record Midnights was fantastic. I love that. I love Annoa Khan stuff. It's cool, man. It's fun to see that, to see that kind of organic thing

popping his head out. So I could go on and on, man. I'm a fan of all kinds of stuff. That's a good window inside the depth of your music with some of the stuff that you mentioned. Yeah, man, I mean, I think, you know, especially in this day and age, we all kind of grew up with music at our fingertips.

And so because you, you know, you can literally have every song in the world with a press of a button, that generally means that your genre is, or, you know, people may have a favorite genre, but they'll venture outside of that for sure. What would you tell someone listening to this that's a aspiring musician that would be advice to keep them on the long road?

Well, I would say that, you know, write songs. If you love to write songs, write songs. You never know what's going to happen, but when it does happen, you know, you have to learn how to build that house. like I was talking about before, you got to learn the craft. And even if you reinvent the craft, you know, it's like you still have to kind of,

you start to know how it's done to make choices, know how things are done to make choices to do them differently. So I would say, write as much as you can. You know, I think, you know, from a pragmatic standpoint, I think if you have dreams of playing music for a living, if you have great to write music for a living, that, you know, you're going to need to keep your overhead low, you know, not make it where you don't live very expensive so you don't have to, you know, have side hustles

that take over and become your main hustle and turn music into your side hustle. That's another, like, thing. I think, yeah, man, you know, there were times in my life where I didn't, you know, no one knows what's going to happen and I got extremely lucky, you know, getting a record deal and all that stuff. but you want to be ready for when that stuff happens

and you want to get around other creative people as well. If you get you around, that's what the best part about Nashville is, is that there's no place that has this concentration of musical talent, you know, per capita, whether that's players, whether that's writers, especially writers. And so I would say get around as many of those people as you can because you're going to learn from each other.

And I should have moved to Nashville sooner. And I would have gotten, I would have benefited from it because being around other credit, people, you're constantly propelling each other to get better and to do the next cool thing. So those may be a couple things, but what do I know? You know a lot. In Nashville, there's some pretty incredible venues that must be unbelievably energizing to play at. what are some of your favorite experiences from playing at some of those legendary places? Well, I mean, playing the operas is, you know, that's probably my best memory of one of my favorite memories, I should say. You know, I'm from a town of 300 people.

And when I played the opera, I mean, most of the town, people that hadn't left Conway County, people that hadn't left Arkansas. And who knows how long made the trip to Nashville to see me play off. on the Opry and my family from Texas and Florida, and Carolinas all over came. And that was really special. And, man, I don't know, man, it's just that, that is one of the memories that sticks out to me the most. And I had my mama and my grandmama's backstage.

And that was so fun. And, man, it was really, really cool. Well, I want to close with this. Come back to your medicine. aspirations. We produce this other podcast, and it's called Music Save Me, and it's about the power of music as a healing force and what it means to folks. Do you think that music has healing therapeutic powers? Well, I mean, you know, just coming from a, from my perspective, I would definitely say that yes in a sense you know like music i think i think music enriches life as much as it heals

anything you know what i mean it's i can definitely get your mind in the right place um in all those in all those different ways but uh um so i think it definitely has a role in in that way well i wish you well on uh all the future and uh congratulations on all your successes matt It's awesome to have you on Taking a Walk. I so appreciate it. Absolutely, Buzz. I appreciate you having me and hope we're running into each other soon. I hope so.

We hope you enjoyed country music artist Matt Stelle on Taking a Walk. If you like this and other episodes, leave us a review and share it with everyone. Find Taking a Walk on the IHeart Radio app, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. When a group of women discover they've all dated the sixth. Same prolific con artist. They take matters into their own hands. I vowed, I will be his last target. He is not going to get away with this.

He's going to get what he deserves. We always say that, trust your girlfriends. Listen to the girlfriends. Trust me, babe. On the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Everyone, I'm Ego Wood. My next guest, it's Will Ferrell. My dad gave me the best advice ever.

He goes, just give it a shot. But if you ever reach a point where you're banging your head against the wall and it doesn't feel fun anymore, it's okay to quit. If you saw it written down, it would not be an inspiration. It would not be on a calendar of, you know, the cat. Just hang in there. Yeah, it would not be. Right, it wouldn't be that. There's a lot of luck.

Listen to thanks dad on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast. or wherever you get your podcast. In 2023, Bachelor star Clayton Eckerd was accused of fathering twins. But the pregnancy appeared to be a hoax. You doctored this particular test twice in so-ins, correct? I doctored the test ones. It took an army of internet detectives

to uncover a disturbing pattern. Two more men who'd been through the same thing. Greg Gillespie and Michael Marengi. My mind was blown. I'm Stephanie Young. This is love trapped. Laura, Scottsdale Police. As the season continues, Laura Owens finally faces consequences.

Listen to Love Trapped podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Readers, Katie's finalists, publicists. We have an incredible new episode this week for you guys. We have our girl Hillary Duff in here, and we can't wait for you to hear this episode. They put on Lizzie McGuire 2am, video on demand. This guy's bobo-oo-oo-o-o-m-a-m-m-m-whatever. And I'm like, a wild bat you were with. It was like a first, like, clock.

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