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When I was 16 years old –- which was before the release of the movie Almost Famous –- I was writing for some publications on Long Island. That all seemed special, but it would be a few years before I was being paid to write articles.
Matt FX, on the other hand, was the Music Supervisor of the much-hyped MTV show Skins when he was 18. At 24 years of age, he is currently the Music Supervisor of the Comedy Central hit Broad City. Matt was also responsible for the music on the recent Julie Klausner-created Hulu series Difficult People. As if those credits aren’t enough, Matt also works steadily as a DJ and is part of the 20-person collective known as Scooter Island.
A tastemaker while most people his age are still struggling to figure out their career path, Matt FX spoke to Downtown in advance of his April residency at the Ace Hotel. Free and open to the public, “Matt FX & Friends” will be happening on Apr. 5, 12, 19 and 26. Special guests are slated to include Sophia M.A., Leigh Barton, and Kashaka.
For more info on Matt’s various projects, he can be followed via About.Me, Soundcloud, Twitter, and Facebook.
When someone asks what you do for a living, what do you usually tell them? That you’re a DJ? That you’re a Music Supervisor?
Matt FX: I actually used to struggle with giving a concise answer to this question, but these days, my answer is usually just “I work in entertainment.” I’d like to think it’s the type of answer that functions as an actual-interest-gate — most people don’t usually ask further, and if they do, it’s worth telling them what they wanna hear!
What is the biggest challenge in the music supervision world? Do you find that there are any misconceptions about what you do?
M: My biggest challenge in the music supervision world is making a project work within the budget. Major labels and publishers are not here to help, and I seem to have to relearn this lesson somewhat constantly.
How do you usually find out about new music?
M: I suppose the digital version of “word of mouth” — Facebook, Twitter, e-mail. This might sound super douche-y, but in a lot of ways the music finds me!
What was your first paying gig in the TV world?
M: My first paying gig in the TV world was working on MTV’s adaptation of Skins. I was 18 years old.
Was there a mentor or someone that you took you under your wing in your early days within the music world?
M: It depends what you consider “early days.” I was sort of forced into the industry pretty early on as a kid, as I was working as a professional boy soprano by the time I was eight years old. Back in those days, I was attending a boarding school called St. Thomas Choir School; our gym teacher at the time was a man named Fred Benjamin, who actually started the same year we did. He happened to be both an actor and a former NBA player, and happened to be a really cool guy who let us come sit in his office when we weren’t feeling so great about our — practically slave-like — lives.
I’m a firm believer in the idiom “It takes a village,” and I’ve been fortunate enough to have a few different mentors. Mr. Sokoloff and Ms. Fleischer from my time at LaGuardia High School, as well as an amazing, amazing man named Marat Berenstein, someone who I met back in the Skins days and is now my manager!
Photo: Courtesy of press.cc.com/series/broad-city/images
How did the Broad City opportunity come your way?
M: The Broad City opportunity came by way of a man who I’d met whilst working on Skins. He’d contacted me a few years after we initially worked together about a show that was going to air imminently, that needed someone to come in pretty last minute to replace their music guy. Broad City was that show!
Aside from Broad City, do you have a favorite TV show?
M: I’m a huge fan of Marvel’s Netflix output — though I think some of the music could be better — as well as a lot of cooking television. Everything from classier stuff like PBS’s Mind Of A Chef to the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins And Dives, which I think is actually one of the most underrated shows of all time. One day, I plan on winning Chopped.
Is there a venue that’s your favorite place to DJ at?
M: My favorite place to DJ in Manhattan is undoubtedly a club called Le Bain, at the top of the Standard Hotel, with Soho House being a close second. In Brooklyn, it gets a little…sketchier? My favorite places there to DJ are actually some of the illegal after-hours spots – shout-outs to Secret Guest — as well as some of the constantly-roaming parties like BangOn! NYC and RINSED. There is also a new venue called The House Of Yes that I’m very excited about. Although I haven’t played there yet, I’ve experienced a magical night as a listener and can’t wait for the opportunity to spin!
Do you have any career aspirations outside of what you do now? Do you yourself want to have a label?
M: I constantly joke around that I’m going to be the first person to win a “JBEGOT,” which is like an “EGOT” but with a James Beard Award tacked to the front. I made a half-joke tweet at the beginning of the year that I wanted to become a model — who knows if that’ll ever come true! As far as a label goes, I would want nothing more than to be able to run my own label. That said, I don’t want anyone to ever label ME as anything other than capable and tasteful. Maybe a little bit scattered, but there’s only one of me!
I hear that you grew up in the West Village. What is it that keeps you New York based all these years later?
M: The hustle.
Once the current season of Broad City has wrapped, what’s ahead for you? Any upcoming projects you can talk about?
M: We’re currently cutting a music video that I directed down in Trinidad earlier this year during carnival. The video is actually the debut single by an artist named Synead, who appeared on Scooter Island last year and will be releasing her debut solo EP a little while afterwards. I definitely want to spend as much time this summer working with artists on their material as I possibly can!
When you’re not busy with your career, how do you like to spend your free time?
M: Cooking, chilling, working on my own dance productions, scooting around the city, going on fun dates…
Finally, Matt, any last words for the kids?
M: Accept all side quests!
EXCEPT the ones in which you need to collect 30 of the same thing for some vanity item, in which case only do it if you REALLY want that vanity item. In general though, accept all side quests. It is my favorite lesson that I’ve learned from playing video games!