By Rob Skane.
Matty Finn is a working musician. I mean it, check his schedule – he’s gigging nonstop. He plays and sings from the heart, and that’s rare these days. You can find him at mattyfinn.com
RRX: What was the moment that made you pick up a guitar and never put it down?
MF: There was a local (Albany) acoustic duo which was kind of a rarity in those days (early ‘90s), other than on “MTV Unplugged.” “VH1 Storytellers” was still in the making at the time and debuted in 1996, which was the same year I first began my full show public performances. The incredible sound of that duo’s booming acoustic guitars, both having masterful counterpoint ability and polyphonic technique with both their guitars and their voices, hit me like a locomotive. That alone was a huge part of me developing my personal technique.
RRX: If you could go back and tell your younger self one thing about playing guitar, what would you say?
MF: Never put the guitar down for more than a day or two. For me, now that I’m free of stressful jobs, people, and situations … I not only want, but I have an extreme need to play every day. It’s an incredible feeling. A release of dopamine, cortisol, melatonin, and serotonin, which are all natural hormones. When these are in correct alignment, the feeling/groove in which I’m achieving is untouchable. Makes me feel as though I’m just plainly on top of the world when entering into that zone.
RRX: When you’re not onstage or recording, what kind of stuff do you play when no one’s listening?
MF: I play anything and everything constantly, although I seem to consistently land on classic/ contemporary rock/folk and a bit of blues and country from the ‘40s on into the ‘90s. Always adding new old songs to my “deepish” repertoire. It’s what keeps me a good distance apart from others as far as my shows go. Yes, I play the common and the classics when warranted or requested. My wheelhouse, though, is the somewhat forgotten lesser hits that crowds all remember and love. We can all play “Don’t Stop Believin’,” which was a top 10 hit, but I’m going to give you something like “Lights” (#68) or perhaps “Anytime” (#83) …
It’s been said that I’m multidimensional, with a very soulful voice, whether performing soft background/crooner type music or rock & roll/upbeat shows, depending on the venue’s needs.
In summation, I refuse to toot my own horn. I’d much rather people take in a show or three of mine and come to their own conclusion.
And the music never stopped …
