We’re looking forward to introducing you to Matt Alcobia. Check out our conversation below.
Matt, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I recently performed a hip-hop show and featured my 8yr old son on one song. I teach him music, and he has grown up hanging out in the studio with us, but this was the first time he performed on stage in front of an audience. The night before he came up with the idea he wanted to do and he wrote his own lyrics. We ran through the song about 10 times to practice. At showtime I called him up about half way through our set. He confidently came up and perfectly did the song, everyone loved it. It’s always been a dream of mine to be able to perform with my son, I was so proud of him! Now he keeps asking when we are going to do it again. To top it off, he decided to call himself Remi Rizzler.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am the creator and executive director of Noize Cartel Records. Noize Cartel Records is an independent record label created to help aspiring artists have the resources they need to achieve their goals in the music industry. We offer services for musicians such as studio recording, session artists, live sound and artist marketing. We also service the TV and Film industry with sound design and mixing and mastering services. We have a strong focus on artist development, most recently helping an international artist from Spain obtain an artist visa to grow his career in the United States. Check him out, he’s a very talented and hard working artist by the name of Buman.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
That’s a deep question which I’m going to try and answer in the shortest way possible. I think emotional intelligence has a lot to do with this, In conjunction with great communication.
To elaborate a bit further on that, Unfortunately we see this on a regular basis in life, and everyone has likely experienced it themselves at some point in their lifetime. I think it’s common as people growing up and going through life, that we meet someone who you have an awesome connection with, then something changes, and one day they vanish and never hear from again. Any type of relationship, business, personal, friends, family, maybe even your dog. It takes time and energy to maintain our relationships. If we don’t dedicate any time or effort to maintain contact with the people we form great connections with, then the bonds we built become broken. It’s human nature to focus on what’s most important to us at any moment in time, so if developing and maintaining strong bonds with others is important to you, then you will invest in dedicating a certain amount of time and energy into your relationships. Approaching all your relationships with care, and respect while properly communicating, listening and understanding is important for restoring and building bonds between one another. There obviously needs to be some level of compatibility and reciprocity, not everyone is compatible, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be amicable and kind in understanding this.
One key to success as an independent artist is developing bonds with your fans and associates, then deepening your relationship with them and maintaining this throughout your career. It’s vital if you want a full time career as an artist. It’s tough, it takes a lot of work, but it’s extremely rewarding. A customer might buy your album or merch, but treating them like a friend and building a bond where you have a mutual level of trust will make the difference in being able to actually sustain your career over time.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
Once I started working on myself, I realized the importance it had on my life. It took quite a lot of inner work and spiritual work on myself, which I continue to do, that helped me to open myself up, heal my mind and body, and accept myself for who I am and what I am here to do. Self development is so important to maintain clear focus and stay true to yourself. I have no problem opening myself up to anyone who wants to know something about me, I will happily provide an honest answer. One thing I love about the music industry is it’s a great way to deal with the pain and emotion that comes from life, that’s a recipe for some good music! Good example is a breakup song. I came out of a terrible relationship, and got in the studio one night and just hit record and let loose just playing how I felt. First thing I did was go into the vocal recording room and scream a bad word. I walked out as my right hand man ArKay looked at me and asked if I was alright. I sat down at the computer and played back the track to see what it sounded like, and I laughed, then sat at the drum kit and played a beat, next played some bass, then just kept recording ideas and designing sounds that resonated with me. I ended up writing some genre of music that is hard to even classify. But it carried the feeling that I had, it was dark and heavy. Then listening back over and over again, my attitude changed and I came up with some vocals that were a way of me telling myself that what hurts you only makes you stronger. And saying ‘how do you like me now,’ because at this point I decided I was going to release the song worldwide as a single and make it work for me. So I did, and people connected with it who were feeling that way at times too, so everything down to the Cover Art I designed and created to represent how that relationship made me feel, and now it’s out there making me some money. Even still if I’m having a rough day, I listen to it and it helps change my attitude.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
Artificial Intelligence! Ai is great technology when used appropriately. It’s causing a problem in the music industry, as it’s unregulated new tech, people are abusing it for their own benefit. Currently 1 in every 5 songs released is made with Ai. The music industry is set to come out with some new regulations that require all Ai produced music to be labeled as Ai content, and the royalties are going to be reduced for that type of content. Which is helpful for the talented artists out there. There’s websites out there which allow you to generate songs for free, and within a minute you have a song to release. That just takes away from real artists earnings, which thanks to streaming, are already reduced. I can say that although the technology is surprisingly good, it still lacks the ability to have the same effect on listeners for the fact great music comes from the heart, and Ai just doesn’t contain a heart or soul, so just won’t have the same impact as real music carries. Second to that, it’s really affecting people’s ability to think for themselves. Last thing I’m going to say about it is, why use Ai to target the creative industries, it would be better for everyone if Ai provided legal support for families who can’t afford lawyers! Maybe even for politicians to help them do their jobs better. Seems like a lot more effective use than hurting creative industries.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I am definitely doing what I was born to do. I have always loved music and been one to help others. So combining those things into my business is the best feeling. I love what I do, and I don’t plan on stopping. It wasn’t until 2014 that I decided to go full time in the music industry. Leading up to that it was always a side hustle while I worked for other companies, or in my own business in a different industry. I got into the music business from my dad, but he never supported it, he wanted me to be a doctor or something else. He always said I would never make a living out of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.noizecartelrecords.com
- Instagram: @noizecartelrecords
- Linkedin: https://LinkedIn.com/in/mattalcobia
- Twitter: @NoizeCartelRec
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/NoizeCartelRecords
Image Credits
Nikki Ballard
Sandy Kennedy
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
