Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Pethel.
Hi Matt, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve been immersed in music since I was a child, with memories of watching my mom and grandmother perform in a gospel quartet and attending revivals with them. I learned about harmonizing at a young age and found myself drawn to vocal voicings rather than the lead melody.
My mom was also a singer in a band, and as an 8-year-old, I would accompany her to smoky, dingy bars where I had little to do but listen to the music. I picked up the guitar at 14 and began writing my own songs shortly after. In school, I also played the trumpet and learned music theory.
In high school, my best friend and I entered the talent show and won with a song I had written for my girlfriend at the time. Despite being predominantly a creative thinker, I was convinced by that same girlfriend to pursue a career in medicine. I passed up a full music scholarship and attempted to enter a pre-med program at a local college, but it didn’t work out, and neither did the relationship.
After graduating from high school, I recorded a 5-song demo at a local studio and fell in love with the entire recording process, from the recording itself to production and performance. I began experimenting with different software, deconstructing and reconstructing my favorite songs to understand their nuances.
Following my unsuccessful attempt at pre-med, I decided to pursue my passion for music. A friend and I moved to Orlando to attend one of the top recording schools in the country, where I had the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art equipment and learn from industry professionals. Graduating at the top of my class, I knew that music was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Upon returning home, I applied to every recording studio in and around Atlanta, eager to kickstart my career. I met my future wife, and while interning at a hip-hop studio, she became pregnant with our first son who was born with an undetected heart condition, requiring immediate open-heart surgery. As a father, I needed a stable income and took a job at a software company for the health insurance benefits.
Despite working a “real job,” I continued to play shows with my band and kept my mixing skills sharp by self-producing our albums and taking on other gigs as a mixing engineer and musician. Nine years later, a filmmaker friend approached me to compose music for a project, which ignited my passion for film scoring. The project received recognition and awards at film festivals, opening doors for me to score other projects and work on sound design and editing.
In 2017, I founded Greyecho Productions, my own production company, where I primarily work as a producer and sound engineer, offering a wide range of audio services from my studio space.
Overall, my journey has been shaped by my unwavering love for music, from my early exposure to anything from gospel quartets to smoky bars to my formal education in recording and my eventual pursuit of a career in music production and sound engineering. Despite facing challenges and detours along the way, my passion for music has always remained at the heart of my story.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Financial stability: Pursuing a career in music and audio production can be financially challenging, especially early on. Internships and entry-level positions generally do not provide stable income, and this was a massive hurdle, especially when my son’s health condition required me to prioritize steady income and insurance benefits.
Career opportunities: Finding full-time employment or securing gigs in the competitive field of music production and sound engineering can be challenging. It takes a lot of time and effort to land a gig you really want, and oftentimes you can get rejected before you are even given a chance.
Balancing family and career: Juggling my responsibilities as a father and a professional in the music industry definitely presents challenges in terms of time management, work-life balance, and meeting my family’s needs while pursuing my career aspirations. I will choose my family every time, and I always make sure to set healthy boundaries whenever I take on any project.
Building a reputation and client base: Establishing my production company and growing my client base is slow-moving process that requires networking, marketing, and building a reputation. It takes time and effort to establish yourself in the industry and gain recognition for your work.
Despite these challenges, my passion for music, determination, and talent have helped me overcome these obstacles and achieve success in my field. My ability to adapt, pivot, and pursue opportunities, such as film scoring and sound design, showcases my resilience and commitment to my craft.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a highly skilled music producer and audio engineer with a passion for creating unique and immersive audio experiences. I specialize in producing music for various media, including films, video games, and commercials. My expertise lies in crafting rich soundscapes, capturing the essence of a story through audio, and using cutting-edge technology to create high-quality productions.
What sets me apart from others is my diverse background and experience in both music and audio production. With a strong foundation in music theory, performance, and production, I bring a unique musical perspective to my work, blending it with my technical expertise in audio engineering. I am known for my ability to create innovative and dynamic soundscapes that elevate the emotional impact of visual media and my attention to detail in every aspect of the production process.
I am most proud of my work in film scoring and sound design for award-winning independent films that have gained recognition at international film festivals. My ability to understand the director’s vision and translate it into a cohesive and powerful audio experience has been a highlight of my career. I am also proud of the positive feedback and testimonials from clients who appreciate my creativity, professionalism, and dedication to delivering exceptional results.
In addition, I have built a strong reputation for my adaptability and versatility, having successfully worked on a wide range of projects across different genres and styles. My ability to collaborate effectively with clients, musicians, and other professionals in the industry has also been a key factor in my success.
Overall, my passion for music, my technical expertise, and my ability to create unique and immersive audio experiences are what set me apart from others in the field. I am committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible with sound and music, and I look forward to continuing to create memorable and impactful audio productions for years to come.
What makes you happy?
What makes me happy is being able to create music that moves people emotionally and tells a story. I find joy in the process of composing music, designing soundscapes, and bringing audio to life in a way that enhances the overall experience. The ability to use my creativity, technical skills, and passion to create something meaningful brings me a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
I am also happy when I see the positive impact of my work on others, whether it’s receiving feedback from clients who are thrilled with the results or seeing audiences connect with the music and audio I have created. Knowing that my work has the power to evoke emotions, transport people to different worlds, and enhance their overall experience with media is such a wonderful thing.
I find happiness in the process of continuous learning and growth in my craft. Exploring new techniques, experimenting with different sounds, and pushing my own boundaries is exciting to me. It keeps me motivated, inspired, and constantly striving to improve my skills and create even better things.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thegreyecho.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegreyecho/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greyechoproductions/
