INTERVIEW: matty co. Unpacks the Chaos Behind “1INAMILLION” and His Upcoming EP
Today, we have a special guest who’s been making a strong impression with his deeply personal and emotionally charged music. matty co. unveils his latest single, “1INAMILLION,” the second installment of his three-part mini EP, “ALL IS GOOD HERE.” Through this project, matty co. takes listeners on a journey through some of the most turbulent moments of his life, transforming pain into powerful music.
Rooted in a real-life battle with a tenant who attempted to steal his home, “1INAMILLION” delves into the complexities of facing a “one in a million” narcissist. Produced by Adam Castilla, the track blends the nostalgic alt-rock vibes of the ‘90s—reminiscent of The New Radicals—with the raw, belting energy of Sam Fender. It's an ironic contrast that makes the song both cathartic and powerful, proving once again that matty co. knows how to turn life’s chaos into something compelling.
The release of “1INAMILLION” also introduces matty co.’s brand-new live band, featuring members of Teenage Wrist and Towa Bird, in a music video that’s set to bring even more depth to the song’s story. Alongside a full digital marketing campaign and press coverage, this rollout promises to be a major moment for matty co. Dive into the inspiration behind the track, his journey so far, and what’s next for him in this interview!
Your latest song and music video mark an exciting debut for your band, which includes talented members from Teenage Wrist and Towa Bird. Can you share the story of how you all connected and decided to collaborate on this project?
Ahh, yes. Lucky to have Anthony 'Nino' Salazar (Teenage Wrist/Iron Point) on guitar—he just finished a run in Towa Bird's band supporting Billie Eilish. Proud of him. Anthony and I go way back to our early LA days, playing in different bands. I actually played with Teenage Wrist in 2021/22 and was featured on Earth Is A Black Hole (live at Kingsize). Shelby Osborne is on drums—LA native—and recently met her through friends. She crushed it! Excited to play more.
Could you walk us through the creative process behind your latest track, “1INAMILLION”? What sparked the idea, and how did it come together?
Oh, man... if you know me, you know my fiancé and I had a wild year and a half. We got engaged, got a dog, got our dream home… and inherited tenants who tried to steal it. Loopholes, lawsuits, harassment—you name it. lifehasbeenalotlately was the first song about this period of my life, and 1INAMILLION is the sarcastic response to what we went through. It's about surviving narcissism. Turning all of it into music was my way of processing.
You had the opportunity to work with renowned producer Adam Castilla on the production of “1INAMILLION.” What was that experience like for you?
LIFEHASBEENALOTLATELY, 1INAMILLION, and BACK2BASICS (coming March 2025) were all recorded with Adam Castilla at Brick Mansion Recordings in Orange, CA. Grateful to have met him and turned such a random life event into something creative.
“1INAMILLION” carries strong nostalgic elements reminiscent of the 1990s. If you had the ability to time travel back to that era, how do you think the song would have been received by listeners of that time?
Hopefully, they'd dig it! The 90s definitely shaped me, so that influence is baked in. I would love for this music to reach people from that era.
Given your background in bands like Holy Wars, Teenage Wrist, and NEW LANGUAGE, would you say your past musical experiences played a role in shaping the sound and style of “1INAMILLION”?
For sure. I didn’t start releasing music as myself until a few years ago, so everything before that shaped me. I picture those musicians when writing often, and now I’m bringing friends into the process too.
What can you share about the making of the music video for “1INAMILLION”? Was it a challenging or particularly memorable experience?
Amazing experience. Met the director, Deven Bussey, through Holy Wars—it's all family. Fun fact: the video was shot upstairs in my house—the unit from the tenant story. The irony is not lost on me. Trying not to be petty, but the song has empathy too, okay! Also, the house is 100 years old, so glad we got to document it in its current state.
Could you give us some insights into your new EP, All Is Good Here? What themes or stories can fans expect to hear?
If you’ve read this far, the themes are clear, haha. 2024 was a year that flipped everything upside down. All is good here is a sarcastic title—just reflecting on how quickly things can change. Tracklist is:
LIFEHASBEENALOTLATELY: Fuuuuck my liiiife anthem, haha.
1INAMILLION: surviving narcissism, sarcastically.
BACK2BASICS (March 2025): a love song to my fiancé, essentially my vows in song form.
Your upcoming EP includes a special limited edition notebook. Can you tell us more about what’s included in this unique item and what fans can look forward to?
Journaling has been huge for me—keeps me sane. This is a personal touch, but also something I hope might help others. Writing it all out is powerful.
Besides the launch of All Is Good Here, what’s on the horizon for matty co.? Are there plans for a tour, exciting collaborations, or other projects in the works?
Just started drum tracking for the next project—might be turning into a full-length. Collabs are happening. Hoping to put together the first matty co. show in May 2025. I’ll be in Mexico in February 2025 with Holy Wars, supporting the warning, then heading to Europe for festival season. Oh, and a cover song that sort of just plopped in my brain one day—thinking April/May.
Thank you, Rival!