A recent single release from Matt Oakley delivers a blend of genuine country-toned, rock-backed soundscapes along with this vivacious and catchy approach comes a massive personality and character that you end up getting attached to right from the get-go.
"Party on 95" takes some classic approaches and brings them into a more current playing field with outstanding guitar work throughout the entire thing and an arrangement that lets the song sort of breathe and feel alive which I loved.
This was a very memorable country banger, and it came through with this electric energy that makes you feel like some of this was recorded live on the floor and all the players involved were feeding off of each other the entire time.
This is an aspect I adore about the track because you can't get away from this infectious energy that it gives off right from the start and all the way through to the end.
I also love that sort of rock backbone that it boasts. It adds a bit of edginess to this country soul, and that's a very important aspect of the track's aesthetic and how it comes through.
None of this is really over the top but rather just very catchy. The chorus has a bit of an anthemic undertone that is memorable, leaves its mark, and ends up bouncing around in your head for hours after the song has ended which is super fun because the only way to satiate that is to go and listen to it again.
The track is very lush instrumentally. You have electric and acoustic guitars flowing through the veins of the song and building that atmosphere and rhythm, but you also have a lot of heart, and I feel like that comes through mostly in those vocals.
Matt has a classic country tone vocally and he really puts it out there so that you know he's in love with what he's doing. This is certainly an artist that loves his craft and when I say that I don't just mean playing guitar singing, I mean writing songs that leave an impact and feel good to listen to. Songs that have a little bit of depth and meaning to them as well.
I feel like this is an artist who gives little bits and pieces of himself when he releases his music so when you listen to the songs you are actually getting to know more about Matt's personality.
Seeing that that's a rarity these days so when I heard this song, it was super refreshing. I also took a bit of a deep dive into Matt Oakley's back catalog and I'm super glad that I did because it really gave me an even better idea of how honest he is with his lyrics and how much of a deeper meaning some of these songs actually have to him personally.
This is someone who releases songs with fewer boundaries around them lyrically so that you know they're coming from an honest place which makes the whole thing more authentic.
Some of the songs feel like they must have been cathartic for him to write and release but for the listener, it can be very relatable depending on who you are of course.
There are a handful of amazing singles starting from 2022 on Matt's Spotify account and each one shows a different side to who he is and how he incorporates that into his music.
These are all songs that come from real places whether they're very positive and uplifting, spirited and energetic, or they're a little bit on the edgier side and show the other side of honesty in terms of being a person.
Either way, you're getting something real, and I feel like that's one of the more important aspects of how Matt Oakley writes and releases his music.
With the release of "Party on 95", we wanted to sit down with Matt to find out where this track actually did come from and what might be coming up next for him.
Here's what happened.
RAG: I would love to start off with the "Party on 95" single. This was a memorable country track that hit with a brightness and some honesty! Where did this track actually come from?
The idea came from a college friend who I would carpool with up and down Interstate 95 to get to and from school during summers and holidays. At that point I took the idea to the studio and built it around one of our road trips with our buddies we took to Florida for spring break.
RAG: This release has some classic approaches. Can you give us some of your biggest musical influences?
I’d say my top 3 musical influences are
1) Riley Green
2) Morgan Wallen
3) Rodney Atkins
RAG: Who is in your headphones right now?
I listen to a lot of country; I’d say 90% of my playlist is country these days. It’s a healthy mix between new country and the traditional stuff.
RAG: This track is massive and I'm sure you are proud of it! How long did this take you to put together and how do you feel about the outcome?
It took about a year and a half from the time I wrote it to the time it was released. The process has gotten longer but we are doing it the right way now. We track everything up here in Nashville and I feel like it couldn’t get any better than it is. I’m proud of it for sure.
Would you say you are more of a recording artist, or do you get a lot from performing live?
I’d say both. For me the most fun comes from the creative side of the house. Coming up with an idea and crafting a story. That being said I get a lot of validation out of playing the music live for people and seeing their reaction. I think they go hand in hand.
RAG: Are you doing any touring right now or upcoming?
We have done a few shows this year but we’ve been fully in “album mode”. The goal is to do the festivals next summer and ultimately get a full southeast run going once the project is out and circulating.
RAG: Now that this record is out there, what's next for you as an artist?
I’m going to take the holidays off to spend time with my family - it’s been a long year but a productive one. Come January I’ll be gearing up to release another single and then give the world my debut studio album in the spring.
RAG: What are you doing when you are not making music?
I like to golf and workout, spend time with friends and family and just try and separate from the music in those moments. I feel like it allows the music to feel more valuable to me with it being its own thing. Always looking for inspiration though, that never really stops.
RAG: Before we go, what do you want to say to fans out there?
I’d just say thanks for tuning in! We have a lot coming up but we have a ton of great music out. You can find me on socials at @mattoakleymusic and all streaming platforms as well by searching Matt Oakley.
Thank you again Matt for taking the time to talk with us!
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