Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Jensen
Hi Matt, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I first had interest in playing guitar when I was 7 or 8. My uncle let me mess around on his jumbo body acoustic and then his electric. I had no idea what I was doing but as soon as he kicked on the overdrive I was hooked. My parents got me my first acoustic guitar and I started taking lessons. My teacher at the time completely overwhelmed me and made it seem like there were so many rules to playing guitar. I ended up quitting until I was about 12 or 13. I was heavily into bands like Rage Against the Machine and Blink182. I dug out my old acoustic and started teaching myself. This is when I realized I could make my own path in music without following someone else’s rules. That Christmas my parents got me my first electric guitar and the rest is history. I formed my first band Afilio with a group of friends. We were together for 5 years or so. We had some awesome opportunities such as playing the Minneapolis date of the Vans Warped Tour in 07. After Afilio finished I was recruited for Minneapolis rock band My My Misfire. Being in My My was a blast. We were able to be the only unsigned band to be featured on the motion picture Saw VI soundtrack and played tons of shows including SXSW and SOUTHBYSOWHAT in Dallas TX.
Through my time in these first two bands I was always interested in our time spent in different studios. It was overwhelmingly fascinating. I told myself that someday I would teach myself how to record and mix. Throughout 2015-2016 I had started writing new music for which I was unsure what I would use the music for. In 2017 I made the decision to clean up my act and go sober. This is when I doubled down and taught myself how to record all of these songs that I had been writing. Big shout out to YouTube for helping me along the way. I knew I had an ear for it but learning how to put that to use took some time. My current band WILDVIEW came from my time learning how to record and mix. The whole first album was me finding my way in the studio. I was hooked. I continue to record and mix our material. I’ve been lucky enough to have friends reach out to me to mix their projects which has been a blast. I look forward to what the future holds.
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?
There has been a lot of struggle along the way of my musical journey. At one point being homeless while trying to start a new band in a new city. Nothing could stop me from going after my dream. A lot of growing up was needed a long the way. I have learned a lot and I plan to keep learning and pushing myself. I love where my band WILDVIEW is now. We’re all family men and really appreciate what we are capable of musically. We do things at our own pace. Everything is done in-house which has been the main purpose of the band. If someone else does everything for us then what is the point? Ya know?
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I play guitar, write, record, mix and produce in the rock band WILDVIEW. I pride myself in finding my own way. Teaching myself how to play guitar later followed by teaching myself how to record, mix and produce. I’m not into following the crowd or following trends. I love the sound of guitar vs the sound of someone playing lightning speed scales. I’ve always taken an approach that showcases the sound and vibe of a guitar into a riff vs trying to outplay anyone with technical speed.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Most people that hear my mixes think that I have had formal training.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wildviewofficial.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildviewband
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildviewband
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WILDVIEW
- Other: mattjensenmixing@gmail.com
