This time on NAS 10 Questions, we get to know Mildflower, AKA Matthias Eaton, a solo songwriter who has traveled all over and takes inspiration from an eclectic array of artists such as The Eagles, Remi Wolf, through to Big Wild.
The track "Uncertainty" is featured in the New Artist Spotlight Family of Playlists.
Link To New Artist Spotlight Playlists:
1. Tell us a little about where you are from and what you are currently doing.
I was born in New Hampshire, grew up mostly in Pennsylvania, and once I turned 18 I traveled all around the country looking for new places, friends, and adventure. I've lived in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, New York, and have even traveled living in my van staying in many other states for weeks or months at a time. Currently I'm working on putting together my first album after years of releasing singles. I'm aiming to put together 9 or 10 songs that reflect what I've learned in music production and life lessons.
2. What inspired you to start playing and making music?
I can remember the first time I heard most of my favorite bands, I remember what I was doing when I heard them, and I remember how it made me feel. When I find a song or artist I really connect with, It feels as though I'm floating in space, colors and shapes all around me moving in motion with the melodies. Every time I hear something beautiful, I'm overcome with thoughts of "what if I could do that?" And every time I hear a new artist that I love, my mind wants to create something as beautiful as the moments these artists gave me. To me, there's no greater accomplishment than being on that level.
𝟯. Who are your biggest influences?
I listen to a couple of different genres that all give me little touches of inspiration and influence. From the soft, alluring harmonies of The Eagles, The Beach Boys, and ABBA, to the catchy modern indie pop rhythms of Dayglow, Gus Daperton, Remi Wolf, Djo, and Ariel Pink, as well as melancholy enchanting melodies of TOPS, Cigarettes After Sex, Washed Out, and Floor Cry. Lots of 80s bands that I could list as well. I even draw some minimal influence in subtle producing techniques from some of the EDM artists I listen to like Griz, Kaivon, Odesza, and Big Wild. These types and more influence my creativity when I sit down to make something.
4. What are your goals in the music industry?
I don't have grand plans for being a star or anything like that. I just want to keep working on my craft until I create music that I'm truly proud of and have people genuinely feel something beautiful or dark or maybe just feel like they're less alone in the world. I will never be able to stop creating and if I happen to get recognition in the music industry, I won't be mad at it!
5. Tell us about your creative process when you make new music.
My process usually happens out of the blue. I never just decide that I'm going to go make music, it usually happens because I'm overwhelmed with a feeling to create that comes from listening to a song I connect with or some kind if emotion in my life that I need to express or process. Then I usually go right to my keyboard to create a synthesizer sound that feels like it fits that emotion. Everything builds off of that feeling in the synthesizer and usually ends up morphing into something new that feels like it's all mine.
6. What is your all-time favorite song?
Thats a tough one. Currently I would say Oh Laura by SG Lewis because of the flawless use of synthesizers, driving beat, and powerful message of independence.
7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?
Someone once told me not to compare myself to the professionals in the industry, but to only compare myself to my past self in terms of personal progress and improvement. That has been really useful advice for not getting overwhelmed and beaten down as I learn and grow.
8. Proudest accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishment so far is probably getting over a thousand streams on spotify with four of my different songs so far. I know its not a lot but I never really thought that this many people would ever listen to and appreciate my music. It means a lot to me that people like my music enough to listen to it as much as they have and I'm honored that they would include my art in their lives, even in some small way.
9. Just for fun! What's been your most embarrassing moment so far?
I used to do theater in middle school and high school and this one time in 8th grade I was playing Ichabod Crane in the production of Sleepy Hollow. This is not a comedy, its a pretty serious play. I had this one friend that I would always joke around with backstage and we would always make each other laugh. So on the opening night of our play, we had about three hundred people coming to watch our production. Every seat in the audience was filled. During one scene where I was the only one on stage and my friend walked out on stage to speak with me for our scene, I was about to deliver a line when we look at each other and both are instantly trying to hold back laughter for no reason at all. I couldn't remember my line so we just stood there and both burst out laughing unable to control ourselves. The entire audience started laughing with us and we didn't know what to do so we both just walked off stage terribly embarrassed and the play continued!
𝟭0. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.
My lowest point has probably been when I collected about 8 songs that were previously tossed out and I decided to put them all in an album which I released to the public. These songs were all rather incomplete and the more I listened to them, I realized how much I disliked them and deleted the whole album off all streaming services out of embarrassment. My highest point so far has probably honestly been joining NAS where I found a genuine community of indie artists that listen to my music and are open and willing to work with each other to improve and have increased my monthly listeners by over three hundred percent so far. I've never had this kind of support in my musical journey and it feels great to be a part of something this inclusive.
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