INTERVIEW: Matty J Ruys

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

Let's go.

The Flava Breakfast Podcast. Flava old school hip hop and R&B, we are blessed and we are lucky here at Flava because we are being joined by one of the goats here in Aotearoa Music. We've got Matty Ruys in the studio.

Matty J Ruys (0:15)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, pump, pump, pump, pump. Nice to be here, nice to be here.

SPEAKER_3 (0:18)

Man, you are a legend. It's been 30 years since, you know, you've come back into the scene.

Matty J Ruys (0:24)

I take it.

SPEAKER_1 (0:25)

He's always been in the scene. That's what I was going to say. We're talking solo album.

SPEAKER_3 (0:27)

Solo album, 30 years, man. And, you know, you've helped a lot of artists, you know, with finding their sound, and you've helped create some bangers. So, like, I mean, for you, in your solo album, how was it to find your own sound?

Matty J Ruys (0:44)

You know, like, even though I've been away for a long time when it comes to solo stuff, I've always kind of known what my music is, you know? And it's always been, I've always been writing, like, even though I've been writing for other people and producing for other people, there's always been, I haven't, I feel like I haven't lost my identity. And so when I got together with the producer for this new record, a guy named Numanix from the US., he's done a lot of stuff like Freddie Gibbs, and he's like a multi-platinum producer in the US.

Because we worked together on a song for Arrested Development, and that's how we got to know each other.

SPEAKER_3 (1:23)

What? You did some music with Arrested Development?

SPEAKER_1 (1:24)

He just drops it in there. Matty just drops it in there.

SPEAKER_3 (1:27)

You're showing off now, Matty.

Matty J Ruys (1:28)

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. But I got to give myself some flowers.

SPEAKER_1 (1:32)

100%, brother.

Matty J Ruys (1:33)

But when I met him through that project, we just clicked, so it just became a thing where it was like, this is the time to make a record.

And it felt like the timing was right, because it was again 30 years since the debut album. So it was like, if I don't do it now, when am I going to do it?

SPEAKER_3 (1:54)

And I mean, going back to that point, 30 years since the debut album, was there even any rush to release music after the 30 year album, I mean, after the debut album was released?

Matty J Ruys (2:06)

Well, there's, I mean, there are other projects that I released. Like I had a group called Go Stop Go. We got nominated for a New Zealand Music Award. That was back in 2012 And I had other projects that I did as well. And I did a lot of guest stuff on other people's records as well. So there's always been a lot of music going on.

But I can't remember what your question was.

SPEAKER_3 (2:28)

I mean, like, you know, for any artist that are out there, because right now, in terms of staying relevant, people that don't know music, if they don't hear any music from, like, you know, the likes of yourself and any other artists here in New Zealand, you're dead. You know what I mean? So like, what's your take on that whole thing?

Matty J Ruys (2:47)

I just think if you're authentic, then people will be drawn to what you do.

Because people can tell fake a mile away. So if you're authentic in your music and in what you do, then the people who need to hear it will find it.

SPEAKER_1 (3:02)

I love that.

Matty J Ruys (3:03)

I mean, it is a crazy, you know, we do live in a world where there's like, you know, 60,000 songs being dropped on Spotify every day. So it is harder to get heard and to find your audience. But I don't know, I feel like this week I've been back in Aotearoa. I've been having lots of interviews and things. I had a really great review come in last night from Graham Reed, who's like a legendary critic.

Yeah, he really loved the record. So, you know, it's felt really nice this week, just being embraced again. You know, this is my home. I've been away for a long time, but it always feels like home when I come back.

SPEAKER_3 (3:41)

And like you said, bro, it's time to give you your flowers, man. And just to put it out there to people, you know, whether your music has been released today or in 30 years time, you're still relevant. You're still doing music behind the scenes too for other people.