The World of Kid Phang
The World of Kid Phang
The World of Kid PhangKid Phang is an artist who dares to be different – whether he is experimenting with hip-hop, punk, indie alternative, or slowcore, Kid Phang delivers songs filled with personality and intrigue. The creator behind Kid Phang is Matthew Sanchez, and the latest single is a cinematic reverie entitled Fade Away. Highwire Daze invited Matthew Sanchez over to Dystopian Studios in Downtown LA for a photo shoot and interview to find out more about the world of Kid Phang. Read on…
We’re here with Kid Phang at Dystopian Studios. First of all, where are you based out of, and what’s your local music scene like there?
I’m based out of Upland, California, which is around the Inland Empire. And the scene there is like I’d say more rockish, punk sort of bands – and I kind of do whatever I want, so it’s kind of hard to fit in there sometimes but I try my best.
Let’s talk about the new song Fade Away. Is there any overall story or concept behind the lyrics for your single Fade Away?
When I write lyrics, I just get pieces of what’s going on in my life, or how I feel in my life, or like felt in the past, and I just try to describe that feeling. It doesn’t have to necessarily be my story, but I just try to write, let’s say, a feeling, and I just write based on that. And with that, it’s just like the feeling of being a burden, to your significant other and just feel your love fading away or their love fading away from you. So, I just try to I guess, cope with that.
The video is just so stunning and cinematic. Who directed the video, and where was it filmed?
It was co-directed by – he’s an acquaintance, his name is Jacob. He goes by Hysterics Footage. And we made that video around downtown Upland. I think it was just mainly downtown Upland and just the Upland scene in general, which is where I base a lot of my videos from.
Your previous album, Kill Phang, let’s talk about a few of the songs on the album. They’re all quite different from Fade Away. Let’s talk about the song Killa and the inspiration behind it.
Honestly, with Killa, it was just it was originally meant for my brother-in-law because he likes to rap and all that, and I wanted to give him the beat, but I liked it too much that I secretly made a song over it. And it’s just like that vibe of, I’d say like the vibe of the whole TDE like Top Dawg Entertainment camp, just that sound. And I tried to make a song in that it wasn’t really about anything. I just wanted to rap on that. And it turns out to be like my most highest charting song in a sort of way.
I Am A Rockstar!!! Tell me about that and that statement.
Well, I just feel like I Am A Rockstar!!! Honestly, that whole title literally does not match with the song at all. I didn’t know what to call it, and that’s just what I was feeling like at the time. And when I made that, there was not a plan for it to be an album or I wasn’t even making an album, I released it on a compilation, but I reworked it and made it sound more rough. Just rerecorded my vocals and everything. And I released it onto that, and I felt like it was a good transition from the smooth stuff that was coming from the first four or so tracks into like a completely just out loud, just crazy sound.
Tell me about I Know.
I Know, it was about a feeling of just, I never really made a love song before, so I decided to make that. And it’s like a love song made from a person who feels they’re a little insecure and feels they’re too shy or a little bit of a nerd. And I made it for that. And I, now, whenever I think of that song, I just dedicate it to my girlfriend. So yeah, it’s a really nice song.
What could one expect from a Live Kid Phang show?
Expect a lot of different stuff. Expect me, not just standing around, expect me to play some instruments and do some crowd control, basically. If you want to be at a Kid Phang show, you got to be a participant basically.
If you could open for any band or artist, either now or from the past, who would it be and why?
If I were to open for any artist, I feel like I would open for someone, let’s say like, Tyler the Creator or even someone like The Garden, which is a band I’ve been really into like recently. And I base a lot of my stuff out of that whole kooky sound they make. So, I’ve really been into punk and just hip hop and just trying to combine any sort of thing. I like shoegaze as well. Like, I’m a really big fan of that and Slowcore. That’s what Fade Away is, like a Slowcore song.
If the music of Kid Phang was a donut, what kind would it be and why?
I don’t even know what kind of donut it’d be. I’d just say it’s a chocolate donut with cream filling on the inside, probably. Maybe with some sprinkles on top.
And the sprinkles represent the different aspects of your music?
Yes.
What would you like a listener to remember after hearing your music for the very first time?
That once they hear one song, they’re going to be like, “Oh, okay. He just makes this kind of music.” But once they listen to another song and then another song, they’re going to be like, “I don’t even know what this guy makes. He does whatever the hell he wants.” That’s what I really want. So, I have versatility, and I’m not just like a one-trick pony.
(Interview by Ken Morton – Photo by Vivian Ortega of So Finch Photography)
