Songs for the New Day: matt haze on Truth, Love, and Letting Go

Songs for the New Day: matt haze on Truth, Love, and Letting Go

There’s a quiet intensity to matt haze, the kind that doesn’t need a full band or a packed venue to make itself known. Sitting across from him at a Coffee Bean on the Sunset Strip, it’s clear his songs come from a place of lived experience — heartbreak, family, frustration, hope, and the strange beauty of trying to make art in a world that doesn’t always make room for it. His new EP, Faux‑Live, strips everything down to the bare essentials: one take, no overdubs, no polish, just the sound of a young artist trying to tell the truth exactly as he feels it.

From backyard shows to his first club gig, from love songs that weren’t appreciated to protest songs born from family pain, matt is carving out a space that’s entirely his own. Faux‑Live isn’t just a performance — it’s a snapshot of who he is right now, flaws and all, and an invitation to step into his world for a few honest minutes.

Let’s start with where you’re based. What’s the local music scene like for you?
I’m based out of Upland, California. The music scene out there is pretty hardcore — a lot of screamo and heavier stuff. It wasn’t really until November of 2024 that I finally played an acoustic show. There just isn’t much out here for the kind of music I make.

Let’s talk about the new EP, Faux‑Live. Is there an overall story or concept behind that title?
I wouldn’t say there’s a story, but concept‑wise I wanted to make an album where every song sounds the way it would live. Everything was recorded in a one‑take, bare‑bones fashion — no overdubs, nothing extra. It’s not actually recorded live, but it’s meant to feel like it. That’s why I call it Faux‑Live — fake live.

The EP opens with Today Is a New Day. Tell me about that song and what inspired it.
It’s a song about appreciating today, but there’s some sarcasm in there too. “Today is a new day” is in quotes — like when someone tells you to chill out and look on the bright side even when things aren’t going great. I wanted to capture that feeling of, “My day might not be the best, but hey… today’s a new day.”

Let’s get into Limbus, also known as the “non‑supportive girlfriend song.” What’s the story behind that one?
It came from my last relationship. I felt like I was getting support, but not the kind of support I genuinely needed when it came to music. So I wrote about it. It wasn’t meant to be super serious, but she heard the song… and I think she took it to heart, because she broke up with me.

Grab Me A… is another standout. What inspired that track?
Last year there were a lot of really bad ICE raids — just a loss of humanity from government officials. It upset me deeply. It reminded me of a few years ago when my tia had a run‑in with ICE, and she had a bad experience. It really stuck with me. So I wrote a song inspired by my family and everything going on.

At the end of the EP you’ve got Oakwood. Why did you choose that as the closer?
It just felt like a really good closer — waltzy, dramatic, maybe a little melodramatic, but very earnest. It wraps up everything I’m talking about on the EP. It’s a love song for that same ex. We were on and off afterward, and it drove me nuts. I couldn’t stop writing about how I felt, and Oakwood came out of that. It meant a lot to me… she didn’t like the song.

You recently played Rudolph’s Bar & Tea for Breaking Sound. How did that show go?
It went really well. It was my first bar or club show, and it felt like a great space for the kind of music I make. I thought I sang well. A lot of my friends came out, which meant a lot. The vibe was great, the space was beautiful, and I’m grateful Breaking Sound invited me.

You also play a lot of backyard shows. What’s that experience like, and why should other artists consider doing them?
Backyard shows are a great first step. They make shows accessible for people who might not have the money to go to venues. They really show what’s happening in your neighborhood’s scene. They’re chill, non‑judgmental places where you can play whatever you feel and say whatever you want. Everyone’s there for the same reason.

What can someone expect from a live matt haze show?
It depends — you might see me with a band, or just me solo, or even me playing in someone else’s set. But it’s always me singing about what I’ve gone through and trying to show you how I feel.

If you could open for any artist, past or present, who would it be?
Right now I’d love to open for Greg Mendez. He’s very much in that Elliott Smith vibe. I even posted a cover of one of his songs today. He’s so good — I love his music.

What do you hope the rest of 2026 brings for you?
Hopefully more shows — maybe at this same pace, maybe bigger ones down the line. I just want my music to be heard more. I’ve been doing this for a while, so I’m hoping one day it all works out.

And what message would you want to leave someone with after hearing Faux‑Live for the first time?
If you want to put your feelings on paper — no matter how stupid you think it sounds — put it down. There’s nothing stupid about it. It’s music. And if you ever have doubts, that’s okay. That’s honestly the best time to make music.

In Conclusion

As our interview concluded, one thing about matt haze became unmistakably clear: he’s an artist who refuses to hide behind production, persona, or pretense. Faux‑Live captures that spirit in real time — raw, unvarnished, and deeply human. These songs aren’t just performances; they’re snapshots of a young musician navigating heartbreak, family history, community, and the messy, beautiful process of figuring out who he is through sound.

And if the EP is the introduction, the stage is where the story continues. matt will be bringing these songs — and that same bare‑soul honesty — to Hotel Ziggy for We Found New Music on June 16th, a venue perfectly suited for the emotional clarity and quiet intensity he carries with him.

For anyone willing to listen, Faux‑Live offers a reminder that vulnerability isn’t weakness — it’s the beginning of something real.

(Interview by Ken Morton – Photos by Scott Waters)

matt haze on Instagram