music?
So what happened to the music guy?
From time to time I get inquiries, and a fair number of search-engine hits, from people looking for the ‘old Matt Haines’. The one who made music. What happened to him?
Yes I used to record under the name “The Rip Off Artist” mainly, as well as other names: Mental Blox, Control-X, Front BC, and ran two small record labels: Spinyl and then later Inflatabl Labl. I had ten albums out, over 100 tracks released, and remixed Dean Martin, Julie London, The Crystal Method, and even worked with Nellie Hooper on a Pussycat Dolls track (unreleased).
But I simply ran out of music. It became harder and harder to make anything that held my interest. I went through a pretty dark period, wondering how I could continue making music when it was painful to do so…but didn’t have anything else. Then slowly I began to realize that a) I was a creative type, no matter what I was involved in, and b) I had this expensive hobby called “photography”. Over the process of a few years, it evolved from a hobby to a full-time career.
I’m happy to say that I’m happy! I’ve always been a visual person, even when making music. Photography perhaps is what I should have been doing all along. I love it, love working with people, love the silly little business aspects of it (marketing, logistics etc)…it’s worked out well. There’s always something new to explore.
So do I still make or record music? No. I have no plans to, and I’ve sold just about all my music equipment. I still hear beats in my head, especially when I’ve had too much coffee. And sometimes I’ll even ‘beatbox’ them to my kids. But I have no intention of recording any musical ideas for the forseeable future (never say never I suppose).
That said, I really enjoy working with musicians for their photographic needs, and have a certain connection with them that other photographers might not have. I can tell war stories and give the youngsters advice, as well as take their promo pictures.
By the way, you can still see my discography here if you’re interested. None of the mp3 links are working though, so there’s nothing to hear.
