Lee Miller Matsos On the Making Of ‘Metamorphosis, Pt. 1’
How do you feel 'Metamorphosis, Pt. 1' represents your artistic identity?
Resilience and determination in the face of adversity are key themes in 'Metamorphosis, Pt. 1' that I think represent me as an artist and also characterize my personal journey. I've had to learn how to change my perspective on going through difficulties, and as I've moved through the most painful times in my life I've discovered that these are the times that show us how strong we are and allow us to find mercy and grace in ourselves and others. That's the spiritual aspect that comes through in the EP and all of the songs of the album yet to be released. We never celebrate the hardest times, and we tend to want to avoid discussing them, yet I think those most difficult experiences are often what give us our greatest gifts.
Were there any challenges that you encountered while making 'Metamorphosis, Pt. 1?'
I used crowdfunding as the sole source of resources to record the EP. I had never done a crowdfunding campaign before. I worked with Plaid Dog Recording in Waltham, MA -- they managed the campaign and produced the EP. I thoroughly enjoyed the recording process and my producer was absolutely amazing, as were the studio musicians who contributed to the EP. Conducting the campaign itself and raising the funds was very stressful, and a good experience for me. There are some things I wish I might have done better, and I learned from it. Being that it was my first time doing crowdfunding, I suppose this was to be expected.
What has been one of your favorite memories along the path to making 'Metamorphosis, Pt. 1?’
Recording with the studio musicians in Boston this summer was outstanding. I also have to mention the initial creative process. Half of these songs were written 3 years ago in a small attic apartment in Prince Edward Island. But the single released from the EP, "Who Are They to Stop Love?," was one of the first songs I wrote. That was back in 2009 while living in Washington, D.C. Since then, I strayed very far from the musical path for a while until I committed to pursuing a music career several years ago. I remember playing that song on my guitar late into the night and playing it at a few open mics with friends in the audience. Now, I'm in a different place as a person and as an artist, but the song still rings true and resonates very well with the other songs on the EP that I wrote much later. In fact, the song speaks to me more now than it did then. It's very special how the meaning of the song has evolved and matured.
How do you approach the process of creating a new song or melody?
It seems like there are those songwriters who are more in the camp of writing a song regularly as a practice, and other songwriters who see it as an organic process that can't be forced and happens in a state of "flow." And maybe a third group that is somewhere in the middle. I am much more in the second category. Sometimes I wonder if I write enough, and I definitely apply that pressure to myself, though eventually, I remember that my process is unique to me. Most of the songs on this EP, and on the remaining album yet to be released, came out in a creative burst over a period of a few months. This was a uniquely rich creative time, and it's only happened once in my life to that extent. So with that in mind, I think for me songwriting could be compared to harvesting a crop. For a crop to be harvested at its peak, the soil must be fertile, the conditions must be favorable. In 2020, the conditions were just right for these songs to come out, and when the conditions are right again, more songs will come out.
As far as the actual process, I try to let it flow organically. The first thing that comes to mind will be either the melody or a chord progression. So I'll sing the melody repeatedly and see where it goes, or I'll sit at the keyboard and do the same with the chords. If the song is ready to come out, it won't be long before I have 2 verses or a verse and a chorus written.
What's your favorite part about performing live? How do you connect with your audience during a performance?
I grew up around the theatre and watched a lot of stage performers. Movement and portrayal of emotion on stage are really important -- I try to communicate the emotion of the song with my body, and facial expressions as well. That's usually something I feel and express naturally, not something forced. If it's forced, it's probably not coming off well. When I can get into that "zone" where there's no self-consciousness and I'm totally immersed in the realm of the song and alive there, that's where the magic happens.
