Lockdown has turned Matt into a smash hit
New Reformer reporter Matt Bryan has turned his lockdown creativity into emotional music with the release of his debut single, Five Hours Behind, telling the story of being apart from parents during the pandemic.
Performing as Matt Eroteme, the ‘one-man band’ has a busy year ahead, with a number of songs lined up for release in the coming months.
They will follow Five Hours Behind which is available now.
Matt writes from the heart and amplifies big tracks – bringing stark realities and hard-hitting sound together.
During a turbulent year of lockdowns and global upheaval, he optimised a limited homestudio that could bring refreshing new music to a deprived scene which can connect with people feeling the stresses of Covid-19.
He explained: “It’s been a tough year for everybody but one escape I always had was locking myself away with my guitar for hours and spilling out any kind of emotion in music.
“It’s been my own therapy whilst dealing with depression in recent years and probably more so in the past 12 months, when the world’s chaos has brought anxiety levels through the roof.
“I began writing more often shortly after our first lockdown, and so many songs were just coming to me. Five Hours Behind just about landed on my lap when I began putting it together but the emotion of it all had been brewing for months if I’m honest.”
The song tells the story of a father and son separated by distance and time zones which puts huge strains on a close paternal relationship.
The song is written from personal experience in the hope of reaching out to those feeling the heartache of missing parents during a now year-long pandemic.
It opens up about longing after loved ones and growing further apart, while the stark truth of current circumstances being outside everyone’s control hits home during months of uncertainty.
Matt added: “My own dad had immigrated abroad shortly before the first lockdown last year.
“I probably was already gutted about that, but it was in the knowledge that he’d be back in a few months, and I could always go there to visit or whatever.
“But as the months went on and Covid halted everything else in life, it became clear I was struggling to cope being apart and feeling us become more distant.
“Through speaking with other people I understood how painful it was not being able to meet loved ones in person and give them a hug – the pandemic had made what I was writing about a more universal truth, and a stark reality of the times we are living.”
He has been writing and producing music since he was a teenager, but with more time to do it at home nowadays, it has opened up an exciting year ahead.
Also working for our sister papers the Hamilton Advertiser and East Kilbride News, Matt has a passion for giving people a voice and making sure feelings are heard. He hopes to be able to do the same through music.
“I speak for those who need a voice, especially during these times where it’s near-impossible to get out and share it”, Matt added.
“There are huge parts of society at risk right now, including normal working class people and we need to speak up for them. I deliberately keep my ‘home setup’ to a minimum to show that a voice can be heard without massive production costs.
“My music overall fights the corner of the vulnerable who are troubled and battling with their mental health and the tracks I have lined up this year will definitely do that. We need to give everyone a voice when they need it most.”
The latest info on Matt’s upcoming releases can be found on his Instagram or Facebook pages: @matteroteme. The single Five Hours Behind is out now on all streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music; and can be purchased on Amazon Music and iTunes.