R&B’s Matt B Talks About His New Single ‘Slow Down’ And Teases His Upcoming Album

Attention: Matt B fans unite!

Illinois artist Matt B has been making headlines all year long! From his Grammys nomination to his incredible look on the award show’s red carpet, he always finds a way to one-up himself.

We had the amazing honor of talking with Matt about God’s grace, being African-American, and more!

Tell us more about your amazing new single ‘Slow Down’.

M: “Slow Down” is such a dope vibe. At face value, it may appear like any other dance record, but the reality is it’s infused with so many different sounds. It’s infused with R&B melodies that beautifully tie in with the sounds of Africa driving the record with its drums and percussion. The record itself was inspired from my trip to Uganda. Seeing the atmosphere of their club scene was electrifying. The joy and energy I felt and saw on peoples faces while listening to some of their local artists was mesmerizing. I wanted to capture the essence of that feeling in a song.”

How does it feel to officially be a Grammy-nominated music artist? Is there anything you want
to say to your fans?

M: “Being GRAMMY nominated is a dream come true, especially as an independent artist. I’ve dreamt of this moment forever, so to be standing here today as a nominee is by God’s grace and hard work. To my fans, thank you. Thank you for supporting me, and believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. Thank you for pushing me to grow as an artist. For sharing your stories of how my music has impacted your life, and how much my art means to you. It’s one of many things that continue to drive me forward. It gives me the courage and conviction to be vulnerable as I continue to tell my truth.”

What can fans expect from your upcoming album ALKEBULAN?

M: “ALKEBULAN is one of my most meaningful bodies of work to date. From a musical standpoint, it’s allowed me to experiment in different spaces sonically a bit more. I’ve been pulling from so many different sounds from across the continent of Africa. I’ve digested those sounds and have offered my interpretation of them through my lens as an R&B singer, while still trying to remain respectful and authentic to Afrobeats. From a personal standpoint, it allows me to take my fans on a journey of self discovery. Being an African American, my history was taken from me and historical documentation of my ancestral bloodline has been destroyed or misrepresented. So I’m opening the floodgates and finding out who I am and where I’ve come from. As I take my journey throughout the continent physically and musically, I’m putting those lessons into this album. My prayer is that the album will inspire and motivate people to pursue their own journey of self discovery. I hope to be a bridge between Africa and the USA, particularly between African Americans and Africans. The amount of misinformation we receive about one another is astounding. I hope that our healing will continue, and the catalyst will be through the universal
language of music.”

Stream ‘Slow Down’, available now on all music platforms

Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene. When not helping her team and working on the monthly issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral Tasty recipe.