ISSUE #43 MMUSICMAG.COM Q&A Ben Watts

ROB THOMAS Matchbox Twenty’s frontman celebrates 20 years of hits and a new solo set

IN 2016, MATCHBOX TWENTY WILL Matt Serletic is your go-to producer. and that I’m not still growing. I’ve learned mark the 20th anniversary of the release of He’s done all my solo records, and all the a lot over the past 20 years, both being in their debut album, the multiplatinum Yourself Matchbox Twenty records. I know how he a band and solo. But if I want to continue or Someone Like You. After two decades works, and he knows how I work—and we learning and growing, I need to get out and of topping the charts with the band—and as both can agree on what works for a song. work with those I admire. At the same time, I a solo act, and with Carlos Santana on the That really helps the process along and it don’t ever want to do a song that I don’t think mega-smash “Smooth” in 1999—Matchbox also helps make the songs stronger. He’s is me. That’s something I would really hate. Twenty’s Rob Thomas is releasing his third been there all along; we’ve grown into this solo record, The Great Unknown. The together. I can trust his ear, and he’ll tell me Big plans for the Matchbox Twenty new project—Thomas’s fi rst solo album in when something doesn’t work. anniversary reissue? six years—includes collaborations with a I’m trying not to think about it too much. Who variety of songwriters, notably OneRepublic How did your collaborations work? knows what the future will bring? I mean, I frontman and producer Ryan Tedder, who This is the fi rst album I’ve done where I hope people will want to hear these songs co-wrote and performs on the album’s fi rst wasn’t in the studio with a lot of the people and I’ll be touring more to promote this single, “Trust You.” I was working with. We’d send fi les and album, but you never know. But I also want collaborate that way—except for Ryan Tedder; to make the reissue a really special event, Does your creative process change for I actually went out on his tour and worked so the two are coinciding a bit. We haven’t a solo record? on the song with him in person. I think his really talked that much about it yet, but we I’m always writing, and I don’t think about vibe, his way of doing pop, really infl uenced all want to make it special. where it will end up. There’s no different what I was doing and where the record was mindset I switch to if I’m doing a solo going. With artists like Ryan, it was both a Is a new Matchbox album expected? album or one with my band. The one thing writing and a producing collaboration. But There will defi nitely be a new Matchbox that changes is that solo, it’s all me— mostly, it was still Matt and me. Twenty record at some point, but I can’t say with Matchbox Twenty it’s very much a when. It will be when we’re all ready. We collaboration, with everyone giving ideas. Why bring in different songwriters? have to organize the anniversary fi rst and When it’s just me solo, I don’t have the guys If you just keep doing the same thing by then get to a new record. It will happen, but to sound off on ideas. There’s no band to yourself, you don’t learn anything new. I don’t I don’t know when. say something doesn’t work. ever want to feel I’m doing the same thing –Katy Kroll

‘If I want to continue learning and growing, I need to get out and work with those I admire.’

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