Gimme 5 – Matt Kiano

18 October 2024 42

Matt Kiano is a local singer/songwriter. He was recently a guest on the Pure Local Extra show. Here are 5 things you might like to know about Matt.

Do you remember the first song you ever wrote?

The first song I ever remember writing was called, ‘Space Cowboys’. I think I would’ve been around 15-16 years old, around the age I started getting seriously interested in music and joining a punk band.

It’s such an embarrassing song to look back to. It’s a love song about this guy who has a time machine and he’s gone to the past and the future to impress someone he’s interested in. I still have the notebook it’s written in.

Tthe song features dancing monkeys, historical figures and flying cars. I have never played it in front of anybody and I plan to keep it that way. Some things are better left under the covers.

Which would you choose as a companion, a dragon or a unicorn?

All depends on the type of dragon. Give me something like Toothless from How To Train Your Dragon and I’ll happily take that over some monstrous beast who has to live in a cave. I’d love a Toothless (Night Fury) dragon, it’s like a dog with wings. I’d call it Andrew Garfield and feed it whatever I’m eating. Meal for two.

If you could share a stage with any band or solo musician, dead or alive who would it be?

My immediate reaction was to say David Bowie performing Big Brother, but I honestly think I’d be too mesmerized watching him perform that I’d be lost entirely.

I’d love to be on stage with Angels & Airwaves performing ‘The Adventure’. I think it’s one of the greatest songs from the last 20 years and I adore Tom DeLonge, so to perform with him on a song that’s so meaningful and impactful would be wonderful. That or I’d do ‘My Band’ with D12.

Tell us about a local musician or band we should listen to or see.

My favourite local band are called ‘The Hostels’, previously known as ‘Angri Kidd’ (but had to change for trademark reasons I’m assuming).

I love these boys. They’ve been quiet for about a year because of university and such but they’re a wonderful band. I’d recommend everybody and anybody to listen, especially indie fans.

I met them at a gig, years ago at Jacs in Aberdare. I was performing with my pop punk band ‘ Truika’ and I remember when we played our song ‘Generation Z’, their drummer was down the front singing the song back to me. From then on I knew I’d get along with them. It also helps that their music is great.

https://www.facebook.com/TheHostelsOfficial

Where in the world would you most like to visit?

I’d love to go to San Francisco (and California in general) and see the birthplace of the punk music I love.

There’s so much amazing music that’s come from that area. You have: Green Day, Dead Kennedys, Metallica, blink-182, The Doors etc.

Just across from San Fran, you have Berkeley and there’s a venue there called the ‘Alternative Music Foundation’ or as most people know it as, ‘924 Gilman Street’. I would love nothing more than to just go to that place and watch whoever’s playing. So many amazing bands cut their teeth at that venue: Green Day, Operation Ivy, The Offspring, AFI, Rancid, Jawbreaker, Bad Religion etc. I’d love to just go there.

If I’m ever lucky enough to play my own gig at that venue, I’ll retire immediately after because where could I possibly go from there?