My Silent Bravery Interview

When Boston-based singer-songwriter Matthew Wade was thinking of a moniker to use, a friend suggested My Silent Bravery, and since then that’s what he’s gone by. Wade released his fourth album this past August called Diamond from Coal and is currently working on a remix album due for release later this year. It’s been a busy year for Wade, but he’s not looking to slow down, so you’ll want to try to keep up as he continues on his journey.
Cliché: In reference to your moniker, you have described it as something that advocates for the message of your music. What would you say that message is?
Matthew Wade: The message means passion, persistence, the overcoming of obstacles… these are some of the things that it particularly means for me. With overcoming obstacles, I had a sports injury that I had to deal with the aftermath of. It’s something that I am still dealing with today, so this message is all about paying it forward. I hope that I can send that on to people who are listening. To them, it might mean something more open-ended, but the message is something they can take to heart.
The first song you ever wrote was featured on One Tree Hill. How was that experience for you?
It was a pretty awesome and interesting experience overall. When you start out on a new endeavor, you don’t know how it’s going to end up, and this just worked out. I also like to say there was some kind of divine intervention in that it was the first song I’d ever written. For me, it helped to keep me following my dream.
You played some shows with Anna Nalick this fall. How did they go?
They went great! We were in New York and Philly, which I was looking forward to going back to because I have some friends there. Anna’s great. She’s a great person and performer, and I actually know her tour manager, Tim Hogan, who is this great rock and roll warrior. I met him doing some dates for John Waite back in the day, so it’s cool that I got to see him. After you have been doing this [touring and performing] for a few months, you get to know so many people you’ll end up working with again.
Any dream collaborations?
I would love to collaborate with Eminem. I think he is a lyrical genius and storyteller. He’s not everyone’s taste, but he has such an ability to tell a story in such a powerful and impactful way. I would also love to work with Damian Marley. I love his stuff and his versatility. Those are a couple people at the top of my list.
Who would you cite as your musical inspiration?
Bob Marley is my biggest inspiration. I just love, first and foremost, the positive message he spread and the way he did it with his lyrics. There was just a lot of philosophy and spirituality in it, and that’s something that my music is influenced by. I also grew up with the Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Eminem and Drake are influencing the remix album that’ll be coming out.
When’s that coming out?
That’s still up in the air. It could be out around Christmas. But there will be a new song on there, as well as some older ones and some guest artists.
How’d you come up with the album title of Diamond From Coal?
Have you ever heard the story about Michelangelo and the David and how he said to make it you needed to just break the chunks off that weren’t right? That’s it. It’s this idea that if you put coal under enough pressure, eventually the diamond comes. My journey has been about sculpting around the stuff that doesn’t matter and putting enough pressure into my work that at the end of the day, the hard work results in a diamond. That album is the diamond for me. It also comes from a song on the album, “Stop and Go.” I liked that there’s that connection.
So what’s next for you?
I actually have some new music in the works and will be wrapping up the remix version of the album. Then I’m back in the studio working on the next album. I’m always trying to keep busy, but I’m also trying to enjoy it right now too. I’ve been a hard worker my whole life and one of the things I’ve been trying to focus on is enjoying the moment and meeting some new people.
Read more Music Interviews at ClicheMag.com
My Silent Bravery Interview: Photographed by Mark Lerner