Ian Matthew - "Feeling This Way"

In the past, I've made the mistake of covering music I didn't really enjoy simply to please an artist, an artist's PR, or a friend. In doing so, I compromised the integrity of the website I wrote for and I did damage to my own integrity.

So, when I started this blog, I promised myself I would not - no matter the circumstances - post/share/write about any content I did not genuinely fuck with.

Which brings me to Ian Matthew's latest release, "Feeling This Way".

I've had my ear on Ian's music for a while now, thanks to a connection I have with his team. And, I'll be blunt, I've never felt a real appeal to what I've heard or seen (hopefully no egos are injured in the writing of this post).

While I recognized dude had bars, my thoughts usually went something like this: a lot of people have bars, a lot of people can rap...what's setting you out from everyone else who can string words together and flow? The worst thing an artist can do, in my opinion, is pigeonhole themselves into a box or a category - let alone a category that is already over abundant in population.

I mean, Kendrick Lamar can rap. But he doesn't just kick dope bars with a smooth flow. He takes risks, he pushes boundaries, he creates an enigmatic presence with his entire self. Everybody knows K. Dot has bars, but he's known for way more than his lyricism.

So, what sets you apart?

Well, with "Feeling This Way", I finally heard something from Ian Matthew that I think showcases his versatility as an artist. The record is catchy and simple, but not in a dumbed down way - it's very well put together, juxtaposing Ian's bars with his open hearted crooning. The production is on a beautiful vibe that leaves me floating, and I really enjoy the guitar on the outro. From start to finish, I really found myself feeling and connecting to "Feeling This Way".

I get a sense that Ian stepped out of his "comfort" zone on "Feeling This Way" and, in doing so, he inadvertently stepped into a new lane of artistic growth and expansion.

"Feeling This Way" is available on all major streaming platforms.

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