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Stainless Steel
Registered: Mar 2003
Posts: 966 |
Handle id #8134 : Matt Gray
Hey guys, i was wondering if anyone knew anything about Matt Gray, all i have found so far is this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Gray article on wikipedia which has little but interesting information about him. |
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SIDWAVE
Account closed
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 2238 |
He was one of the producers on Cher's "Believe".
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Scout
Registered: Dec 2002
Posts: 1568 |
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Matt+Gray
---
8Bit Mayhem - The C64 Scenemusic Podcast
http://8bitmayhem.untergrund.net |
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Stainless Steel
Registered: Mar 2003
Posts: 966 |
Thanks for the link scout. I find it strange that matt gray is not getting as much coverage as rob hubbard or martin galway have received the past few years (mainly around the back in time events). they dug out just about everyone but i never heard anything about matt gray.
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SIDWAVE
Account closed
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 2238 |
Because nobody can find him.. |
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DRAX
Account closed
Registered: Oct 2004
Posts: 224 |
I am not sure that the Matt Gray you have found, Roland, necessarily is the same as the good old c64-musician... |
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Mace
Registered: May 2002
Posts: 1799 |
Not sure about the Discogs entry, but this is not the Matt Gray we're looking for.
But it might be yet another person. |
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The Shark-INC
Account closed
Registered: Feb 2005
Posts: 24 |
Chris Abbott of C64audio.com fame has contacted Matt Gray a few years ago. If I remember correctly, Matt was very bitter about old computer music due to getting ripped off by various game companies, a theme very common with many C64 musicians. Despite HVSC and others having no association with gaming companies, Gray has unfortunately grouped many C64 endevours with his negative memories and has been very reluctant to be as helpful as Hubbard, Galway, Daglish, etc. Over time, Chris may have convinced him otherwise, and I think at one time he was going to attend a BIT event.
Your best way to get in touch with Gray is to work through Abbott.
-The Shark |
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Stan
Account closed
Registered: Apr 2004
Posts: 187 |
Spent so much time playing Last Ninja II... What a great score! |
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Stainless Steel
Registered: Mar 2003
Posts: 966 |
Quote:Your best way to get in touch with Gray is to work through Abbott
I tried that, Chris told me about the same. Its really sad what happened with matt. I remember back in the old days some people would nag about his tunes all sounding very much alike (he had his style). But one cant deny he made some of the most memorable c64 tunes along with the likes of rob hubbard and martin galway.
I truly hope someday he can be conviced to open up to the remaining c64 enthusiasts, as rob, martin and all the others have allready done.
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Stainless Steel
Registered: Mar 2003
Posts: 966 |
Actually, the Matt Gray mentioned together with "Xenomania" is the matt gray we all know from the c64. He seems to have made quite a career.
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Rough
Account closed
Registered: Feb 2002
Posts: 1829 |
Regarding his negative experiences with the C64 he should know how many C64 die-hard celebrated and jumped to Last Ninja 2, Dominator, Bangkok Knights, Professional BMX Simulator etc. |
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Conrad
Registered: Nov 2006
Posts: 833 |
Matt Gray's new facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/MattGrayC64
Cool to see him well and taking intereset in C64 again! :) |
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Rough
Account closed
Registered: Feb 2002
Posts: 1829 |
Great find, Conrad. Waiting for disco drum style Matt Gray tunes in 2014... ^^ |
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NecroPolo
Registered: Jun 2009
Posts: 231 |
I had a good talk to Chris Abbott of C64Audio.com yesterday as he is the man of having the best and most up-to-date knowledge about our favourite golden age composers so I can absolutely assure you that Matt Gray, one of the best and most influential SID composers ever, has returned:
https://www.facebook.com/MattGrayC64
http://www.remix64.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10534&sid=4d68..
Read the thread above. He is at the beginning of creating an amazing project if he has the support. So click a goddamn like on his facebook site and feel free to say hello! |
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TheRyk
Registered: Mar 2009
Posts: 2076 |
call me the grinch, but though I'm an EXTREME fan (alas, not on social hipster face book whatever network, drama base must be enough), if I read/understood correctly, this means some kickstarter project for SID music audio on CD, _NOT_ new stuff to be released for/played on real hw. The latter would be a blast, the former... *shrug* basically what Huelsbek does for a couple of years for his German fanboy crowd and which didn't really catch my interest at all at any time, blasphemous attitude, I know, sorry. I'd freely wire Mighty Matt some bucks for true new C64 releases, however. :) |
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NecroPolo
Registered: Jun 2009
Posts: 231 |
Aye, according to the forum thread, a remake album of a number of his best SID tunes is his plan.
But as I have made a similar journey in 2009 when I made my SID remix album 'rakBIT', I can remember that during the way I realised that for me SID composing was the rawest and most inspiring core engine of writing music during the decades that I spent in the underground metal scene. I followed the same basic principles with guitar as I did with SID back in the days.
https://soundcloud.com/necropolo/borxx
https://soundcloud.com/wackormusic/borxx-redux
After 15 years of leaving my C64 in the box to rest, by 2009 I burned out musically as I travelled quite far from this core and lost the roots. During making of that album I found the old inspiration. I re-started SID composing and I got back to the start, having the same initial experience that absolutely resurrected the feeling of why I started creating music at all and got back my inspiration. The rest can be seen on my CSDb handle page.
I just want to say, if finding initial musical inspiration again in SID composing through 'remixing' (well my album was more like a remake) of old SIDs was such an intense experience for me, maybe it will be for Matt, too.
He is a member of Xenomania who is behind Cher's 'Believe' super hit, acts like Sugababes and Girls Aloud, he worked with Pet Shop Boys and an ample of class pop acts. He is not only a top golden age SID composer but also one of the best proven offscene music composers ever worked on SIDs and so far the only one who had such mainstream success. I have no doubt if he happens to create new SIDs, it will be a big blast like you said.
I don't see blasphemy in your opinion. That's just your point of view, as a diehard fan of Matt's you still have a personal priority of SID over a music CD, that's your way that I don't agree with but that's my way, then. Supporting an act is the same thing I think, regardless of output format as you support the same person behind.
But we agree, his album project is a good thing happening as well as there is some possibility that he maybe find a way back to SID composing.
Who knows what the future holds? :) |
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iAN CooG
Registered: May 2002
Posts: 3136 |
https://soundcloud.com/mattgrayc64/matt-gray-last-ninja-2-centr.. |
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TheRyk
Registered: Mar 2009
Posts: 2076 |
Admittedly, quite nice! Makes me less grinchy as above ;) |
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John64
Registered: Apr 2011
Posts: 2 |
@TheRyk: Matt will actually compose 6 new SIDS that are playable on real hw. The Kickstarter project needs to reach £40k for this. At this moment the counter is at £39,880 so probably today the £40k will be reached.
Matt writes the following:
"If the funding reaches £40k then I will dust off the C64 assembler, load up my player and start composing 6 brand new SID tracks. These will be an added audio CD reward for every backer on Level 2 or above at no extra cost.
1. Last Ninja 2 - The Lost Level (Empire State??)
2. Driller 2 - Exodus (A Prequel To Driller)
3. Dominator 2
4. Tusker - The Hidden Level
5. Vendetta 2 - Mission In Europe
6. Bangkok Knights 2 - The Rematch
These will be pure SID tracks produced on my player exactly as I left it 23 years ago."
Someone on Facebook asks: "Will the SIDs be also available as playable files for the C64?"; Matt Gray answers: "They will".
So this is quite exciting news. Lets go to http://www.mattgrayc64.uk and support Matt :) |
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Mixer
Registered: Apr 2008
Posts: 422 |
Personally, I don't much like mr Grays past SID game soundtracks. Perhaps he does better music nowadays.
The idea of setting up a kickstarter to get money about doing SID music is briliant.
I should personally set up kickstarter and ask ppl to support composing sid music or to support not composing sid music. Higher bid wins.
No intention to hijack the thread, just a critique. |
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SIDWAVE
Account closed
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 2238 |
Producing remix cds never gave anything. the total count of c64audio.com is a minus, that chris abbot paid himself.
to release remixes, ofcourse matt could do it all for free and just upload somewhere, but its nice to have a project out, because people dont really appreciate for free music, they just click once and dont even download. so ofcourse only real fans will buy. |
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booker
Account closed
Registered: Jul 2003
Posts: 333 |
Quoting John64
So this is quite exciting news. Lets go to http://www.mattgrayc64.uk and support Matt :)
If I contribute my money by paying for the project I assume I'm becoming as [one of] employers of Mr Matt yes? This all looks like public contract, really - Mr Matt asks for a cash and in return he will produce a product (remixes of tunes already remixed 100s of times, new SIDs ect).
I'm especially interested in SIDs, If I become Mr Matt contracting side by paying, can I ask the SIDs to be of particular quality - for instance, them to not be just another repetitive reproduction of SID tunes 23 years ago, but instead to be a fresh and crackling amazingly surprising, yet unheard quality for SID ever? Or I will just have to accept them as produced?
Otherwise, there are probably 20k tunes sounding like 80s-90s Matt Gray style in HVSC...for free.
Just my 5-bitching-cents-with-a-hint-of-probably-constructive-critics-which-won't-ever-b e-taken-under-consideration-anyway-additionally-assumedly-but-not-intentionally- will-create-a-wave-of-heatred-from-Mr.Matt-groupies, but...thank you for reading.
btw. waiting for those 6 tunes anyhow :))) |
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jailbird
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 1576 |
I'm old, I do stuff. Wanna pay me remixing pixels?
Bohohoo cry me a river. |
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booker
Account closed
Registered: Jul 2003
Posts: 333 |
I could think about that, actually.
..but then no, you are not a legend! Too young, try in 30 years.
bah =) |
