10 Questions with ... Matt Costa

1. Growing up, did you ever think that this would be the kind of life that you would have?

I did not think I would ever do this for a living. I imagined working at the LAX airport on computers like my father. Eventually, I wanted to be a pro skateboarder. Skating turned me on to a lot of art and music. My life direction changed when skateboarding was my main focus.

2. How has your hometown influenced the kind of artist that you are today and the kind of music that you make?

I was raised in Orange County and my relatives lived up north in Modesto and the Central Valley. I would make that drive a lot. I remember listening to a lot of music at young age in the back of my parent's car driving up 99, the 5 and the 101. Also, I listened to a lot of music from skate videos, from Archers of Loaf, Billy Holiday, Hieroglyphics -- it was varied early on from those videos.

3. Your self-titled debut certainly gave your career a kick start. What did it feel like to be releasing your first full-length album in five years -- Santa Rosa Fangs?

It was important for me to put this record out. In the last five years I've been woodshedding and honing conceptual ideas, and this is a manifestation of that process. I'm really excited that Dangerbird has welcomed me and been so supportive.

4. The songs on the album follow three siblings as they search for love and meaning in their lives, which are ultimately cut short by the passing of both brothers in unrelated accidents. Can you elaborate on this theme and where this idea came from?

It came from twin cousins of mine and their deathsw came as a huge loss to our family when I was young. They would visit my uncle in his dreams till the end of his life. And that was the uncle who was so influential in the music that shaped the way I play guitar and write songs.

5. How do you think your already released singles "I Remember It Well" and "Sharon" prepare listeners for the rest of the collection?

Hopefully, the listeners are surprised. A song like "Real Love," with the doubled vocals of my wife Casey and the 5/4 timing, is something that was pushing some sonic territory for me. I do also believe that for fans of my past records, there is still a familiar voice on this one.

6. When you weren't working on this collection, how were you keeping busy all this time away?

I was studying different music styles, working on production techniques, producing other people and scoring films. I like the process of spreading songs out and not being tied to a lead vocal.

7. Can you talk a little about recording the music for the award-winning documentary "Orange Sunshine?"

I live back in one of the canyons that surround Laguna. The events in the film are centered very near my home studio. So it was a natural place to channel the music the film required. Working on the Orange Sunshine film has made my music have a deeper groove. I'm trying to pull that out of all the parts in the songs.

8. Why do you think that Dangerbird Records is the right home for you and your music?

This is my first record released on Dangerbird. They are super-supportive. I used to do shows years ago in the early 2000s with Earlimart Aaron Espinoza's band. He is heavily involved with the label now. It's great to be creative with people who I looked up to when I was starting years ago.

9. Do you have any upcoming live shows you would like to tell our readers about?

I just finished an East Coast tour and West Coast dates start in early July.

10. How do you think that music reflects these challenging times?

Music heals and brings people together. I have been healed and met some the most influential people in my life because of music.

At the end of the day, what do you hope your fans take away from your music?

I hope they feel the life that was put into it.

Interview by Leah Brungradt