Unveiling the Musical Journey: A Conversation with Guitarist and Podcaster Kyle Matovcik

I recently had the pleasure of engaging in a conversation with Kyle Matovcik, exploring his musical journey, podcasting adventures, political viewpoints, and hobbies. It is my hope that you find this exchange as captivating and pleasurable as it was for me.

AA: Please tell me about your background, where you're from, your upbringing, cultural heritage, and significant life experiences that have shaped who you are today.

KM: So, I was born and raised in Southwestern Pennsylvania in a small town called “Kinloch”. My mom and dad split up when I was pretty young, and my mom, older brother and I moved around quite a bit. My mom also had a myriad of health issues when I was a kid, so things weren't always ideal. I tend to think back on that and realize it really did shape a lot of the way I look at the world, and what I should be able to. That being said, I still tried to spend a lot of time with my dad. He bought me some Cds when I was a kid of Slipknot, Green Day, System of a Down, and my mom's boyfriend in my teenage years had always listened to Pantera and Metallica, so that really shaped who I was musically.

AA: Tell me about how your musical journey began.

KM: My musical journey probably started off like a lot of kids in the early 2000s. I was in band in elementary school for a few years, my grandfather got me a clarinet, that I hardly ever played. Come middle school, everyone was playing guitar hero. There were some songs I knew in the games, and some I didn't. But I loved playing it and I loved the heavier tunes. So that got me into looking into all sorts of artists. I used to sit in the living room and browse the music choice channels for hours and then go look at the artists that would come up on the channel's entire discographies almost immediately. It was always a lot of fun to learn that kind of stuff. One thing that sticks out to me was hearing Pantera's “Cemetary Gates” and being drawn to the pinched harmonics that were in the intro to the song. From there, I knew Pantera was my favorite band, and seeing their lives performances on Youtube just confirmed that for me. From there, I just kept expanding and growing the music I listened to. Country, blues, rock but mostly heavy metal.

AA: When did you first realize that the guitar was your true passion?

KM: My dad got my younger brother a guitar about 2 years after I got my first one. I had no idea what I was doing with the guitar. So, I surely broke the strings and just lost interest. So, whenever my younger brother got his, I just couldn't put it down. I can remember my stepmother yelling for my dad to get me strings for mine. I don't know why I felt the way I did about that, but for some reason, I got really hooked at about age 12. I just hit the strings until they made noise, and until I could figure out what sounded cool. I started picking up tabs for different bands, which are a simple way to learn songs. So, I just started learning all these different riffs and songs. That started to teach me how to play and how to write.

AA: Were there any specific guitar players you admired and initially sparked your interest in playing the instrument? Did their influence eventually inspire you to pursue playing the guitar more seriously and professionally?

KM: Biggest 2 influences for me are undoubtedly Dimebag Darrell and Zakk Wylde. They both as guitar players and people really lit a fire under me to get as good as possible. I watch videos of both those guys just jamming still to this day, all the time and just admire it.

AA: Do any of your family members or friends share your passion for music?

KM: No, unfortunately, I'm really the only one who is as die hard a music guy as I am.

AA: Before you joined A Common Crown as their guitarist, were you part of any other bands? If so, could you share some of your experiences with those bands? What were the positive and negative aspects of being in those bands? Also, what lessons did you learn from your previous band experiences that have helped you in your music career and business endeavors with A Common Crown?

KM: I played in 4 bands total across my musical career. So, my first band was called “Wretched Hive”. We called ourselves toner metal/sludge metal. It was a blast, and we played some cool shows but ultimately, the people I played with were good guys, but we weren't a good match for me. I also played in a cover band called “Ezekiel”. It was fun, but that was only a year and a half. Towards the end of my time in Ezekiel and Wretched Hive (circa 2018) A Common Crown was looking for a new guitar player and I had greatly admired the people in the band at the time, loved their music, and always loved playing shows with them. So they invited me to try out. I learned all their stuff off of a god awful youtube video that someone got and tried out. They decided I was good enough, so here we are! As far as lessons learned from prior bands, biggest lesson I could say, is that just find people you love and that love you, and that you can write naturally with. I also had a brief stint in a cover band called “Just Playn Nasty” although I believe I only played 2 shows with them. It was fun, but it was a task for me to get to their practice.

AA: How did the opportunity to join A Common Crown come about for you?

KM: I had been friends with all the members for a few years beforehand, and we would always have a good time when we hung out before and after a show. They liked me enough to give me a shot, thankfully.

AA: As a guitarist, I'm curious to know more about your creative process for crafting guitar parts that stand out while also complementing the lyrics and drums. For instance, when you were working on the song "Cry," I'd love to hear about how you approached creating your riffs to ensure they fit well with the song's overall sound.

KM: So one of my favorite things about A Common Crown is that we all come from different eras of music. With me being the youngest guy, I have the biggest heavy music influence. All the other guys like heavy music too, but it's what I grew up with. In reference to “Cry”, that's definitely a groove influenced song. So I had a few riffs and we all kind of came together and stitched it together. There some things that worked, and some that didn't. At the end of the day, when we finally figured it out, we knew it was something crusher.

AA: Can you describe your experience with live performances?

KM: Live performances for me, and I probably speak for the whole band are really about the performance. We want to have a good time and bring the audience along for the ride.

AA: How do you handle mistakes during a performance?

KM: If I mess something up live, the strategy for me is to try and brush it off without making it noticeable. Does it always work? Meh, probably. But I think most people want to see you do well when you're playing and aren't listening to every intonation of every note. So as long as you seem happy, they're generally happy too.

AA: What has been the most memorable moment of your journey as a guitarist? Please share a specific experience or performance that stands out in your mind."

KM: Off the top of my head, the one thing that stands out the most was probably in September of 2020 when we opened for Steel Panther. Sold out show in Butler, Pennsylvania. Over 1,000 people in a field, in front of a huge stage, in the middle of nowhere. I remember doing the sound check and feeling my drummer's snare shake my chest on stage and feeling the same thing from my guitar. That was surreal.

AA: What are your thoughts on bands that appear to have contradictory behavior, accepting payment for performances while also publicly denouncing companies on social media due to differing viewpoints on specific issues?

KM: People are generally going to do whatever feels best or is financially best for themselves. Cognitive dissonance isn't a solid deterrence when someone's paycheck is on the line. Contradictory statements and actions seem to be more of a feature, not a bug of human existence. That doesn't make it right, but it does mean sometimes, we gotta try to work a little harder to hammer our own stuff out.

AA: I'm curious to understand the specific events or realizations that have contributed to your belief that politicians prioritize money and power over the well-being of the people they represent.

KM: I'm not sure I could think of a specific event, but it's more of noticing patterns. You see bills get passed and notice they generally never have the intended effect and quite often, the opposite of intended effect. See that enough times, and eventually you learn that it's not about “We, the people”

AA: Will the implementation of stricter gun control laws, such as background checks, waiting periods, and restrictions on high-capacity magazines and assault weapons, effectively contribute to the prevention of mass shootings in the United States?

KM: No, I sincerely don't believe so, because the vast majority of mass shootings are committed by small capacity guns. Stricter gun control only works for people willing to obey the law. If someone is planning to murder, then I don't think a piece of paper or arbitrary requirement is going to stop them.

AA: To what extent does reality television present a distorted and sensationalized version of real life? Is it more focused on entertainment value rather than accurately reflecting everyday experiences? Additionally, in the context of cancel culture, does the practice truly encourage individuals to take responsibility for their actions, or does it often lead to hasty judgments and mob-like behavior?

KM: I don't watch a lot of TV in respect to reality TV so any comment of mine would be speculation.

KM: As far as cancel culture goes, there are some people that just get completely crushed unreasonably. The time of that has mostly passed as people are somewhat uncancelable because of the rise of Alternative media.

AA: I see that you're really into fitness! What are your favorite workouts? I'd love to hear about the exercises and routines you enjoy most.

KM: So I am a big advocate of strength training, and your traditional barbell movements. Overhead press, deadlift, squat, and bench press. Those exercises can really hit a lot of your body and give you a great sense of progression because they're simple to program to progressively overload. I'm also a big fan of full body sessions as well as the Push Pull Legs split.

AA: Is intermittent fasting a safe and effective dietary approach for managing weight and enhancing overall health?

KM: I believe intermittent fasting is safe, but perhaps not the most effective for everyone. I used to do IF but it wasn't right for me after a certain point. Some people it's great. If you're getting the same calories as someone who isn't doing IF, your results will be the same.

AA: Any advice for someone who's finding it hard to get started with working out? Could you offer some advice for an individual who is finding it difficult to initiate a workout routine and stay consistent?"

KM: Sure. I would just recommend they make small changes that they can be consistent with. Walks are always a low barrier to entry and something that everyone can do. As far as resistance training goes, same deal. Small but consistent. Do a full body workout a few times a week. Once you feel good enough and like you can handle more, turn up the intensity and volume, and you'll likely see better results. It takes some time to form habbits but you gotta look at the potential upsides.

AA: I'm interested in learning more about your podcast, "In Liberty and Health." I'm curious to hear about the inspiration behind the name of your show. Could you also elaborate on the primary focus or theme of your podcast? I'm also interested to know your favorite guest on the show and why? Additionally, I'd like to know who your favorite guest on your show has been so far.

KM: Sure, so the In Liberty and Health podcast came about because I thought there was something missing in the libertarian sphere, and that was someone advocating for health in a reasonable way that's backed by science instead of quackery. I mostly discuss foreign policy, politics, health and fitness, and sometimes psychology. I didn't want to niche down because I enjoy learning and talking to all sorts of people.

AA: When it comes to movies, what are some of your all-time favorites? What is it about these particular movies that resonate with you? Is it the storytelling, the characters, the cinematography, or something else?

KM: My favorite movie is probably Pulp Fiction, as Samuel L. Jackson is my favorite actor. The plot was very dense and hard to follow on a first glance, but it's so entertaining and has so many memorable moments. Jackson's character along with John Travolta's characters are just very entertaining characters. It was just the scenery and the vibe of the movie, if you will.

AA: As for TV shows, which ones do you find yourself eagerly tuning in to? What about these shows captivates you—could it be the plot twists, character development, or the overall production quality?

KM: Lately, my wife and I have been watching suits which has been a lot of fun. I've always watched all the star wars cartoons and shows which are fantastic. Character development is usually a big one for me. I can get past production if the story is good.

AA: Regarding books, which ones are at the top of your list? What makes these books stand out to you? Is it the writing style, the themes, or the emotions they evoke?

KM: I don't read an insane amount but “Ordinary Men”

was a fascinating read for me. It was about the psychology of how to make the human mind justify atrocities. I also really liked “The Rational Male” series, as well as Rian Stone's “Praxaelogy” books.

AA: Which podcasts do you highly recommend and why? What sets these podcasts apart from others, in your opinion? Do they offer valuable insights, entertaining content, or something else that keeps you hooked?

KM: For me, my favorite podcasts are probably Media Roots Radio, Part of the Problem, and the Peter Schiff show. Those are the few that come to mind. Media roots has amazing production value and they offer a very different perspective. All 3 mentioned though have unique insights that I don't think you hear from many others.

AA: I'm interested in learning about your favorite bands or music artists that you're passionate about. Additionally, I'd love to hear all the details about your most memorable concert experience - the atmosphere, the performance, the venue, and anything else that made it special for you.

KM: My favorite musical artist is hands down, Pantera. The raw energy that they had back in the 90s was just unmatched. I got to the tribute, and it was just absolutely incredible. It was a very emotional experience for me, as silly as that sounds. I also always liked GWAR because of the madness of the whole show. It's always a good time.

AA: Tell me the story of how you and your wife first met." What was her personality, character, or actions that made you realize you wanted to spend the rest of your life with her?

KM: I met my wife after my band played a charity show in 2018. I was absolutely hammered, and I saw her standing next to my now drummer. I walked up to him to say Hi, but I really wanted to check my now wife out. My wife was with one of her friends at the time, so I walked up to her friend and mentioned I had interest. She encouraged me to go talk to her, so I did. The rest is history, as they say.

AA: If you could live in any historical period, which would you choose and why?

KM: I'm not sure really. Maybe the early 1900s because it was a very high trust society, and it was a whole different world. I don't really have a great answer.

AA: I'm interested in learning about your experience as an auto mechanic. What initially sparked your interest in this field, and what steps did you take to pursue a career in auto mechanics? How many years have you been working in this industry, and what are some memorable moments or projects from your career? Can you also share your favorite car models to work on and the reasons behind your preference? Lastly, what specific aspects of your work do you find most fulfilling and enjoyable?

KM: My dad, his dad, and my grandfather's dad were all mechanics so it's kind of in my blood. I started by going to vocational training in highschool for automotive technology. Funny enough, the teacher went to college with my dad. I've been in the automotive industry now for 12 going on 13 years. Sadly though, you don't really remember the times you made a lot of money. You remember all the cars that stood out to you as cars that really bit you. Cars that cost you a lot of time and money. But at the end of the day, that makes you a better and wiser tech. I've been with General Motors for about 10 years, and have a preference for them, much like my family being automotive technicians, they're all General Motors people. Biggest of all these things though possibly, is that what brings me the most joy in the automotive repair field is finding broken things and fixing them. Every time I chase a wire for hours and finally find it, fix it, and see the car almost entirely change.. It's a great feeling. Also I can't overstate how great it is to work with great people, and most of the time, for great people.

AA: What are some of your favorite activities when you have free time?

KM: Honestly, playing Xbox and watching sci-fi movies now. I also really enjoy cooking.

AA: If you had the world's attention for five minutes, what message would you share with everyone?"

KM: Enjoy every moment with every person that you can. The world is a beautiful and wonderful place, if you choose to believe that. It's a choice. So, love and treat people well because you believe it's the right thing to do, not because you want something.

AA: Kyle Matovcik, thank you for sharing your personal journey and experiences as a guitarist and podcaster!

Kyle Matovcik- Guitarist and Podcaster

To access all information about Kyle Matovcik, please visit the link provided below:

https://linktr.ee/KyleMatovcik

*** All photos and videos by Klye Matovcik unless otherwise noted **