Matt Maeson has announced the release of his third studio album, A Quiet and Harmless Living, due out on September 12 via Atlantic Records. He also debuted the single "Downstairs," which accompanies the previously released "Everlasting," and the singer/songwriter joined us for a Q&A about the new songs and upcoming LP.
How does it feel to have “Everlasting” and “Downstairs” out in the world? Is there a reason these two songs were chosen to be the first tracks of your new era?
Maeson: "It feels like a massive weight off of my shoulders! When I finish a song and then I wait months, sometimes years, to finally release it as part of a record, one of the most exciting parts is to just be done with it haha! I wanted to release 'Everlasting' first because it’s such an important song to me and I felt a sense of urgency with it. It’s very emotional, gentle and deliberate. 'Downstairs' on the other hand is the opposite end of the spectrum. It’s loud and almost juvenile in its sentiments. It also feels like the most sonically accessible song on the record."
For “Everlasting”, what’s the story behind the artwork choice?
Matt Maeson: "I’ve been working with a great artist named Matthew Siskin. We’ve been crafting the whole album world together and we wanted the artwork to feel like it’s pulled straight from it all. The 'Everlasting' artwork is a picture from the filming of the video and it’s meant to show this euphoric snapshot that comes from a night of partying and distraction from the very heavy topics that the song is discussing, almost to contradict it entirely."
Does your son have any favorite artists/songs?
Matt Maeson: "Well if you asked him it would change on any given day. One day he’ll ask for the heaviest Underoath song you’ve ever heard, the next he’ll ask for 'Veggietales' or the 'Frozen' soundtrack on repeat. And tbh I’m vibing to all of it."
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Does he have a favorite song of yours yet?
Matt Maeson: "I try to avoid playing my songs too much around him because if he gets hooked on one he likes he will make me play it so many times that I despise it. I’ve probably listened to 'Get Happy' over a thousand times."
You’ll be hitting the road soon for the first time since playing arenas with Zach Bryan, any favorite memories from that tour?
Matt Maeson: "I’d say just the fact that it worked. Playing solo in front of that many people every night and it working was extremely encouraging! A more specific memory would be there were a few nights that everyone pulled their phones lights out completely unprompted during a song from the new record. Like thirty thousand people who’ve never heard this song before being that engaged. Absolutely blew my mind!"
Heading into a third album, is there a song coming that you’re most looking forward to getting to play live?
Matt Maeson: "Man, it’ll be fun to figure them all out for the live show but I’ll definitely love playing 'A Good Start' cause it’s heavy. I just love playing the heavy ones live."
MATT MAESON TOUR DATES
North America 2025
September 26: Dallas, TX - House of Blues
September 27: Austin, TX - Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater
September 29: Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren
October 1: San Diego, CA - The Observatory North Park
October 2: Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
October 4: San Francisco, CA - Regency Ballroom
October 5: Eugene, OR - The McDonald Theatre
October 7: Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
October 8: Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo
October 10: Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory
October 11: Vancouver, BC - Vogue Theatre
October 16: Denver, CO - Mission Ballroom
October 18: Minneapolis, MN - First Ave.
October 19: Chicago, IL - The Vic Theatre
October 21: Detroit, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
October 22: Toronto, ON - History
October 24: Montreal, QC - Theatre Beanfield
October 25: New Haven, CT - Toad's Place
October 27: Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
October 28: Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore
October 30: Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
November 1: Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle
November 3: Charlottesville, VA - The Jefferson Theater
November 4: Washington, DC - Lincoln Theatre
November 5: Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
November 7: Boston, MA - House of Blues
November 8: Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel