Meet Jackson Matayo | Drummer, Producer, A&R, Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jackson Matayo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jackson, is there something you believe many others might not?
Something I hear a lot from fellow entrepreneurs is that you should find something that you’re good at, and laser focus on doing that thing and nothing but that thing. While I feel like there is merit to that way of thinking, there’s always a part of me that has resisted it a bit. Sure, do what you’re good at. But how will you ever learn what else you are good at if you’re literally focused on just one thing? What happens if you don’t look around and see what else is out there, if you don’t take the leap and try new things? For example, I’m a drummer first and foremost. I’ve played for the majority of my life and I’ve become pretty good at it if I do say so myself. At the same time though, I never wanted to just be “Jackson the Drummer.” I love it, don’t get me wrong – but why should I limit myself? I love writing, recording, producing, engineering – I have so many other passions outside of music, even. So it’s always been my natural instinct to embrace new things and see if they’re for me or not. I’m grateful because it’s helped teach me a lot about myself and what I’m good at…as well as what I’m not so good at.

What should our readers know about your business?
I’m very excited to be here in Atlanta during this time. I feel like this city has been tremendous for my business as well as countless others, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Atlanta over these next few years. The artist scene is exploding here as the city grows, and with that growth I expect to be playing plenty of shows around town, as well as continuing to represent other artists and help with furthering their careers. Things didn’t seem so promising two years ago, when COVID first hit and the music scene came to an abrupt halt. Everyone in the industry, no matter their role, felt the impact of the lockdown. Live music wasn’t happening, artists were barely releasing new music, and there was an overwhelming feeling of uncertainty in the space. It’s an amazing thing that we as a city have moved past those feelings and onto a bright new future for the entertainment business, and I’m excited to be a part of it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The first thing I usually recommend to people is that they visit Little Five Points. If you’ve lived in Atlanta for even a decent bit of time, odds are you’ve been and this isn’t news to you. But the vibe there and in East Atlanta are truly unmatched, and I think everyone should get the chance to hang down there at least once while visiting. Another thing I would likely suggest that people do would be to visit Ponce City Market and walk the Beltline. There are so many cool stores, coffee shops, breweries, and restaurants down there that I would personally vouch for, so that is a must as well in my opinion. Lastly, because the majority of people visiting Atlanta usually stay downtown, I have to give a shoutout to the Hard Rock Cafe. Their food is unbelievable, and they recently remodeled their music venue to start hosting shows downtown. We love working with them and would recommend them to anyone and everyone visiting.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve met many amazing people since moving to Atlanta, but there are a few I would especially like to shoutout! Firstly, I have to shoutout my girlfriend Naomi. She’s a singer, artist, model and she’s been killing the game lately, dropping new music and playing shows at different venues around the city. She shouted me out in her interview, so it’s only right that I show love back and give her my appreciation. I’d also like to thank our friend Austin for supporting us since day one. Lastly, I want to give my praise to Atlanta as a whole. This has been a very welcoming place for a kid from Arkansas who moved here not knowing a single thing about the city, and after being here for a while I feel a sense of belonging.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacksonmatayo/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacksonmatayo/

Image Credits
Naomi Richmond Derek Moore Lion Imagery