Andrew Matarazzo Speaks On His Thriving Acting Career And Latest Ventures Into Music With Upcoming EP
THIS JOURNAL BELONGS TO
SHAKIR PHILIPPE
In Hollywood, being a multi-hyphenate, a person with several professions, has not only been encouraged but celebrated.
Andrew Matarazzo, has fully embraced this culture and is now thriving in various fields simultaneously.
6 MINS READ TIME
He was originally cast for a two-episode guest spot as Gabe on MTV’s Teen Wolf, but was written into the remainder of the show’s final season. Along with Teen Wolf, Andrew is best known for his roles Alfredo in CBS’s All Rise, Flaco on CW’s Jane the Virgin, and Aaron on ABC’s Speechless.
He began his career starring in several short films that debuted at the Tribeca and Cannes Film Festivals. However, it wasn’t until he studied under Oscar-winning actor Tim Robbins that his acting career took off.
Despite his excelling career in TV and film seemingly doing better than ever, Andrew has shifted into taking his musical talents more seriously, which was only accelerated when the pandemic caused a major halt in the filming for his acting jobs – releasing his first single, “Omertà”, after years of covers to some of today’s biggest tracks; Highest in the Room, Señorita, Bellyache, Bennie and the Jets, and Bad Guy, which just recently hit over 2 million views on his YouTube channel. Andrew began 2021 with an unplugged rendition of his debut song “Omertà” on January 24th, followed by a rewritten cover of the viral hit Drivers License on February 5th, 2021.
I had the pleasure of talking to Andrew Matarazzo about all of his acting and music milestones, and where he foresees his career heading in the near future.
A transcript of the conversation extends below.
SP: Congratulations on the release of your new song. What inspired the song and you choosing to expand your career in the entertainment industry to include songwriting and singing?
AM: I’ve always been passionate about music, but unlike acting, it took me much longer to find my confidence and identity as a musician. I think organically the two paths started crossing over each other, and I eventually realized they were much more in-sync than I thought at first.
This specific track, ‘New York’ was inspired by the fear of returning to a place that is so infused with memories of someone no longer in your life.
SP: When did you first become interested in making music?
AM: I’d done musical theater growing up and had been doing mostly covers on Youtube up until last year, but once I sat and truly put the work in to make an original, I was really surprised at how quickly and naturally the track came together. I think I was holding myself back for a long time by telling myself “I’m an actor - I just do music for fun.” I realized I am an actor and I am a musician too.
SP: Do you have any favorite songs that you’ve created?
AM: I think this current track New York holds a very special place in my heart. I wrote my first single, Omerta, more so from the mind of a persona and character, whereas New York was a very intimate, raw part of myself that was very difficult to sing about. I am really proud of this track and how it encapsulated all my emotions and trauma from a specific time in my life into its DNA.
Photo: Joshua Keith
SP: Any plans to release an album soon?
AM: I hope to have an EP out by the end of the year and immediately jump into creating an album. Building this EP is helping me dig a foundation of where I want to go with the future album. The music video for my latest single, ‘New York’ will be out on May 15th on my Youtube channel! Make sure to follow my social and music platforms for updates on the music video premiere, He’s All That, and my latest projects.
SP: What is your heritage and family background and how has it affected your life?
AM: I think it’s a great time in Hollywood right now for Latinx actors, and I love that it’s something I can be proud of and utilize in my work. A lot of my personality and who I am comes from the different cultures I grew up with. I feel like I shine a spotlight on my Latin side all the time, but my song Omerta was an homage to my Italian heritage that I don’t often highlight. It was a combination of acknowledging that part of my family, but infusing it with cinematic influences of mine like The Godfather and The Sopranos .
SP: You've had an illustrious acting career featuring in Teen Wolf, All Rise, Jane the Virgin, and more. What advice would you give to someone just starting out their career in the entertainment industry (whether it's acting or music) or yourself before going into your first audition?
AM: I think the biggest thing is not comparing yourself or your journey to anyone else's. It’s easier said than done, but it’s so important as an artist to have a strong sense of self, and not worry where other people are at on their paths. Put in the work and stay focused. Where other people are at and what they’re doing has no effect on your personal course.
SP: Would you consider your character Gabe in Teen Wolf as your acting breakout? If so, in what ways did your career trajectory change afterwards?
AM: It was the first character I got to play a role over a long period of time, so developmentally it was a big moment for me. I learned so much as I grew with the character. Also, the fanbase alone that came with being part of Teen Wolf was an intense shift for me as an actor. I think I got very lucky that this particular series had such an impact on so many young people. I feel very supported by them till this day.
SP: Do you have any favorite memories on the set of any of the shows you’ve been on?
AM: He’s All That comes to mind because we filmed a lot of it at a high school and everyone in the cast was around the same age, so it gave this sense of going to school everyday and seeing my group of friends. The cast dynamic was so energetic and hyperactive, it made everything fun even when we were just sitting around between set ups.
The final day of filming specifically was a really fun time. The eight of us had a mini celebration inside one of our trailers and it was a great ending to the few months we filmed.
SP: How was it playing Logan for the reboot and your experience working with novice actor Addison Rae?
AM: Logan was very much like the guys I hated in high school, so naturally it was a fun role to play. As for working with Addison, I have nothing but great things to say about her. She took it very seriously, always came prepared, took direction like a pro and was very kind on set.
There’s no date set for release yet, but it was just bought by Netflix! So it will be available there some time in 2021.
SP: Who would you name as some of your greatest male influences growing up?
AM: I latched on to artist influences. Heath Ledger and River Phoenix were two actors who caught my eye when I was very young and I read up a lot about their paths and films, and followed their trajectories closely. I think they were major influences in my identity as an artist and how I wanted to approach my work and body of work.
SP: Do you believe being classically trained prepared you for the reality of Hollywood?
AM: I don’t think the schools I attended geared their training so much to the business side of Hollywood, but I do feel like my background separates me from a lot of actors out here. I was lucky to start my training in England which gave me a very strong sense of craft, and it's something I really care about when I approach my work, even if it's a character similar to myself. I like having the tools I picked up from my past studies.
SP: Where do you see your music career going in the future?
AM: I think my acting and music career can live in tandem and support each other. I am a better actor when I am working on music, and I am a better musician when I am working on acting projects. They feed each other, and it's the best version of myself when I have projects in both arenas living side by side. I hope to continue to build my body of work in music and have my audience grow from acting and music combined.