Fate has strange ways of putting people on the correct path in life. Some of us know exactly what we are born to do. Some of us stumble upon it and others search a lifetime trying to figure it out. It seems that music has literally saved the life of Singer/Songwriter Dahlak Matteos, who has used her natural gift of music to overcome some adversities in her life. She survived a near fatal car accident, became a mother and is now using music to try to find herself by spreading positivity with her music.
Throughout her life, music was a source of strength and inspiration for Dahlak. As a very young child, she would sing church songs with her father in their native language Tigrinya. Now today, Dahlak is living her dream with the anticipated release of her EP, Vibrato, executive produced by MellotheProducer. Dahlak took time out of her busy schedule to sit down with us here at Parlé Magazine to talk about her EP, music career and plan for the future.
Parlé Magazine: How did you get into music?
Dahlak Matteos: I’ve been writing songs and poetry since I was 7 years old. I’ve been recording music since I was 16. I’ve opened shows for E-40, The Jacka and several other well-known artists from the Bay area. I moved to Atlanta where I met my producer MellotheProducer and we’ve been working together ever since, which has lead to my EP, Vibrato.
Parlé: Will the Vibrato EP serve as the official debut release from you?
Dahlak Matteos: Yes, I’ve been writing for so long that I never really felt comfortable enough to put out my own work before. I wanted to make sure this project was real to who I was. I didn’t want to do songs that I couldn’t relate to. I’m really excited about releasing this project because it’s who I am.
Parlé: What can listeners expect from Vibrato?
Dahlak Matteos: It’s about love and all it’s different levels. I called it Vibrato because that’s what people say about my singing, I’ve heard people say that I have a unique vibrato tone. The whole project is about me opening up to self-love and spreading love and making sure people understand that they need to know their worth and who they are in order to share themselves.
Parlé: How has the feedback been?
Dahlak Matteos: I’ve been getting some pretty good feedback as a new artist just coming out. People often tell me how inspirational my music is to them and they want to know how I come up with my songs. I want to make sure I’m reaching out to real people and putting out real music that they can feel and understand?
Parlé: Does your unique cultural background come into play when you write/make music?
Dahlak Matteos: Yes, as a child I would sing church songs with my father in our native language Tigrinya, which is an east African language. My name comes from the Red Sea, it’s really important to the people there especially in Ethiopia. I want to make sure that the music would reflect my story because instruments are just as vital in a song as the lyrics. The listeners will be able to get that Reggae/Worldly music feel when they hear my music.
Parlé: Prior to recording your own music, you used to write for others, who have you worked with recently?
Dahlak Matteos: Right now I’m working with Young Scrap, he’s making a buzz out in Cali but I haven’t had the chance to work with anyone major major yet. A lot of my writing has been to perfect my craft.
Parlé: Have you been compared to anyone else musically?
Dahlak Matteos: A couple of people say that they can tell I’ve been influenced by Mariah Carey when I sing, but I hadn’t had any direct comparisons to say that I sound like so and so. I’ve been told that my style is very refreshing and inspirational.
Parlé: That’s great, as it should be. How would you define your style of music?
Dahlak Matteos: It’s more inspirational. Every song has a deep message to it. You can’t really pinpoint an exact genre when listening to it because I wanted to make a little something for everyone. If I had to label it I would call it universal music.
Parlé: What are your plans following the EP?
Dahlak Matteos: I didn’t want to just release one song and keep people wanting. I wanted to put something out for people to hear from me so they could get an idea of who I am and what I’m about before I decide to drop a full album.
Parlé: Tell me about the latest single.
Dahlak Matteos: The single “You Are Beautiful” is out on Itunes, Amazon, soundcloud and iheart Radio. I’m thinking of putting the EP out in the next few months but I’m going to let this song generate a buzz first.
Parlé: Where do you hope to see Dahlak in the future?
Dahlak Matteos: I’d really like to bring home a Grammy. I don’t know what God has planned for me but that’s what I pray on every night. I want to do this for all my loved ones and even the haters too. I’m not stopping till I bring home a Grammy.
Parlé: Are these any plans in the near future for you beyond music?
Dahlak Matteos: I’m just in the studio with MellotheProducer working on music both writing and singing. For information on that just hit me up on social media and I can give the readers/fans more details.
Parlé: Who inspires you both creatively and personally?
Dahlak Matteos: I would say that creatively Chaka Khan inspires a lot of my music but for my personal life, my family. We came to America with nothing and now I’m able to live the dream and I want them to know that everything I do, I do it for them hoping to make them proud of me.
Listen to Dahlak Matteo – “You Are Beautiful” here:
Parlé: How can people reach you on social media?
Dahlak Matteos: Twitter @Dahlak_Matteos, Facebook.com/DahlakMatteos. You can just look up Dahlak Matteos on social media and I’ll pop up, I don’t really add anything extra to it.
Parlé: Do you have any last inspiring words?
Dahlak Matteos: : You are beautiful. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t/won’t because you can and you will you just have to invest in yourself and keep pushing