Matt Castillo is a rising country music artist known for his traditional country sound with a modern twist. He hails from the great state of Texas and has built a loyal fan base with his heartfelt lyrics and engaging and powerful performances. His new album “ Pushing Borders ” is out now and includes his latest #1 hit “Te Necesito”.
Matt’s music often reflects his South Texas roots and 90s country influences, making it both nostalgic and fresh. You can find out more about Matt and his upcoming tour dates on his official website: mattcastillomusic.com
MJ : So, you went to college for kinesiology, and now you are an up-and-coming full-time country music star. How did that happen?
Matt Castillo : Yeah, I went to college for multiple majors. I started in Criminal Justice, then Communications because I wanted to be a sports reporter you know for like ESPN. So, I went to my local news station, and I just sat in for the afternoon news and man, it was just hectic, crazy fast paced; you're next, go to next, go to next. I loved that, but I kind of just didn't know what I wanted to do, and college was just not for me, so I wanted the easiest, quickest way out, and kinesiology was the quickest way. I always wanted to be an athletic trainer, but more like a sports conditioning trainer working with athletes and helping them recover, helping them get stronger. I really wanted to work for the NBA. Everything that I wanted to do was at a big grand scale like professionalism.
MJ : There's nothing wrong with that.
Matt Castillo : No, not at all. In my hometown, many people become athletic trainers at their high schools and junior highs. When I realized what that life would be like, I did internships at the University of Texas, Pan American, and McAllen High School. I saw that I would never be home, working from 5:00 AM until maybe 2:00 AM, depending on the season, and covering every sport. I decided that if I was going to work that hard, I should do something I love.
Coming from a Hispanic family, my parents wanted me to get an education and a secure job. I didn’t want to disappoint them, so I finished college and earned my degree. Once I had that, I felt free to pursue my passion. I started the band, Matt and the Herdsmen, and we began touring. I didn’t take my license test for athletic training because I didn’t see myself in that role, but I kept it as a backup.
Early on, I was also a substitute teacher and a basketball and football referee, juggling those jobs with the band on weekends. When I finally took the leap of faith, I got an LLC and a DBA, learning the ropes and asking for advice. It became a passion. If I was going to work for anyone, it would be for myself.
I started music later than most, but those experiences matured me. I faced challenges without giving up, and I’m glad I persevered. My family was very supportive, even though my mom initially questioned why she paid for my college. I told her, “Mom, I was the first in our family to graduate high school and college. I’ve made you proud, and now I’m going to continue to make you proud by following my dreams.”
Eventually, she realized there was no stopping me.
MJ : Good for you. So, what year did you take the leap full-time into music?
Matt Castillo : I graduated in 2014. By 2015/2016, I made sure I had enough money saved, and we released our first record. We did things like selling BBQ tickets to fund our studio time. We just tried to make it work, splitting the costs evenly at first.
To make money, you have to grow the business, and to grow the business, you need music. It needs to be nurtured and taken care of so it can grow. It’s always a back-and-forth process. You have to water the plant of your music, but to do that, you need money. To go to Nashville, you need money. You have to earn money from your shows, playing a certain number of shows per month. You must pay the band members and cover travel expenses.
We rely on venues to take good care of us, and we stick with those that do. It’s a lot to manage, and not everyone can handle it. A lot of people aren’t meant for the road, you know. You’re in a band for hours on end. We lived in South Texas, in Edinburg, which felt isolated and desolate. To get anywhere, we had to travel a long way. From Edinburg to San Antonio, it’s about 3-4 hours. Just to get to San Antonio to play, and then to go further, it was another 4 hours. The furthest we went from the valley was Denver, Colorado. You know, we were road warriors. It was fun for a while because we got to play locally. In my community, I have a lot of good friends who are happy just playing weekend gigs at their hometown bars. They enjoy it, and that’s what makes them happy, which is great for them.
But for me, I wanted more. I always wanted to be a national country recording artist. I had bigger dreams, like making it to Nashville.
MJ : Are you an independent artist?
Matt Castillo : Yeah, still to this day. Do I want to be? Not for long no, because I know I need help.
It’s not taboo like it used to be. Like Coffey Anderson, he was the poster child for the taboo of being independent. Now look at him, and now everybody is doing it. He’s still fantastic. If you can surround yourself with a good team that believes in you and can share responsibilities, it makes life a lot easier. That’s where I’m trying to get to, so I can focus more on songwriting and building relationships with songwriters in Nashville and Texas.
I can’t do all that if I’m also handling administrative and booking tasks. You need to delegate and have people you trust. Many of my friends who started independently or transitioned to it say that the extra work is worth the creative freedom they gain.
As I say, be careful! You have to vet the people you’re going to work with. Are they really behind you and helping you grow, or do they just want a percentage of the cut?
It has to be a good partnership; it can’t be one-sided. If I ever feel my creativity is being handcuffed, I’m out. That’s one of the first things we talked about. I need it in writing so that I will have creative freedom. They can suggest ideas, but it’s not always a yes or no situation. Thankfully, I haven’t had that problem.
MJ : You have your fourth album, “ Pushing Borders ”, coming out on July 19 th . Tell us about it.
Matt Castillo : Yes! This new album, “ Pushing Borders ,”, I’m really excited about it. It has fourteen songs, and each one is so different. Every song stands alone. It’s like the Heartbreak Tour because it has happy melodies with sad subject matter. Hopefully, it helps people find a solution to get over someone, let go, or just sit in their misery and be okay with it, like having a drink and embracing the misery for a bit.
MJ : So, tell us about your creative process when you're writing, do you plan a theme, or how do your songs come to you for an album?
Matt Castillo : My previous albums, “ How the River Flows ” and “ The River Continues ” originally, were supposed to be one album. However, due to COVID and financial constraints, we had to break it into two parts. When you’re self-funding everything, it gets a bit harder. So, my producer, Roger Brown, came up with the idea of splitting it into two, and that’s what we did. He did an amazing job. I mean, I don’t know anyone else who’s done something like this. I went to him because he came up with the idea. I was like, “What am I going to do?” So, we started “ How the River Flows ” as an EP, and it turned into an album. Then we realized we still had four more songs that were supposed to be on the record. I asked, “What are we going to do?” He said, “We’ll just call it “ The River Continues .’” I thought, “Oh, genius! Why didn’t I think of that?” I was just so caught up in my own little world.
For this record, we’re keeping that South Texas theme. We took the best of “ How the River Flows ” and “ The River Continues ” and figured out what worked. We decided to concentrate on those elements and write specifically for this theme and just build on that. “ Pushing Borders ” is a more concentrated version of what you heard in the previous albums, but with even better writing. When we get in the room, it’s all about the song and the title. The same guys who helped me write “ How the River Flows ” and “ The River Continues ” are on this record too.
We have Byron Hill, Tommy Conners, Luke Reed, and Roger Brown, along with new collaborators like Ryan Tyndall, Jeff Hyde, and Jeremy Spillman. We even got an outside cut from Bernie Nelson, who co-wrote “It Never Was,” my favorite song. It was awesome to have everyone collaborate and create a really cool album.
We were very picky about what we included. Coming from a background of artists like Marty Stuart, The Mavericks, and 90s country, we thought it would be cool to create a unique sound. Roger Brown helped cultivate that and pushed me out of my comfort zone, saying, “Hey Matt, this is you. Let’s shine on that.”
MJ : I’m seeing Texas Music blowing up all over the nation now and I think people are getting back to Country Music. What’s your take on that?
Matt Castillo : Well, I hope I’m not too late to the party. Yeah, I think so too. It’s a little risky, and that’s why we called the new album “ Pushing Borders .” We really pushed some boundaries and tried things that were a bit uncomfortable for me. This album was about trusting the process and seeing what happens. You never know how people will react, but I’m happy with it.
When people write records, they don’t always write them for the audience. If the music connects and resonates, then it did its job. For me, if I die tomorrow, I’ll be happy with what I’ve created. I hope it inspires someone. But as long as I’m alive, I’ll keep pushing boundaries, maturing as a songwriter, and trying new things while staying true to who I am.
Across the board, I look at it like Garth Brooks. Early on, his albums were very traditional, but as he evolved, he took more risks and got a bit more raw and heavy. I like country that’s a little edgy and in your face. I want people to be excited to come to the show and to put on my music before they go out.
This album is very serious and straight to the point. It’s like, “Here I am. Take it or leave it.” Maybe the next album will be a bit more tongue-in-cheek, showing another side of me that’s not so serious. That’s what I love about country music—there’s always room to explore different facets of yourself.
That’s what I love about writing songs and country music in general. I’m a big 90s guy, and I hope my songs resonate with people. “Cowboy” was the first one that really struck a chord. When I wrote it, I thought, “I think we’ve got something good here.”
Another one is “How the River Flows,” which is about my two grandfathers. I cried when I heard the last verse, and it even made some of my family cry. I felt like I did a good job and really hit home with that one. I always try to bring something true into my songs.
MJ : When you have downtime, what do you like to do?
Matt Castillo : When I have downtime, I like to unwind and relax with an old fashioned. I love cooking really good dinners, especially for other people. I enjoy sitting down with good company, making people laugh, joking around, and just having a great time.
We’re planning to do a series of videos where I try out hobbies that I don’t usually do. I think it will be funny. One idea is to start at Hobby Lobby, walking around and looking for a new hobby to try, like decoupage or something similar.
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