MatAre releases new single “Into the Sea”

Atlanta-based musician Matt Rousseau uses both transformation and musical talent as the building blocks for his work under the MatAre oniker. Once a fixture of Orlando’s electrifying breaks scene under the alias Vibal, he made his mark crafting adrenaline-charged dancefloor anthems but in recent years, his creative compass has shifted toward something altogether more reflective. As MatAre, he’s swapped peak-hour euphoria for twilight contemplation, channeling his energy into bittersweet dream pop that feels equal parts nostalgic and new.

Since debuting the MatAre project in 2020, he’s built a sonic world where melancholy and melody take shape in exquisite balance. His self-titled EP sketched the early framework with shimmering guitars, intimate lyricism and hazy atmospherics that seemed to hang in midair. Then came Patternicit, a full-length record that expanded the vision, threading influences from The Cure and The Sundays to Fleetwood Mac and Depeche Mode into something entirely his own.

Where his earlier career shook with rhythm, ultimately MatAre focuses on meaningful songwriting which presents itself through the gentle sway of a chorus, the pulse of layered guitars, the subtle cinematic glow. It’s the sound of remembering something you can’t quite name but still feel deeply in your bones. This year, MatAre reached a new creative high point with the release of his sophomore album Extinction Burst, a record that distilled his emotional and sonic development.

Now, he opens another chapter with his brand new single titled “Into the Sea,” a stunning new outing created in collaboration with Turkish producer Surfgreenvibes. The track marks both the next step in his sonic adventure and a gentle departure, drawing inspiration from Matt’s personal connection to the ocean, a place of calm amid turbulence, where reflection and release come easy. “Into the Sea” ripples with the texture of memory; its melodies designed to mimic the hypnotic rhythm of waves meeting the shore.

MatAre and Surfgreenvibes stitch together breakbeat drums and jangly guitar riffs, balancing new wave atmosphere with steady indie pop energy. Jumping straight into an uptempo groove of pattering percussion and the bright twang of guitar notes, MatAre’s smooth vocals roll above to cast catchy pop-focused hooks above the pulsing arrangement as the track glides with the intricate ebb and flow of instrumentation. Peppered with the bubble of delicate synth notes, flowing through an acoustic-driven build up and cut with instantly memorable melodic songwriting, it’s an infectious jam that filters a retro style through MatAre’s modern musical lens.

The single also arrives as the lead track lifted from his upcoming five-song EP set to drop next year, which will explore deeper shades of dark wave, goth and post punk styling while retaining the melodic warmth that runs throughout his work. Once again serving up a magical musical moment that’s impossible not to love, MatAre continues to shine on his exciting musical journey and we can’t wait to see what his EP will have in store.

Listen to Into the Sea below

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