Matare shares new single “When Alone”

Over the last five years, Atlanta-based musician Matt Rousseau has formed his artistic identity on stark transformation. Once known in the Orlando breaks scene as Vibal, crafting racing dancefloor anthems that soundtracked countless nights out, Matt has since traded the adrenaline rush for something more thought-provoking. Under his moniker, MatAre, he’s reshaped his creative direction entirely by moving from the club to the stillness of twilight, where his music flickers between melancholy and melody.

The constant thread stitched throughout his musical fabric is his instinct for atmosphere; what’s changed is the lens through which he channels it. Since debuting the MatAre project in 2020, he’s been building a sonic world where nostalgia and nuance intertwine. His early self-titled EP was the first showcase of that output and in 2023, he expanded on that vision with Patternicit, a full-length record that marked a significant moment in his artistic adventure.

Folding in influence from artists such as The Cure, The Sundays, Fleetwood Mac and Depeche Mode, the record showed that MatAre was a continuation of his lifelong fascination with emotion through sound. Last year’s Extinction Burst landed as an artistic triumph, presenting a meditation on growth and impermanence that traded grandeur for subtlety by focusing on restraint and leaning into the cinematic glow of layered guitars and soft, hypnotic melodies.

Now, as 2026 begins, MatAre continues to go from strength to strength with his brand-new single titled “When Alone,” a track which represents a full-circle moment, a return to his origins but through the lens of maturity and experience. Floating with the shimmer of jangly guitars and an unhurried tempo, “When Alone” channels the emotional punch of the post punk and dream pop greats who’ve shaped Matt’s musical world.

Shades of new wave vibes ripple throughout the arrangement while the light hop of the drums injects a playful energy throughout, resulting in a catchy jam that’s timeless, charming and unique all at once. Jumping straight into a bright scene of airy guitar notes and intricate textures, Matt’s expressive vocals hover above the crisp patter of the drums to cast a delightful sound that’s equally dreamy and subtly invigorating.

Gradually taking flight with the wash of engrossing instrumental layers, the track glides glides with the delicate twang of guitar notes and lively roll of drums while the sweep of stretched synth textures and chimes of twinkling tones crafts a thoroughly transportive listening experience. With a forthcoming EP on the horizon, “When Alone” offers an exciting taste of a release that’s set to explore dreamy shoegaze soundscapes and meaningful storytelling with the same panache that’s guided Matare’s journey so far.

Listen to When Alone below

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