Artist Interviews on Maverick 100.9 · Bryan Broadcasting

Matt Castillio Artist Interview July 2024

August 20, 2024·26 min·2 clips

Matt Castillo just played Party on the Patio to celebrate his new album, which he wrote 13 of 14 tracks for.

1. Maverick 100.9 host Corliss interviews Texas country artist Matt Castillo on the release day of his album 'Pushing Borders.' 2. Corliss is the radio host and interviewer; Castillo is the Texas country artist who previously released 'How the River Flows' and led the band Matt and the Herdsmen. 3. The episode's core purpose is to introduce 'Pushing Borders' to Maverick listeners on the day of its midnight release, with a world-premiere listen to the single 'Pain and Sorrow.' 4. Castillo states he co-wrote 13 of the 14 tracks, calling it 'a more concentrated version of how the river flows.' 5. He cites Dwight Yoakam, Marty Stuart, the Mavericks, and old-school George Strait as sonic touchstones, noting the record also carries Gary Allen sonics. 6. Producer Roger Brown and songwriter Drew Fish are identified as key collaborators; Castillo says he would never have met Brown without Fish's songwriter retreat. 7. The album-selection process involved writing roughly 40 songs, listing them, reducing to eight, then identifying missing emotional arcs—'we need something sad, something funny, something up-tempo'—before finalizing 14. 8. Castillo frames 'Pushing Borders' as a concept album meant to be heard in track order, comparing it to the physical-media era when listeners had no choice but to follow the sequence. 9. He distinguishes two songwriter archetypes: those for whom material 'pours out' effortlessly, and 'working songwriters' who write with deliberate intent toward a goal—crediting Roger Brown's golf-swing analogy for clarifying his own process. 10. Castillo says he plays 115 to 120 shows a year, describing the road schedule as a 'badge of honor' that supports his team and family. 11. The single 'Pain and Sorrow,' co-written with Roger Brown and Tommy Connors, is described as 'a happy negative'—honky-tonk with pedal steel that turns heartbreak into an up-tempo track. 12. A fan at the merch booth told Castillo that a cowboy-themed song off his album reminded him of his late father, which Castillo calls confirmation he is 'going down the right path.' 13. Castillo reflects on earlier transition periods—moving from Matt and the Herdsmen to a solo identity—as feeling like being 'on an island surrounded by people in loneliness at the exact same time.' 14. Both Castillo and Corliss discuss growing up in Hispanic households where work ethic was the primary proof of legitimacy; Castillo says tough parents gave him 'thick skin' and a habit of outworking others. 15. Corliss shares that her father told her he was proud of her on February 7th, 2022—after 14 years in radio—and that she lost him on July 1st, 2022. 16. Castillo says the experience of seeing negative bank accounts and grinding back to positive 'didn't phase me, it just kept me motivated.' 17. The tone is warm and conversational, with Corliss and Castillo frequently finishing each other's thoughts; the interview format is loose, with personal storytelling alongside album promotion. 18. Energy is upbeat and celebratory given the album's release, though the conversation deepens into personal reflection on family, cultural identity, and career doubt. 19. Best suited for fans of independent Texas country music who are curious about the craft and business behind artist-driven albums. 20. Listeners seeking pure music criticism or interview subjects outside Texas country will find limited relevance.

As heard by us

A Texas-country release-day chat that makes songwriting feel personal and practical.

Matt Castillo spends most of the conversation on Pushing Borders, the new album, and the long road to getting it out. The talk moves from Texas-country roots and older influences to the practical side of writing, where he leans on structure, intention, and the daily discipline…

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Why you'd press play

Hear Matt Castillo unpack Pushing Borders just hours before it lands at midnight.

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