We previously had the honour of featuring Matt DeAngelis for the philosophical and anthemic opus, All Good Things, so when we heard that Matt was back with the poignantly titled Playing God, we were curious to say the least, and couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience.
Playing God opens with notions of timelessness, reminiscent of The Beatles, as Matt sings, “Stop playing God, you know you want to, we are not amused, help us spread the news…” accompanied by a rhythmic piano and guitar. The track expands with textured, rolling drums and metaphorical, thought-provoking, and intentional prose that feels highly zeitgeist and important.
There is a fantastical energy that transmutes, and we love the accompanying harmonies as the hook resonates like a call-to-inaction and mantra. It’s a message that we need now more than ever. The production is out of this world – one of Matt’s most enthralling with cosmic synths, an epic guitar solo and a cinematic allure that makes the track perfect for a film like the Oscar-winning, One Battle After Another.
We learn that Playing God is not only aimed at world leaders, but also challenges the everyday human desire to control outcomes, which gives the message a much broader resonance. The arrangement of the track perfectly mirrors this escalation. It kicks off with a relatively classic rock foundation and gradually becomes more expansive and dimensional.
Matt says, “Playing God is a song written about mankind’s eternal struggle to be in control of not just their own lives, but the lives of others. Throughout time, man has always battled with his own ego, thinking he can control his own destiny, which in essence, is taking the role of, or playing God. This is especially true for world leaders who conduct their lives without including God, where they believe it is they that rule the world. My intent in this song is to hopefully enlighten and remind us that we are relatively insignificant in the grand scheme of the universe.”
Speaking on his intentional artistry, Matt tells us, “I have been honing my craft as a songwriter since age 8 with the ultimate goal of spreading a positive outlook in a world that can be riddled with strife and negativity. Having been diagnosed with an OCD/anxiety disorder from my youth, I have internalized the time sensitive world around me and have learned through my strong faith to take a negative and turn it into a positive, which has been a guiding force in my development as a songwriter. My advocacy for climate change and mental health have been a passion since my youth and I have loved weather for as long as I can remember. Over recent years, I have also become a storm chaser and have had national coverage in spreading awareness of the changing climate that has become a serious issue in the preservation of our planet.”
The musicianship is equally impressive. Billy Kennedy, who has worked with Matt for ten years, brings his guitar skillset to the forefront, whilst Eric Bishop on bass and Cole Herudek on drums provide the muscular foundation. There is also something fitting about the recording history. Part of the track was created at The Gradwell House Studios, where The Wonder Years began, before DeAngelis continued developing his music at Musically Speaking Studios, the place where his serious recording career started in 2016.
Needless to say, we continue to be in awe of what Matt DeAngelis releases, and it is clear that he is one of the most intentional and philosophical artists of our time. We have added Playing God to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of the visionary artist.