ifitbeyourwill S05E27 Finale • Matt Gallaway

Matt Gallaway’s creative journey unfolds like a carefully crafted album—each chapter a different sound or mood, yet all tied together by a thread of honest self-expression. From basement jam sessions in Brooklyn to publishing acclaimed novels, Matt’s story is a powerful reminder of how art can shape, and be shaped by, personal transformation.

In our conversation, Matt shares how Saturnine came together almost by accident. He had moved to New York, supposedly for law school, but really to chase the city’s music scene. He lucked into a Brooklyn apartment with a basement perfect for band rehearsals, and soon after, Saturnine was born. They’d go on to record a handful of under-the-radar but beloved indie albums. Matt still lights up when talking about their first show at Brownies, booked by the legendary Karen Edlitz, and an unforgettable rooftop gig on a sweltering July 4th in Chinatown.

What really sets Matt’s story apart is how deeply intertwined his art is with his personal life. Listening back to Saturnine’s albums—especially Mid the Green Fields—he can now hear the hidden struggle he was going through. “I listen to that record and I’m just like, ‘this is about wanting to kill myself,’” he says, half-laughing, half-sighing. It’s raw, but honest—and a reflection of what it meant to grow up gay in a time when role models were few and far between.

Matt didn’t leave music behind; he just found a new way to tell his story. Writing novels like The Metropolis Case and #gods let him explore identity and emotion in a more direct way. “A song takes me a few weeks,” he says. “A novel takes years.” But both are cut from the same creative cloth.

Now, with his latest project Death Culture at Sea, Matt is circling back to songwriting—this time with a broader view and a deeper well to draw from. Last summer, he teamed up with former bandmate Mike D’Onofrio and Matt Kadane of Bedhead/The New Year for recording sessions in Vermont, and there’s more music to come.

Want to hear what this journey sounds like? Head to Matt's blog for a playlist of his latest work with Death Culture at Sea.

 

DL MP3

“Matthew Gallaway’s storytelling manages to be both dreamy and serious; lean and luxurious. His words carry an incantatory power of mythic storytelling where beauty and savagery wrap around each other like bright threads in a gorgeous tapestry.” —Natasha Vargas-Cooper, author of Mad Men Unbuttoned: A Romp Through 1960s America

Baba Pen & The Bim Bam Band • Hare In The Haze • 2025

https://song.link/i/1818579792

Baba Pen & The Bimbam Band return with their third single, Hare in the Haze – a swirling folky journey into the misty corners of old Europe.

Picture this: roadside taverns, wandering bards, and tales passed down by firelight. This one tells of a cunning hare and an aging hunter locked in a never-ending chase. Just as the hunter takes aim, a thick haze rolls in… and the hare vanishes once again. But not all stories end well for those who seek control. With rippling guitars and a timeless groove, Hare in the Haze pulls you into a world of myth and mischief – the kind that makes you want to grab a pint and stay a while.

Spoils System • Hall of Forgotten Names • 2025

The New York band Spoils System was formed in 2021 by Dan Coutant (vocals, guitar, keys), Sean Hansen (guitar, background vocals), David Fateman (bass) and Mark Frankel (drums). Notably, Dan and Sean have roots in the indie/emo outfit Joshua (Doghouse Records) in the early 2000’s. Tours included The Get Up Kids, At the Drive-In, The Stereo, Jets To Brazil, Shift and many more

The Noisy • "Twos” • 2025

Philly dream pop/synth rock band The Noisy announce signing to Audio Antihero (Frog / Avery Friedman / Magana / CIAO MALZ) with “Twos,” a vampy, queer, and silent-movie-esque new music video from director Sam Cush, which teases ‘The Secret Ingredient is Even More Meat,’ an upcoming deluxe edition of their debut album.

Featuring practical effects and vampire makeup by Philly drag talent, “Twos” channels gothic-glam in the spirit of vintage cinema, dripping with theatrical flair and midnight movie camp. Starring local icon Miss Thing, the video follows the success of “Violet Lozenge,”The Noisy’s most recent drag-forward release, which WXPN praised as “glamorous, retro, and proudly queer.”

Front-person Sara Mae Henke (they/them) comments on the upcoming music video for “Twos”:

“I wrote this song like a pop song but wanted the production to bend towards Mannequin Pussy with sludgy guitars and twinkly keys. The music video literalizes the too much-ness of the story, Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Grey Gardens meets two dates to the prom.”

The Noisy got its start in Knoxville, Tennessee, as a project of award-winning poet Sara Mae Henke. In spring 2023, after evolving from a solo project to a full band, they released “Morricone” with a Strega Nona meets Clint Eastwood music video, launching a crowdfunding campaign for their debut album, ‘The Secret Ingredient is More Meat.’ The band sold merch, raffled a cowboy hat, and ran a GoFundMe alongside a month-long tour, raising over $3,000 to bring this debut to life—an album for their queer community.

To celebrate the first anniversary of ‘The Secret Ingredient is More Meat,’ Audio Antihero will be issuing a deluxe edition entitled ‘The Secret Ingredient is Even More Meat,’ which will include new and reimagined songs.

“Dynamic sound, charming energy, and a confessional tell-all spirit that’s as charismatic as it is irresistible.” – ATWOOD MAGAZINE

“Glamorous, retro, and proudly queer.” – WXPN

“The Noisy’s sound isn’t exactly noisy in the abrasive sense, but it is boisterous, embracing the crunch of grungy pop rock and the twang of Sara Mae’s Knoxville roots to create a muscular and freely associated alt-country belter.” – POST-TRASH

“It sounds really formative. Being “sixteen and see-through” is such a vulnerable feeling, one that “Grenadine” captures really well.” – THE ALTERNATIVE

“Their work examines the surreal, the uncanny, body horror, and intimacy....Their album The Secret Ingredient is More Meat is an intoxicating experience.” – RAINBOW RODEO

Icarus Phoenix • Mark & Kyle • 2025

https://linktr.ee/icarusphoenix

“...someone not afraid of using a pen...” 

- Stereogum

“...makes for a humble and radiant feel.” 

- Daytrotter

“heartfelt and profound...incredible work ethic and superb level of consistent creativity”

- Andrew Frolish/Americana UK

“catchy yet meaningful” 

- Earmilk

iftibeyourwill S05E26 • Marble Sounds

Pieter Van Dessel takes us on an unexpected journey from law student to the creative force behind Marble Sounds, revealing how serendipity and persistence shaped his musical evolution. When his wife received a grant to work in Montreal in 2005, Pieter's planned sabbatical transformed into musical opportunity after landing a position at a recording studio. This fortuitous circumstance provided both equipment access and creative community, allowing the first Marble Sounds EP to take shape with help from Canadian musicians.

His evolution as a performer stands as perhaps the most compelling aspect of Pieter's story. With disarming candor, he admits never aspiring to sing or front a band, making his growth all the more remarkable. "I wasn't a born entertainer," he shares. "I really had to learn it." Through countless live shows and persistence, he gradually developed the confidence that studio work alone couldn't provide. The key lesson? Rehearsals only help so much—real growth comes from repeatedly facing audiences.

For Pieter, songwriting remains his natural strength, with musical composition flowing more easily than lyrics. He chases that elusive creative spark—"the best feeling in the world"—that signals something special is emerging. Recent albums showcase distinct artistic approaches: the self-titled 2022 release employed self-playing pianos in deliberately limited arrangements, while 2025's "Core Memory" embraces 80s influences and childhood musical touchpoints like Phil Collins. Looking ahead, fans can anticipate "More Memory" featuring outtakes from recent sessions, while Peter already contemplates his next full album for 2028. Subscribe to hear our conversations with other fascinating musicians whose unexpected paths led to creative breakthroughs.

 

https://www.marblesounds.com/