Gently wandering Rhodes, crisp drums and Katmaz’s distinctive falsetto form the central-core of his new single Agnostic. Thick and heavy bass grounds a song that otherwise looks to the heavens in search of meaning. Layered vocals combine to give the piece the feeling of an internal monologue — less of a conversation and more of a spiritual experience.
Perhaps deliberately, Agnostic initially sounds like it is a love song, the repeated refrain of “She’s always on my mind” could be a loved up tribute of yearning. In reality, the “she” referenced in the song’s central lyric is representative of a higher power, a perhaps inquisitive yearning in its own right, given the song’s title.
Hailing from Buffalo, NY, but now based in Los Angeles, Katmaz, real name Matthew Kaz, is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer. Having originally debuted with a cinematic indie folk on his EP Nautical Things, back in 2016, he has since expanded his palette to incorporate more electronic and pop elements.
During the summer of 2020, Kaz went on a spiritual journey in a van, travelling the US with a reduced version of his home studio alongside him. The trip saw him get up close to nature, coming face-to-face with a grizzly bear and experiencing the nearby sounds of wolves from within his van. The spiritual-yet-earthy experience infects Katmaz’s forthcoming album, Tell Me How Great You Are, which he recorded just outside of Joshua Tree National Park with childhood friend and producer Savings. Check out Agnostic below, and look out for Tell Me How Great You Are in September 2022.