There are many reasons to admire Matt Noveskey. First, he is a member of one of 2007's most successful bands, Blue October. He writes bass lines that always perfectly fit the songs, with an intensity that reaches out of the speakers and grabs you by the throat. Matt also is one of the industry's most sought after producers of new talent, frequently making quick trips between Blue October shows to work with young bands.

I found an entirely new reason to admire Matt when he enthusiastically agreed to an email interview…and he quickly sent all of his replies from his Blackberry! Now that is dedication!

Where are you and Blue October right now?

We are currently in New York City , preparing for a two night stint at the Nokia theatre. We are about a week into our fall tour with Yellowcard and Shiny Toy Guns as support.

When did you start playing bass?

I started playing bass when I was 12 years old. I was really into Motown and my uncle, who was also a bassist, had a huge influence on me. I was attracted to it because it seemed that you could almost play guitar and drums at the same time in a sense... so it was the best of both worlds.

Can you remember your first band? What kind of music did you play?

Oh boy. We were a pretty horrible cover band! A three piece... I sang lead and played bass. It was a huge learning experience for me though because I dove right into playing some difficult tunes, especially for a beginner...like Rush, early Chili Peppers, etc.

Whoa, those are some pretty heavy cover tunes! Did you ever take lessons or go to school for music?

No. I grew up in a home where nearly everyone played an instrument so I just jumped into jamming with my brother who is an incredible drummer. He's a little older so some of his musician friends would give me pointers. Then one day he realized his little brother could keep up so he caved into the idea of us playing together regularly. His intense technicality and rhythm taught me a lot. I'm sure I owe him more than I give him credit for.

How did you come to join Blue October? How long had you been playing bass at that time?

I met the band through our first booking agent when I was 23 years old....back in late 1998. He was a fellow Michigan guy and knew the band was in need of someone so the next thing I knew I was on a plane to Texas . I was skeptical at first because it didn't seem realistic but as soon as I met the guys and saw them play I knew it was fate.

Was the band unsigned when you first joined them?

Yes they were. Our singer and drummer's (who are brothers) parents were actually financing the project and acting as management.

How did your first studio experience go with Blue October?

Amazing! We recorded in LA with an Australian cat named Nick Launay. That's when I first realized how much I truly love the recording process. Nick was a very nurturing type guy when it came to creativity so it taught me a lot about production. Over the years my interest in producing other people's records grew and after working with several people I got to a point where I'm now working with other acts in the studio just about every break I have from touring with my band. It can be hectic but I love it.

You guys pulled off something that I have never heard of before – you actually got dropped and then resigned by the same label! How did you pull that off?

When a band gets dropped its usually for one simple reason-they aren't selling albums. It's the hardest thing to go through as a band because you experience a lot of self doubt. Fortunately we kept at it and it made us grow up a lot. So when we got airplay on our own the labels came sniffing around and the one that seemed to have our best interests at heart was Universal. We kissed and made up and gave it another shot and the rest, as they say, is history.

That is incredible! So let's fast forward to the making of your hit CD "Foiled". How involved with the songwriting were you?

Actually Justin and I cowrote the first track together back in 1999.It went through several changes throughout the years before it finally became the “Foiled” version. Other than that most of the songs were primarily written by Justin with the exception of “18th Floor Balcony” which CB cowrote and “She's My Ride Home” which the entire group had a hand in. Usually Justin provides the outline and we all sort of put it together.

Did you guys have all of the material written before you went into the studio to record "Foiled"?

Mostly. We worked with several producers though in a sort of trial and error fashion so the end results of some tracks are so different from the demos that you probably wouldn't recognize them. That was the thing about recording this album....we didn't settle at all. We kept reworking and fine tuning until it felt just right.

Did you ever get frustrated by a change that the producer wanted to make?

More times than you can imagine. I've learned to give every suggestion a try though. Sometimes you can be proven wrong and sometimes it is just how you imagined but at least you weren't being stubborn and gave it a shot.

I image you have been able to take that experience and apply it to your role as a producer for other bands. When did you decide to become a producer?

Absolutely. I've been producing for about 4 years but it's just within the last couple that I've gotten serious about it. The more I did it the more I realized how fulfilling it is and how much I love the creative experience as well as finding raw talent that hasn't gotten exposure yet. It's such a good feeling when that moment comes when everyone is sitting in the control room listening to a really special take and looking at each other with that "look"....the one that says “Yep. That's the one”.

How do you go about finding bands to produce?

Several different ways. I see a lot of bands on tour, hear about them from friends and through the internet. It's amazing what MySpace has done for the industry.

The rest of the guys in Blue October must be very supportive of your other interests. Is it difficult to balance your bass player and producer lives?

They are. It is actually not difficult because I know right away that the band takes precedent over everything else. Being a producer is awesome but it definitely takes a backseat. Since I usually know my schedule way in advance its pretty easy for me to schedule studio time.

Let's get back to your bass playing. Even though you have played some progressive rock songs in the past, your playing on "Foiled" is incredibly mature and very compositional. How did you develop such a song-based style to your bass playing?

As you grow and mature as a player you truly realize that it really is all about the song....serving the song. I'm not into just playing the root notes and being dull, but I'm aware of my boundaries. The bass line always has room to be interesting but it shouldn't walk on the other parts-it should complement them. I think Jeremy (our drummer) and I play very well together in that sense. There is definitely a lot of trust between each other as a rhythm section.

Since you take such care in crafting your bass parts, do you ever change them when you play live?

I should say no but I guess I'll be honest. Ha! Sometimes I do just for the sake of making the song a live departure. It's good to mix it up sometimes.

How did you come to play Warwick amps and basses?

I've been a Warwick player for a long time. When I was 15 years old I visited a guitar shop called Elderly Instruments in Lansing Michigan and they had a nice selection. I picked one up and well....it was love at first sight basically. I couldn't believe such a beautiful guitar could sound and play so perfectly. I've been a devoted Warwick player ever since so when I became and endorsee it was truly a dream come true.

When did you start playing Warwick amps and cabs, and why?

Well I've been through about every rig combination you can imagine. The only thing I've been consistently happy with over the years was my basses so finally one day it clicked... Warwick makes amps-maybe I should give them a call. I love the huge sound... very clean and punchy. I can definitely foresee these amps catching on very quickly. I want to help spread the word to get them the notoriety they deserve.

What amp rig do you use live?

I use the Warwick Xtreme 10.1 with a pair of Warwick 411Pro cabs usually. For the fall tour however I'm using the Xtreme 5.1 with a single Warwick 6x10 cab. We are using pretty intricate stage production and this rig fit into the gameplan perfectly. It sounds unbelievably huge. Sometimes I find myself poppimg out one of my in ear monitors just to hear the cab. It puts a huge smile on my face.

What Warwick basses to you take on the road and into the studio?

I own a 4-string Thumb NT, two custom 5-string Thumbs, a 5-string Thumb bolt-on, and a 4-string Streamer Jazzman. My favorite is my custom 5-string Thumb which has the birdseye poplar top...similar to the Dirty Blonde – it's light, it sounds amazing and people stare at it.

How do your Warwicks perform in the studio?

When I record I prefer going direct...I mean if you have an instrument that sounds great naturally you don't need to add a thing.

Blue October's fan base is huge (we know because we get a ton of emails from them)! What does the future hold for you and the band? Tours ? Live DVDs?

This has been the greatest chapter yet for the band... and I truly feel there are many more to come. We are a band that stretches genres and is continuously evolving. There are many more albums in us and you can count on us touring for years to come... it's what we pride ourselves on. Whether its amphitheaters and buses or small clubs and a 15-seat passenger van...we'll keep going.

Interview by: Dale Titus