Young Poor And Angry: So Mary you went from Stillborn Records label manager to now starting your own label called iBot tell me a little bit about the label?
Mary Mattern: Well, the label is owned by Wakefield singer, Ryan Escolopio. We had been talking about opening a label for a while now. So, he finally did it and I jumped on board. Stillborn gave me the experience I needed to run a label and know the in’s and out’s of the music industry.
YPA: Someone your age that’s a pretty bold statement. What do you say to critics who think that with age comes experience in this industry?
MM: I’ve been touring since I was 16. I’ve seen bands get crushed by labels, and bands succeed with labels help. I will always keep on learning from the music industry, especially since it is ever changing. My old boss is the hardest working man I know in the industry, so I’m going to take that knowledge and learn from my new work environment as well.
YPA: Nice side skirt of the question
MM: I don’t think age means anything. I know thirty year olds who know nothing about the music industry and have been in it longer than I have. It’s the mistakes you make that make you learn, and believe me, I’ve made a book full of mistakes.
YPA: Has the industry embracing the heavy music scene been a detriment to the quality of the bands coming out? In other words how do you feel about labels grabbing bands based on myspace hits and the fact they’re “heavy” bands.
MM: Theres an upside to it and a down side. Myspace is such a great tool for labels to check out bands and get a feel for what they are. Although sometimes bands get shafted because they don’t have enough plays on their myspace. I think it’s great that heavy bands are getting picked up. Even if it is based off their myspace. If they’re hard working, more power to them.
YPA: Yeah but just because they’ve got a lot of “friends” on myspace doesn’t necessarily mean their album is going to be good. Take Ventana (TrustKill records) who were signed based on their myspace page. The band is terrible and is bleeding money. How do you circumvent that situation with your label? Or is it just kind of hit or miss when it comes to predicting sales?
MM: You have to be able to judge how kids are going to react to their music, and whether or not that band is going to work just as hard as you to sell it. Especially with indie labels. You could sign a band and the next day that genre isn’t big anymore. You have to be at the right place at the right time. Meaning, you have to know your audience and see if that band fits. In a lot of cases, you work as hard as you can, and if numbers don’t show, at least you tried your hardest.
YPA: As you well know the economy has taken a downturn and labels are slowly being phased out. Why decide to start one right now? And what makes you different than another label?
MM: The economy is horrible. Our label is well aware of that. Which is why we decided to become an all digital label. So, we save on the cost of pressing and put that money into where we think it is really needed. Tour support, promotions, recording, etc. ) So many indie labels are like families. And thats no different with us. Families support each other and we plan to work hard for and with our bands.
YPA: I’ve known you for awhile Mary and you’re about as chronic a work-a-holic as I am. Aside from those late nights I see you online, what do you do for fun?
MM: [Laughs] It’s true, neither of our jobs are 9-5. I’m a grandma at heart. I like to crochet, watch movies and stay in. If I have any spare time, I like to volunteer as much as I can. Oy vey. I sound like the most boring person on the planet! HA. But I enjoy it. My fun is with my job, and I am so blessed that I can say that.
YPA: Oy Vey huh? Hmmm since when did you become a Jew? Kidding kidding
MM: [Laughs] I do like Challah bread and honey.
YPA: There are a lot of people trying to break into this industry. What I’ve noticed is that a lot of them are very attractive females who make it. Yet women are still paid significantly lower wages regardless. How do you feel being an attractive woman in a position of power in this industry? Is it a negative or a positive the attention you receive? And how do you feel about the pay discrepancy due to your gender?
MM: The ultimate question. I don’t get treated any different than a guy in my position would. I encourage all women to do what they love to do and don’t take any shit for it. All attention I’ve got is completely positive, and it’s not because of my boobs or butt. I think women have to work a little harder to prove themselves sometimes. Right now I think in the industry, its pretty equal. I don’t feel I get paid any less or any more than I deserve. I haven’t seen a woman get paid more or less than a man, but thats also just my experience with it.
YPA: Truth be told when I walk in for an interview I get a different response from male artists than I do when I send in one of my female staffers in. You’re telling me that kind of attention doesn’t make it any easier when pitching a new band?
MM: Being a label manager and being attractive have no relevance to each other for me. I sit behind a desk all day. I would hope a band wouldn’t sign with us based on my appearance. I don’t go into a discussion with a band wearing high heels and a push up bra and hope they sign with us because my boobs are hanging out. I’m a very conservative person and on the inside I’m just one of the guys. It’s all about how you present yourself. If you demand respect, that is what you’ll get. I’m not naive, I know sex sells, but for my preference, I’d rather be respected than sexy.
YPA: Tell me about Mary growing up? What kind of kid were you in middle and high school?
MM: Oh goodness, I was so awkward. I played stand up bass because I was taller than any of the kids in my class. Most of high school experience was touring though, my teachers were bands and my classroom was the United States and Canada.
YPA:What were your favorite bands growing up?
MM: I was a die hard ska fan. No Doubt, Goldfinger, Reel Big Fish, The Skatalites. Maybe it was all those years standing next to the horn section in orchestra. [Laughs]
YPA: You were a band nerd huh? [laughs]
MM: I was a band nerd, wrestler, artist, poet.The best combo. Haha. I’m surprised I never got picked on. It’s probably the wrestling part that stopped that from happening.
YPA: Woah back up, a wrestler?
MM: Yeah, in middle school there was a girl the year before me who had wrestled and she was so good at it. I had long legs and long arms, so I tried out and got on the team. The next year there was around 8 other girls right there along with me.
YPA: What drew you into metal and hardcore?
MM: I kind of fell into it. I used to never understand hardcore. Everyone was so close knit and I never understood it. I was on a break from tour, and my friend Mike Justian, the old drummer of Unearth asked me to hop on tour to sell merch. He was then touring with Shai Hulud. It was a US tour with Madball, M.O.D., Bitter End and Hulud. I couldn’t have asked for a better first experience with hardcore.
I remember the first night, we were in Kansas I think, and I was sitting at the merch table and Madball went on and my eyes we’re GLUED to the stage. I had never heard anything like it in my life. It opened my eyes to that whole genre. I used to be that girl that said “It’s just a music scene.” I know differently now. I got to experience one of the greatest hardcore families, in Connecticut. It was so interesting and amazing to see everyone support each other.
YPA: Being around this for as long as we both have, what is your take on the resurgence of Crews in hardcore? Do you think it’s a good thing that brings unity or something that eventually breeds violence and goes out of control like the incidents in PA and Chicago with FSU?
MM: There’s always going to be bad seeds in every group. I don’t like anything that promotes violence. If you’re promoting unity and brotherhood then more power to you.
YPA: Where do you see this all going in ten years? Think the media and such will move on from heavy music or do you think that it’s captivating enough to earn a spot in say like a grammy nomination.
MM: I’m not in the hardcore/metal industry anymore, but I don’t see it going anywhere anytime soon. There’s so many great bands of that genre out there. Hatebreed was actually nominated for a Grammy, so the wait is over! One day I believe a Metal record will win album of the year.
YPA: Batman or Superman?
MM: Batman. The ultimate superhero like my men non-fictious.
YPA: Walls of Jericho or Wage of Sin?
MM: Walls of Jericho.
YPA: Leopard print or zebra print?
MM: Jamey [Jasta] is going to kill me for saying this, but Zebra Print.
YPA: Pizza or Hamburgers?
MM: Pizza with Ketchup, always!
YPA: You just made me sick. [Laughs]
MM: Don’t knock it till you try it!
YPA: What is that you most dislike?
MM: When I’m compared to Liz Lemon. [Laughs] (Editor’s Note: This is what I call Mary on a regular basis.) Just kidding! When people make assumptions, its our greatest downfall as human beings.
YPA: What is the quality you most like in a man?
MM: Confidence, and I don’t mean the fake kind. Someone who actually believes in himself and what he’s doing.
YPA: What is the quality you most like in a woman?
MM: A girl that is funny. If she’s can make a whole room crack up, she and I will become friends real fast.
YPA: What is your current state of mind?
MM: New York state of mind. Busy but happy. Also because I have that Jay Z song stuck in my head.
YPA: What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
MM: I would say to have no ambition. To not want to make your dreams come true. By saying I can’t or there is no way. I know it sounds cliche, but there is always a way. If I wasn’t ambitious I think that would be the lowest point in my life.
















