Q & A - Matt Dusk

Matt Dusk, who provides the sexy, swinging soundtrack for Call Me Fitz, chats about Jason’s skivvies, the Indy 500, and his role on Fitz.

Q: What attracted you to Call Me Fitz?
A: At first I wasn’t 100% sold, but as soon as I saw the pilot, I knew I was in. I connected with the characters, especially Fitz; because the music - my music – just fit him so perfectly. I immediately envisioned where I could add my own special touch.

Q: So then how did you make these songs your own?
A: I wanted the arrangement to be unique and original to Fitz. I didn’t want the songs to simply be karaoke tracks. But at the same time…you have to stay true to the original song. It has to have the same vibe, so people recognize it. It’s a fine line to walk, or in this case, sing.

Q: Favorite Call Me Fitz song?
A: Any Time At All. This song is about someone willing to do anything to get the girl - a unique kind of desperation. It ended up being used in a scene in which Fitz stumbles around drunk, which is just totally perfect for the whole rat pack theme of the show.

Q: What’s it like hearing your songs on Call Me Fitz?
A: As an artist, when you record and arrange a song, it takes days to produce a three and half minute track. Then you see a tiny snippet of it on TV. You’re lucky if you get 45 seconds of playtime. It’s like being at the Indy 500. Just as you scream, “there it is,” it’s gone, and you have to wait for the car to lap around again to hear more.

Q: What was it like performing in front of the entire cast and crew at the Series Premiere?
A: I recorded the soundtrack separately from the actual filming of the show, so to be a part of the celebration was great fun. It finally hit me at the premiere, surrounded by all the cast and crew, that I was part of a team - a team building something pretty spectacular. To open the first episode, I sang “That’s Life”, and of course, it was used during the scenes when Jason [Priestley] runs around in his undies. So the whole time I’m singing live, all I can think of is Jason in his skivvies, which cracked me up in the middle of the performance. Jason’s response? That’s Life.

Q: Tell us about the world of Matt Dusk…
A: Back in 2009, I released “Good News” in North America, which I recorded in 2008. Now it’s being released [Winter 2011] in Europe. So I am going through all the stages of promoting the album again. But my head is totally wrapped up in the next album. It’s a weird predicament – looking backwards and forwards at the same time. I also have a TV special for PBS coming out in late fall/early winter [February/March in Canada]. I spent a whole week in Vegas with a big band, live audience, and PBS film crew. It was an amazing time – a week-long party. The American market is the hardest of all to crack, so to get a big PBS special in the U.S., the home of Jazz, is very special for me.

Q: Did Vegas remind you of Fitz at all?
A: Fitz has that certain Vegas swagger and attitude. Fitz has that same star quality – that charisma - but he never actually became a star, so his diva attitude is a little unwarranted…well, unless you count being the star of the used car salesman club.