Matt Llewellyn and Ismael Soto Talk Business With Loading Mag
Matt and Ismael Soto (AKA Ish) are two buzzing administrative stars who are making a strong impact in LA. The duo is emerging as two of the most reliable and well-respected business personalities in the underground LA scene.
- How’d you guys start working together?
- Matt: I met Ish through a couple of mutual friends who were connected with the R Baron/Atlantic Records scene and Shoreline’s camp. A few years ago, I was backstage at the Shrine in L.A and ran into Ish, we started talking about management and we stayed in touch. He spoke to Nel over text and a month later we all decided to meet up in Hollywood to discuss working together. At the meeting, I basically pitched Nel on us managing him. In true Nel fashion, he was extremely stoic and quiet. But after a few more conversations he agreed. Since then, we’ve been able to do some special things.
- Ish: Our mutual friend Jesse connected us via Instagram, Matt and I already had some familiarity with the each other with other people we knew such as TK KIMBRO of shoreline mafia, we started conversations about partnering up on an artist and it’s been like that since then. This was about 2 years ago.
- Is MBNel the only collaborative project you guys are working on?
- Ish: Yes, currently MBNEL is the only artist we are working on together.
- Ish, how’d you start working with Swerzie? And is there anything exciting coming up for him?
- Ish: I was connect to Swerzie through out mutual friend Babychino from Dallas Texas, he’s a member of the Chopstars, he mentioned to me about Swerzie, I was interested because I was very familiar with his sound and the records he has with bbno$. We connected via Text and since then we just been working. This was about middle of this year we started working together. We are currently working on a few projects right now, we are planing to drop a few reggae-ton records in quarter 1 of 2021.
- Matt, you mentioned you’re an entertainment attorney last time we spoke- what made you decide to pursue that?
- Matt: I come from a family of lawyers. Growing up, I felt there was some indirect pressure to follow in their footsteps and become an attorney. I didn’t start working in entertainment or music, my exposure as an attorney was in finance and family law. I transitioned over to the legal side of music because I wanted to find something I was passionate about. But the truth is I don’t enjoy practicing law, I’d rather be outside building relationships and making things happen. There’s no question that my legal background and education has helped me in my life and as a manager, but it took a few years for me to realize what I really wanted.
- How’d you begin working with Snowgurb, VINCE ASH, Villain Park, CVBZ and Jay305?
- Matt: All the artists I currently work with came about in very different ways. I was introduced to Vince Ash because a friend of mine was a fan and he sent me his music… I instantly knew he was a star. I almost dropped my phone to be honest. I told my boy to connect me with him ASAP, I then texted him and scheduled a time to speak. We spoke over the phone a couple of times and I told him I wanted to fly him to L.A. A lot of managers talk shit and make promises they can’t deliver on, but I like to follow through with anything I say. The following week, I sent Vince his flight itinerary and a schedule of sessions with producers he would be working with. I also set up several meetings with brands and industry executives. He was in L.A for 3 days…on the day he was scheduled to fly home, we both knew we were going to work together. 4 weeks later we signed with Interscope Records/Goliath and Paul Rosenberg.
- I met CVBZ, an incredibly talented artist from Oregon, through a mutual friend. At the time, he was looking for new management and wanted out of his current label deal. During that process, I helped him exit his production agreement; we developed an understanding and trust that led to a new management situation. He’s achieved a lot of success at a young age; he was the primary tour support for Kesha and The Chainsmokers last year, the kid is fucking incredible live. We are just focused on the future and him being in a new situation post COVID.
- I was introduced to Villain Park because of my business partner, Gavin McNeill. At the time, they were taking meetings with various labels. I wanted to work with VP in 2018, but things didn’t align. Being persistent, I spoke with the guys a few months later and offered helping them with their next album’s rollout and offered some money to help them with visibility and exposure (something I don’t recommend for managers, but VP is that good). After that, I began speaking with Maurice Frazier who was their current manager. A couple months later, we were at BET Weekend with the guys. Mo and I have built a strong friendship…we now co-manage Frosty and VP together. To this day I think VP is in a lane of their own and it might take a little time for people to find and appreciate them, but it will happen
- Maurice and I both met Frosty at the same time. We initially sat with him at Def Jam to discuss his future; we expressed interest in working with him and lined up a few opportunities…he trusted what we were doing and liked having a team, so we got to work. A few months later I negotiated his deal at EMPIRE.
- What are your favorite parts about collaborating with each other?
- Matt: Ish and I have a big/little brother relationship. One moment we will be arguing and the next moment we will be laughing. We keep things fun and light for the most part. I enjoy working with our team because we all believe in what we’re doing. We’re focused on getting Nel to where he needs to be. We know he’s incredibly underrated and undervalued – it’s our goal and job to get him the money and recognition he deserves. And we all believe Nel’s next project is going to be the catalyst to do it.
- Ish: We are always bouncing out ideas to improve business for our clients, whether it be how can we make more money on merchandise or which content we want to put out. We are constantly working towards something and executing those goals. Plus Matt is like my mentor/Big bro so having him as a partner in this makes everything more fun to be apart of.
- What should we expect from you guys going forward? Together and independently?
- Matt– Together our goal is to get Nel into the best situation possible…something that makes business sense for him and his future. We also want to align with a strategic partner who believes in his music and overall vision as an artist (not someone who is going to put him in a box as an Asian rapper). But we need the right resources and push behind us to reach our goals. We will assess whether it makes sense to be completely independent or sign a major label deal next year. Individually I’m just focused on the roster that I have and making sure each artist is progressing and improving. I’m excited for the future of Supervsn and I’m looking forward to a world with no COVID so we can return to shows and festivals.
- Ish: Expect to see us working with more artists together. Definitely working on more projects with MBNEL, independently I would like to be part of an A&R team somewhere in the majors.
- If you guys had a million dollars right now, what would you invest it in (besides your current artists)?
- Matt: I recommend others to invest in companies that utilize blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. Second, I always encourage others to invest in multi-family real estate (two things I currently do). I think the music industry will be completely altered by blockchain technology, along with every other sector of business.
- Ish: I would pay off any debt that I have like my students loans. Then I would put like 20k in my Roth IRA account, the rest for other small businesses I want to invest in like my brothers Web Agency & NASTY.
- What has been each of your favorite moments from your career?
- Matt: My favorite moment is really simple – it was when I saw how excited Nel was to sign his recent deal with EMPIRE. It was a reminder that music is just a tool, it’s an opportunity to change someone’s life for the better as well as their family. It was dope to know that I played a part in that.
- Ish: MBNEL’s signing his current deal with empire beginning of the year. It was a big accomplishment for MBNEL and for the team.
- What inspires you the most?
- Matt: What inspires me is being the best version of myself and proving others wrong – those who either disrespected me or underestimated me. That’s my primary motivator.
- Ish: Seeing the progress that I’ve made in the last 4 years is what definitely inspires me. I’ve been doing music since I was 18 so seeing everything come into fruition and more is amazing to see.
