Always Where I Need to Be – The Kooks

Shuffle Your Feet – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Attention – The Raconteurs
Supermassive Black Hole – Muse
Kids – MGMT
Lassoo – The Duke Spirit
Boogie Down – MGMT
Mercy – Duffy
Bohemian Like You – The Dandy Warhols
Four Winds – Bright Eyes
You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb – Spoon
LA Is Mars – Biirdie

Unfortunately, there is very little sun on my side of the mountain in Los Angeles, but the summer spirit is kicking in anyways. I was sitting in the backyard of my aunt and uncle’s Hancock Park abode greeting all of my cousins from college. The Duke Spirit, an incredible band that I have done some work with lately, started playing. The same happened as I was walking to meet Lydia in front of American Eagle Outfitters. It is always great to see them popping up in places.

Josiah’s project is coming along as well. Warner Bros. Records finally released the official announcement of their signing and I couldn’t be more excited. It is such a great home for him and I really hope that he appreciates all of the great people that are working with him – Perry, Lisa, Brant and Laura – to name a few. Plus, one of my photographs appeared in today’s USA TODAY paper. How exciting.

I got the opportunity to interview Andrew McMahon of Jack’s Mannequin last Friday for his “Making the Album” piece. His album received “Most Anticipated Album of 2008″ from Alternative Press Magazine and I agree completely. I’m very excited.

I also officially accepted my admission to Emerson College for next fall. I’ve decided that I’m going to leave Hollywood behind for a bit. The wind chill of Boston scares me, but I’d question my morals if I thought that was a valid reason to deny my acceptance.

Anyways, I have many awesome projects coming up, so check back as I’ll post links. Keep in touch and stay strong for summer.

Much love, Matt

they made us turn around
and said “look, you don’t belong”
because the stars aren’t ready
we have too much money
and we shined too bright

Last night, Josiah and I went through some of the footage that we shot on the road. I’m super stoked (and kind of intimidated) about editing the project. I’ve never worked on a project with such emotion and dimension. What a great way to start off my summer.

Current Projects for The Media Collective:

Josiah Leming – Documentary

Jacks Mannequin – Making the Album

Matt Wertz – EPK and Acoustic Video

A year ago, I started this journal and called it “eighteen,” to simply document my adventures as an eighteen year old with dreams of pursing photography and filmmaking. If you have kept up with my blog, you’d know I started off quickly with a full time job at Warner Bros. Records. Though this gave me the opportunity to work with outstanding artists, it also allowed me to build unbreakable relationships with my Warner Bros. family. They immediately brought me to the MVPAs (Music Video Production Awards) where Lydia and Devin Sarno (two creative geniuses …and my bosses!) accepted lifetime achievement awards. This was so exciting to be part of the “Sarno Collective.”



My adventure continued with many great artists: The Flaming Lips, The White Stripes, Sheryl Crow, Daniel Powter, Hot Hot Heat, Melee and Josh Groban. I was invited to go to Sundance to help out at Warner Bros’ Where Music Meets Film extravaganza, which was definitely a highlight of the year. Dinner and wine with Andrew McMahon and lunch with Josh Groban were memories that won’t be forgotten.



I continued to keep my dancing shoes on as I partied hard with my fellow eighteen-year-olds. Warner Bros. by day, Club Genre and Moscow by night. What adventures! I also started working with music industry icons at Shangri-La Music, a start-up label headed by Jeff Ayeroff. The Duke Spirit, their first signing, has already sold out two Los Angeles venues, toured with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and performed on Conan O’Brien.



Eighteen successfully concluded with an eight day road trip from Tennessee to Los Angeles with outstanding artist, and now friend, Josiah Leming. This opened me up to an entirely different world and allowed me to experience much more than I have ever seen. I’m looking forward to a great summer editing the documentary that we shot. I can’t wait. It looks incredible!



Eighteen took me further then I could have ever imagined. I recently got accepted to Emerson College in Boston to study Media and Culture. I’m not sure where this is going to take me, but I’m definitely not holding back. As cliche as it is, this is just the beginning. Simply called: Nineteen.

i didn’t know that going on my eight day journey would result in such an in-depth personal analysis and evaluation. with my “life adventure” which taught me to appreciate what i have (physically, mentally, emotionally), my close relationship with my work and my situation with school, i’m lost again.

all i can say right now is that i really enjoyed cinco de mayo. dance music, alcohol and new found friends treated me well.

I’m not the type of person to become a “fan” of an artist that I directly work with, but I have to say that this kid is particularly talented.

Lyrics of “To Run” by Josiah Leming:

I showed up at her door

no gifts or explanations for

the way that i’ve been acting

Father time just kept on passing

i tried to kiss her lips

she said lets put an end to this

a simple overreaction

it sent my head into a backspin

i dont know where to run

to run



she was a teenage girl

i made sure to promise her the world

spent money fast as lightning

anything just to keep her smiling

my voice was all she heard

sentences filled with empty words

i thought i was so clever

i never knew that our line would sever

i dont know where to run

ohhh ohhh

i dont know where to run

ohhh ohhh

i have nowhere to run



i wake up on the floor

my head replays that closing door

my heart wont stop rewinding

inside clocks all out of timing

she starts to disappear

there’ll be no turning back from here

when all is said and done

and i begin to run

there is strength in being emotional.

I live my life by lists now. Lists of things to do, lists of music, lists of payments and projects. In fact, I’m sitting down to compile one of the essays and reading that I must complete prior to school tomorrow. However, I’m terrible about actually following through with them and usually end up meaningless. They, nonetheless, make me feel like I have some sort of grasp on myself.

While on my eight day road trip with Josiah Leming, I realized a lot about my list-ful lifestyle. That is, that my never ending lists hold me back. Though they never allow me to forget anything, they also chain me to commitment. Commitment is good, but too much of it is overwhelming.

So after I complete my list of assignments to make up from the week that I missed of school, I’m letting loose. Enjoying life day by day. Letting whatever approaches me happen. List-less.