Ambassador: Matt Halpern

Matt Halpern

Professional Drummer & Co-Founder of GetGood Drums

Matt Halpern - Wilde Ambassador Q&A

I’m Matt Halpern! I’m a husband, father, drummer of the band Periphery, co-founder of a music software company called GetGood Drums, lover of dogs, fitness, ice baths, hot saunas, coffee, food, and travel. I grew up in Baltimore, MD and for breakfast today I had some oatmeal with my favorite blueberry cashew butter from Fokken Nuts.

Q: If you had to choose 3 life essentials, what would they be?

A: Aside from my wife and my son, I’d say sunlight, good food, and coffee.

Q: How/When did you get started playing the drums?

A: I started playing drums around age 4 or 5 and I haven’t ever stopped. Both of my parents saw that I had a proclivity toward the instrument, so they got me my first set of drums and drum lessons, and I was pretty much unstoppable from there.

Q: Who are some of your inspirations, both past and present?

A: My grandfather was a great entrepreneur and wise businessman, so he’s definitely a massive and direct inspiration. Beyond him, I have so many inspirations in life like my wife, my son, my bandmates, my friends, and too many other amazing drummers to name. There’s so much talent out there in every discipline - it’s impossible for me not to find inspiration in almost anything.

Q: What is it you love about playing the drums? What keeps you coming back to it everyday?

A: It’s been a major form of expression for me since I was a child. It’s how I communicate with myself and others. My mood always determines what and how I play, and that helps me to be honest with myself and to know myself. I’ve been doing it so long that it’s just like brushing my teeth or showering every day - it’s just a natural thing that has its daily place in my life.

Q: What keeps you hungry? What drives you to keep trying to up your game?

A: I’m always hungry and excited about the work I get to do and the opportunities I’ve been afforded. I have the best jobs in the world, both professionally as a drummer and as an entrepreneur, and personally as a husband and father. I draw my inspiration for moving forward from the people in my life and a drive to always continue growing and improving as a person.

Q: How have you been spending your time/adjusting to life as a dad?

A: It’s been awesome! It’s the best. I’m very hands-on alongside my wife and we’ve both been savoring every minute with our son since he arrived. It’s the coolest experience I’ve had in life by far, and I love being present for it. If I’m being honest it’s been a very easy and welcomed adjustment!

Q: What has been the most challenging moment in your career?

A: I’m not sure I could pinpoint just one moment! The nature of what I do comes with challenges every day. For me, it’s been fun to learn how to overcome the challenges and get better and better at facing things as they come. Life would be really boring with challenges both personally and professionally, so in some ways, not having any challenges would be the most challenging thing!

Q: What is your favorite/most fulfilling moment you had in your career?

A: As a drummer, one of the coolest moments was joining my band back in 2008/2009, and then witnessing the growth and success over the course of the last decade and more. We’ve come so far, have done so many cool things together, and it’s left all of us with a massive respect for one another, and a feeling of achievement that’s unrivaled. One of the things I’m most excited for is getting back out on tour with my band (post-pandemic) and just getting to play live music with my best friends again.

Q: What experience do you want to give fans when they listen to your music?

A: I want them to connect with the music, lose themselves in it, and truly experience being present. That’s why I love performing - it’s a real chance to connect and share in an experience with so many people who are passionate about the same things I am.

Q: What is your biggest dream that you have yet to accomplish?

A: I can’t wait until my son gets to come and see me play live. That’ll be a massive dream come true.

Q: How has your diet changed, if at all, as you’ve progressed through your career?

A: I’ve always tried to eat well and fuel my body with the best stuff possible, but I also love to eat whatever I want at the same time, so over the years I’ve learned more about balance and finding an eating lifestyle that is sustainable and allows me to be happy and healthy.

Q: How does Wilde fit into your daily diet?

Wilde Chips have been a game-changer. They’re THE PERFECT snack between meals, and I never have to feel like I’m eating something crappy when I crunch on them. Since I bought my first bag they’ve been a must have in my pantry and they’re a daily snack for both me and my wife!

Q: Does your diet vary much while touring vs being at home?

Not really! I try to stay consistent, as eating well in both scenarios really helps to make for a good lifestyle. That said, one of my favorite things about touring is getting to try new food, restaurants, coffee, etc… I just try to balance it all within each day so I’m eating right for the tasks of the day.

Q: Why Wilde Chips as opposed to other chip brands?

Chicken! I love chicken, and I love chicken chips! They’re not oily, they're not crappy potatoes, they’re packed with protein, and I can feel good after eating them. I’m never bloated or regretful, and that’s huge!

Q: How did you first hear about Wilde Chips? What did you think about them before and after you tried them?

A friend of mine told me about them and I knew instantly I needed to get my hands on a bag. Safe to say I wasn’t disappointed!

Q: At Wilde, our mantra is ‘Be Bold. Live Wilde-ly”. What does live Wilde-ly mean to you?

It completely reflects how I live my life! I do what I want, I take care of myself and others important to me, but I always try to have fun, take the good with the bad, and make sure I have plenty of “Wilde” experiences to share with the world!