What happens when a kid from Langhorne Pennsylvania gets the urge to create music at the age of 8 after being introduced to Slipknot (by his dad) and Meek Mill (by his brother)? Meet Zero 9:36.
Born Matthew Cullen, I first heard Zero when he appeared with Theory Of A Deadman on their song “Strangers” in 2020. He then took to the road with Shinedown. Matt loves songwriting, melody, beats and live performance. A modern day artist for sure. He checks all boxes.
5 Years later he has amassed over 400 million streams. Zero has toured massive stages, had a number one at active rock radio with his song “Adrenaline” and has secured his spot as one of the formats most exciting and unique artists.
I recently spoke with Zero about his new album “They Were Always Here” which he describes as a “full length mixtape of rock and rap”. We had a conversation about songwriting, musical moments and more. Welcome to the mind of a new star of the format: Zero 9:36.
The Zero 9:36 Conversation
TC: I said to you before we officially got going “You’ve got balls”, so let’s unpack that a bit. Matthew Cullen is a Langhorne PA kid and I know what it’s like in Langhorne because I got my radio start there. I’m about 70 miles away now. How did Matt become Zero? I know you had a moment with your pop at a Slipknot show, right?
Zero 9:36: I thought I was going to be in Slipknot! My Dad was like “You know they are all numbered”, and I just took Sid’s number (Sid Wilson) unknowingly. I told him that as well. When I started uploading music at eight or nine, I just put it as “zero”. I was the most googleable person, but it became too tough with search engines, especially with Spotify and Apple profiles, so I added the 9:36 which was the time I was born. Now it’s shifted more into a band project, and feels like the Bon Jovi thing, where Bon Jovi is the band but it’s just him.
TC: You’re so authentic, original, and a very unique star. No one has ever been able to tell you what to do. u weren’t a guy who came from a place where you just wanted to be a radio star, you did your thing and hit your own reset button for yourself. Where do you get the feeling that you know your career best and you’re going to take control?
Zero 9:36: I think it’s anything with any career. Someone does something long enough and they know they have to pivot or keep on the track they are on. That’s how every job goes. People think it’s more precious with music, because it’s perceived more, so I can’t let people down, and can’t check what people are expecting but if you just do it as what’s best for you, that’s what it really is. You wouldn’t stay at a job you are unhappy doing or at a job you are underpaid for. You would pivot or change it.
TC: You’re a kid who started putting everything in your laptop. When did you know you were a producer too? When did your mind start piecing things together and how did you know that was a passion for you? Your musical brain has to work in a different way.
Zero 9:36: Me and my friends when we were kids bought an Xbox and a bad computer. I started to record music when I was eight and was watching all of these YouTube rappers and how they mix their music. We would release hundreds of songs a year, recording them at my house on my computer. I then met a producer when I was 16, who would make beats, and record it all. We would be able to put out hundreds of songs a year.
TC: Hundreds?
Zero 9:36: Yeah.
TC: The last record was really heavy too.
Zero 9:36: I never intended for the music to go this heavy, but we started playing shows and the songs that were the heaviest in the set, we were like “Oh that’s what people want to hear!.” So we started making songs that were better live. Obviously I’m in the studio so I get more connected to the feeling of playing the song live and that’s kind of what I want to create.
TC: And your vocals are tremendous. You are a hook and melody guy!
Zero 9:36: I listen to a lot of super melody driven music and I love pop music. I like hearing melodies and metal riffs so they are going in my songs. I’ll write most of my songs in 30 or 40 minutes. I’m happy with how my last album and how this album sounds.
TC: What do you have now, a half a billion streams? And you’re not someone who is not necessarily “Mr. Radio guy”, with so many radio hits like a Shinedown or Three Days Grace. You’ve done it on your own, a DIY guy.
Zero 9:36: It’s funny because “Adrenaline” went #1 on the active rock charts (in 2021) and I think people view that as “oh you should now be the biggest artist in the world, you had a #1 song one time”, but realistically the only way that works is if you do it 25 times!
Closing Comments
I think Matt has many #1’s ahead. The new album “They Were Always Here” has fresh rock energy, brilliant production and songs that cross musical boundaries. They’re mixed with modern day storytelling, and are exactly what rock needs now.
My full interview with Zero 9:36 launches tomorrow on my Carr Stereo Podcast on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
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