minus32heartbeat is the musical project of Matt Friedlander, a New York–based artist whose emotionally layered sound blends elements of indie rock, ambient electronics, dream pop, and cinematic soundscapes. After a 15-year hiatus from music—before which he was the guitarist and songwriter for the NYC indie band The GoStation—Friedlander returned in 2023 under the new moniker, channeling a deeply personal and atmospheric musical vision.

The name minus32heartbeat reflects the emotional core of the project: themes of stillness, memory, disconnection, and renewal. What began as a solitary recording experiment in his Manhattan home studio quickly evolved into a fully realized artistic rebirth. His debut release, a reimagined version of The Cranberries’ “Dreams,” was both a tribute and a statement of intent—dreamlike, introspective, and resonant with new fatherhood and personal transformation.

In 2024, he released his debut album DHRICMV through his independent label Big Leather Jacket Music. The eight-track record draws inspiration from a wide palette ranging from the melodic anthems of Oasis and the emotional urgency of The National, to the ambient textures of M83 and the cinematic moods of Hans Zimmer. Across the album, Friedlander combines swirling guitars, analog synths, field recordings, and layered vocals to craft immersive songs that are both grand in scale and intimate in tone. The songs explore the tension between isolation and optimism, drawing from the emotional residue of pandemic-era New York.

Collaborations followed with Then Man Made A Machine (the atmospheric single Chrysanthemum), slagoona (a remix of her cover of Radiohead’s “Let Down”) and the four-song EP, QSFW2S (a collection of cover songs featuring Em Bell on vocals), with further exploration of sonic curiosities and genre-defying musical inclinations. His next full-length album, The Place Where We Get Bows, is described by Friedlander as “the score to a movie that hasn’t been made yet, and may never get made…but it’s the most beautiful music I’ve ever created.”

Ultimately, minus32heartbeat is more than a musical alias—it’s a space where vulnerability and atmosphere meet. It’s music for late nights, long walks with headphones, and moments when words fall short. With each release, Friedlander invites listeners deeper into a world shaped by feeling, memory, and sound.