Name: Matthew Alan King, Jr. (’12)
From: Nashville, TN
Major: Health and Exercise Science with a minor in history
Relationship Status: Single (well I actually may be in a relationship with my guitar, Adelaide)
Activities on campus: RUF, Intramural sports (soccer, dodgeball, basketball and volleyball), Traditions Council, President’s Aide, and Carolina Blend (drummer).
Her Campus (HC): What is Carolina Blend?
Matt King (MK): It’s a band a few friends and I created my sophomore year.
HC: How did you get started?
MK: We recorded a few songs on my friend Mark’s iPhone in our dorm room and put them on MySpace. Then we started playing music with Austin Jones and Thomas Pendergrast and started playing shows around Winston. We made a CD around Christmas in Nashville. (Check out their pages http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Carolina-Blend/334747426420 and http://www.myspace.com/carolinablend.
HC: Why did you name your band Carolina Blend?
MK: It’s our favorite pipe tobacco, and also there’s a bunch of guys not from North Carolina creating a band in North Carolina. And it’s also Dean Hamilton’s favorite type of tobacco.
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HC: What is your weirdest Facebook interaction?
MK: I lost a bet one time. My friend Pud and I were betting on who could have the most friends on Facebook without inviting anyone to be our friends. The winner got to sign on to the other’s Facebook and message anything to anyone he wanted to. I lost, so Pud messaged Dean Shore under my account saying, “Hey, it’s been a while. We should get lunch and catch up sometime.” Thank goodness Dean never even responded. At that time I had only been to Dean once for a haircut, and I’m pretty sure he didn’t remember who I was.
HC: What are your plans for next year?
MK: I’m going to be a fly fishing guide in Wyoming for the summer, and then I’m going to move to Colorado and be a ski school instructor for the winter.
HC: Have you had any previous experience with fly fishing and as a ski instructor?
MK: I worked at the ranch that I’m going back to this past summer.
HC: What did you do there?
MK: I was a kid’s counselor and a fly fishing guide, but when I go back I’m going to be purely a fly fishing guide.
HC: What is the nastiest/dirtiest/grimiest thing you’ve ever done or seen while working on the ranch?
MK: I had to brand a calf. I also did have to clean up the rec room, where the staff have parties. That was pretty nasty.
HC: So, basically, the staff are nastier than the animals?
MK: Haha yeah, or at least their party room was.
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HC: What did you do for fall break?
MK: I visited my friend Mark’s home in Pittsburg. He’s been trying to get me to come since freshman year.
HC: Mountains or beach?
MK: Mountains.
HC: Why?
MK: Because you get to hike and see incredible views that change. The beach is one view that stays the same. I like the water and animals running around in the woods.
HC: What is your personal style?
MK: Mostly alternative.
HC: What is your favorite article of clothing?
MK: A pair of chocolate-colored cords. I’m wearing them right now actually.
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HC: What is your favorite dance style?
MK: Grinding … haha I’ve actually never tried that one before, so I’ll have to go with swing dancing.
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HC: Do you think opposites attract? And if so, what’s your opposite?
MK: Yes, Tri Delta. No, just kidding. Actually, that kind of would be right—extremely preppy, the girls who wear Lily Pulitzer all the time. I can’t say I’m super attracted to that, but if I believe that opposites attract then I guess I could be.
HC: I see that you play a lot of IM sports. Did/do you play any sports for Wake?
MK: I ran for the cross country team freshman year.
HC: Are you pro or con short-shorts?
MK: Pro because I got used to it, and now I can’t go back.
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HC: What is your favorite type of beer?
MK: A brown ale called Moose Drool, and it’s from Montana. But I also love Newcastle and Red Oak.
HC: Have you toured the Red Oak on Interstate 40?
MK: No, but I plan to.
HC: So is that on your senior bucket list?
MK: Yeah, absolutely.
HC: What else is on your senior bucket list?
MK: I’ve already done everything I put on the list for Traditions Council. Let’s see – streak the Quad, but I’ve already done that; hit up every fraternity and pretend I’m a brother in one night; while wearing a pair of chucks and a backwards sorority hat, run away from the cops; roll President Hatch’s house (HC: You should wear your President’s Aide tag when you do it); walk on a tightrope from top of Wait to Reynolda; play a concert on top of Tribble, and have everybody listen to it on the ground; find out who’s in 23’s and reveal them; grow a beard because I can’t; and get a dog and name him Jiminy Cricket.
HC: What is your favorite event at Wake?
MK: I’m pretty excited about the Murder Mystery dinner. (Come out on Friday October 28!)
*Photography by Bryce Vielguth