There’s a certain kind of magic that happens when you throw punk, reggae, and absurd humor into a blender, duct tape the lid, and hit “puree.”
That’s Hazmatt — a San Diego-based trio of longtime friends who channel chaos, heart, and honesty into a sound that’s raw, melodic, and always a little unhinged in the best way.
From Juvenile Hall to Jam Sessions
At its core, Hazmatt is a trio of longtime friends: guitarist and vocalist Matt Allen, bassist and vocalist Ryan Flores, and drummer Darryl “D-Rail” Brown—aka D-Yoncé, aka D-Va. Their origin story is as hazy as it is hilarious. “I met Ryan like 25 years ago straight outta the luxurious Chateau De Juvenile Hall,” Matt laughs. “Our buddy introduced us and told Ryan, ‘don’t steal my friend’ — but he did, and here we are.”And just like that, their musical bond was formed.
Fast forward to 2006, and Hazmatt was officially born—drunkenly, on an open mic night in Maui. “I was hammered, got up there and played a few songs. Someone asked if I had a band. I lied and said ‘yeah,’” says Matt. “I scrambled for a week trying to find players. It was bad—but I just kept going.”
When Matt returned to Encinitas, he tapped Ryan to help him relaunch the project. Then came D-Rail, who they met on the infamous Caravan to Cabo tour while he was playing drums for Ease Up. “We instantly clicked,” Ryan remembers. “When D sat down behind the kit, we started jamming 311 songs without saying a word. It just felt right.”
“I was promised punch and pie,” D-Rail deadpans. “There was no punch or pie.”
A Sound with No Rules — and No Apologies
With musical influences spanning from classical to gangster rap it’s no wonder the band defies easy categorization.
Ask Hazmatt what genre they are and you’ll get three different answers — and a few sideways glances. “We play everything at shows,” Matt explains. “Punk, reggae, hip hop—sometimes all in the same song. We’re basically a combination of Jesus and Fergie.”
Ryan offers a little more structure: “We’re rooted in reggae and punk, but we pull from a ton of styles — 311, Sublime, Marley, Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam. It’s all in there.”
As for D-Rail? Let’s just say his answer involved Insane Clown Posse, Greek pornos, and “prodigiously average” drumming. Let’s leave it at that.
What truly sets them apart is their ability to mix punchlines with passion. Their music may be laced with sarcasm and inside jokes, but under the surface is a tight band with real musicianship, melodic instincts, and lyrical moments that reflect lived experience. “Some of our songs are just us being goofy, yeah,” Matt says. “But there are others where I’m really trying to say something — about life, about the world, about how it feels to grow up and still not have it all figured out.”
Inspiration? Never Heard of Her.
When it comes to what sparks Hazmatt’s creative flame, the answer isn’t some lightning bolt from the heavens — though occasionally, it sort of is. More often, it’s a messy mix of discipline, emotion, and whatever chaos happens to be brewing that day.
“Inspiration is hard,” admits Matt. “It’s there sometimes, but a lot of the time it’s about sitting down and doing the work. Sometimes I’ll hear something from another artist that hits me, and I’ll want to try expressing myself in a similar way. Or maybe something’s going on in the world that pisses me off — like the political climate. That’s when I feel like I have to say something, and the words just come.”
For Ryan, the spark can come from anywhere — or everywhere. “Life, the struggle, the fun, and the chaos. Good times, bad times, and everything in between. Also, sometimes just picking up an instrument and messing around sparks something unexpected,” he says. “There’s no formula. The vibe leads.”
And then there’s D-Rail, who offers perhaps the most on-brand response: “Cocaine… can I say that? Oh well. You’ll edit it out if I can’t.”
(We didn’t.)
Soundtracking the Good Times (and the Weird Ones)
Ryan adds, “We’re leaning more into the production now. Matt’s been experimenting with new sounds — weird textures, off-kilter rhythms. It’s been cool seeing our songs evolve.” That evolution starts at the writing stage, where the process is a true collaboration between Matt and Ryan. “We’ll send each other voice memos — sometimes it’s just a riff or a groove, sometimes just lyrics,” Ryan explains. “Then we build around that.” Matt, who also serves in the Navy, finds unexpected clarity out at sea. “It’s weird, but being out there gives me space to really sit with songs,” he says. “No distractions, no chaos. Just headphones and a notebook.”
Again, in typical, yet hilarious fashion, D-Rail adds: “Yeah, I just show up. Writing and planning is for people who don’t know what they are doing. I don’t know what I’m doing exactly but I do know that Hazmatt likes it.”
As for production, Hazmatt is catching up on studio work — and this time, they’re doing it right. “We rushed some early recordings just to have something to book shows with,” Matt admits. “But now we’re collaborating with people we respect.” The guys are back in the studio, cooking up new material with longtime friends Tunnel Vision and Ease Up.
“Hayden from Tunnel Vision has been helping produce, and we even had the Scientist dub one of our tracks. He’s a legend,” says Matt. “To have Scientist touch one of our songs? That’s crazy,” he continues. “That meant a lot to us.”
What does the future look like for Hazmatt?
While they’re not chasing fame, Hazmatt is hungry to hit the road again. “I’d love to do festivals and tours,” says Matt. “We’re not under any illusion about ‘making it.’ We just love playing. But also, if I don’t plan it out, I’ll go to jail—Navy rules.” Ryan agrees: “We just want to keep getting better, get our songs into more ears, and stay true to what we are — a band that loves to play, loves each other, and doesn’t take itself too seriously.” D-Rail laughs, “I’ve been fired from some pretty cool bands, but I still can’t shake Hazmatt. So I guess the future looks pretty good.
**Side note from D-Rail: If anyone needs a drummer to do all their drugs and get wasted I guess this is a good place to advertise for that. Hit me up.
Come Join the Chaos
Hazmatt is playing April 24th at The Holding Company in Ocean Beach with Tomorrows Bad Seeds and The Last Call. “It’s always a party down there,” says Matt. “Come for the music, stay for the nonsense.”
Ryan sums it up best: “Hazmatt are your weird, silly friends. Come to a show—you’ll see.”
One Last Thing…
When asked if there is anything was missed that they’d like to share with readers, they guys ridiculously state:
Matt: Mellifluous is a sound that is pleasingly smooth and musical to hear.
D-Rail: The left lane is for passing traffic only. Not for cruising at 75mph.
Ryan: Hazmatt are your weird silly friends. Come to a show, you’ll see.
Follow Hazmatt on Instagram for music updates, memes, and questionable life choices.
New music dropping soon.
Catch them live April 24th at The Holding Company in OB. Tickets.
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