GABRIEL MATA: YOUNG, GROUNDED, & GETTING TO IT
Staying True
INTERVIEW BY: EMILY ARAUZA
OCTOBER 14th, 2025
When you talk to Gabriel Mata, you can feel his drive before he even mentions it. The Conroe, Texas native has turned curiosity into momentum, mixing creativity with discipline at every step. From concert photography to brand building to promoting some of Texas’s most talked-about events, Gabriel has created a lane that’s entirely his own.
What makes his story different isn’t just how young he started. He talks about his mentors with gratitude, his friends with loyalty, and his goals with a certainty that feels rare. He’s learned what many take years to realize: success isn’t just about moving fast, it’s about staying true.
In our conversation, Gabriel opens up about how it all began, the people who shaped him, and the vision that keeps him grounded in faith, purpose, and authenticity.
Gabriel Mata: “I am Gabriel Mata from Conroe Texas, I am a concert photographer, brand owner and party/club promoter.”
Emily Arauza: “That’s impressive, I’d like to ask how did you get started in each of these areas, and what drives your passion for them?”
GM: “I started doing concert photography around 2022 when the underground was starting to take off. I just randomly one day found a love for taking pictures and capturing events. It’s allowed me to meet a lot of cool people. I’ve gotten to shoot and hang around so many artists that I used to listen to back in 2020–2021. With the clothing brand, I owe all of that to Gav, that’s my OG, my mentor for real. He started the brand and needed help, and through that, I helped him creatively direct shoots and push the brand further. I got to give clothes to many famous artists and celebrities. It was very, very fun, shoutout to Gav! With event promotion, I came out to Texas State and knew nobody out there, literally had one friend, Tice; and fortunately, I ended up meeting DJ Aaroo, Dee, and Dee. They took me under their wings and allowed me to meet lots of people, and through that, I started promoting parties and events.”
EA: “To me, it’s so full circle how you found your passion for concert photography in 2022 and ended up shooting artists you were listening to just a couple of years before. And helping Gav grow the brand etc. That’s an incredible experience. I also think it’s inspiring how you started promoting events in Texas with almost no connections and were able to learn from DJ Aaroo, Dee, and Dee. Let me ask, how old were you when you first started all of this? And can you tell me more about Gav, DJ Aaroo, Dee, and Dee, and how they’ve influenced your work?”
GM: “I was about 16-17 when I started doing all of this very young and I feel like that helped me a lot. In a way people seeing me young and hustling getting to it, they took me seriously. Gav is a HOUSTON LEGEND, he runs Houston selects and he’s like 22-23; he’s very young and made a crazy life for himself, his friends and his family lives in a nice pent, drives nice cars, he’s truly an inspiration to me I look up to him for sure! Aaroo Dee & Dee! Aaroo is a LEGIT DJ and he always turns up at any event he’s at. Seeing how many people show love to him every time I’m around him has inspired me to keep working hard and thriving. Dee just left for Arizona University where he’s filming for the women’s basketball team. Seeing his camera work inspired me to pick the camera back up, he’s such a cool guy and genuine always! The other Dee is my dawg. He just always taught me and inspired me to be myself and he introduced me to a lot of people in San Marcos.”
EA: “Oh wow, I actually started taking journalism seriously when I was 16 too, so I feel that starting young really changes how people see you and how you see yourself. And hearing about Gav, Aaroo, Dee, and Dee, it’s clear you’ve been around some people who really push you and inspire you. So, what was it like working with Gav and helping build Houston Selects? And being around Aaroo and the Dees, how did that shape the way you create and hustle now?”
GM: “Really just seeing all of them get to it in their own ways. I feel like I do everything they specialize in and they are all young so I was able to pick from their brains and that helped me elevate myself.”
EA: “That makes a lot of sense; learning from all of them and seeing how they get to it in their own ways must have been huge for your growth. When did you first know you wanted to do this for yourself?”
GM: “Honestly I would say when I was about 13-15. I don’t remember exactly when I met Mightybay and Tisakorean, they made the song Mop, they’re legends for real. They have a lot of TikTok bangers. I got in touch with Mighty before he really blew up and he showed mad love. At the time I was like 13-15 so I was geeking, so happy, to like to know that they knew me and I saw them do stuff with Chance the Rapper, Lil Uzi, and Don Toliver. It made me just like to admire and support everything they did and I realized I wanted to do what they did, but I don’t make music so I found other avenues that could lead me to that success.”
EA: “What is it about what they do that makes you gravitate toward it and want to follow a similar path?”
GM: “Just seeing them always having fun, smiling, and making everyone around them happy as well. And seeing like other huge celebrities make TikTok’s to their songs and it become trends was just so cool to me. They really built a community and a fan base. I've never not once in my life seen anything negative about them ever.”
EA: “It sounds like it wasn’t just about the success for you, but also the energy and positivity they put out and the community they built around them. How did seeing that kind of vibe influence the way you approach your own work and connect with people in your projects?”
GM: “It influenced me by just trying to be as genuine as possible to everyone. I wouldn’t sit here and lie and act like I’ve never been envious or jealous, because that’s human nature. But eventually, you realize everyone gets to it at their own pace, and slowly I started appreciating everyone who is a creative. I just want to see everyone around me succeed. I get DMs all the time asking for help, and I am always quick to respond and give them ideas and stuff that helped me. I wanna shout out my boy TINO, JOSH, TICE, and many, many others who always supported me in everything I do. So I 100% believe the best type of business is where both people get something out of it. So, me going up to celebrities and giving them clothes, I had something to offer, and I just wasn’t a fan asking for a picture. And then recording the interaction was good for marketing.”
EA: “That’s a really grounded way to approach it; genuine, supportive, and always thinking about giving value. What’s your end goal with everything you’re building & where do you see yourself taking all of this?”
GM: “Honestly, my end goal is just repaying my parents for everything they did for me growing up. I played basketball, so they spent time out of their lives taking me to games, practices, long drives around the country, etc., etc. I see myself just becoming everything I’ve ever wanted to be: free, financially stable and I really do all of this because I know one day I’m going to have kids, and I want to give them an amazing life.”
EA: “That’s really meaningful, your drive is clearly rooted in family and long-term vision. What’s one piece of advice you’ve taken to heart that’s guided you along the way?”
GM: “Always stay yourself, as cliché as it is, ALWAYS stay yourself. Don’t care about what anyone ever has to say to you. You get one life, no restarts. When it’s over, it’s over. Do anything and everything you want to do, because one day it’ll all be gone, and you don’t want to die knowing you didn’t do all you wanted to do in this life. AND ALWAYS KEEP GOD FIRST!”
EA: “That’s powerful advice, staying true to yourself and keeping God first really comes through in everything you do. Do you have any advice for someone wanting to follow in your steps? And where do you see yourself in 10 years?”
GM: “My advice to everyone tryna do what I do is: go for it. Literally just go for it and start. Don’t rush things; always remember quality over quantity. I see myself in L.A. or NYC in the next 10 years, living free with a family and a wife — honestly just chilled out and leaving social media behind.”
