Mt. Joy’s Matt Quinn on Consistent Growth Vs. Overnight Success (And Which Is Sweeter)

Here are the top 10 key takeaways from Matt Quinn's conversation on the "Daily Stoic" podcast about Mt. Joy's journey and the wisdom he's gained along the way.

1. Gradual success is more sustainable than overnight fame

Matt Quinn reflects on how Mt. Joy has experienced a gradual increase in popularity rather than a sudden explosion. This slower growth trajectory has allowed the band to develop their skills and prepare for larger audiences over time. They've been able to build a foundation that feels more stable and authentic.

This approach contrasts with artists who experience overnight fame, which Quinn suggests can be "disorienting and destabilizing and often very destructive." The band appreciates that they've had time to improve their craft and grow their audience organically. This progression has created a more sustainable career path where each step builds naturally on the previous one.

2. The importance of community in artistic growth

One benefit of Mt. Joy's gradual rise is the community they've built along the way. Fans who have followed them from small venues to larger arenas feel invested in the band's journey. Matt mentions how during meet-and-greets, the most common interaction is fans saying "I saw you when..." which creates a shared experience.

This sense of community helps foster loyalty and a deeper connection between the artist and audience. Quinn describes it as "we're just doing this weird thing together" and points out that fans feel like they're "winning too" as the band grows in popularity. This shared journey creates a more meaningful relationship than if fans had only discovered them after they'd already achieved major success.

3. Creative anxiety as both motivator and hindrance

Quinn discusses how anxiety and self-doubt have been constant companions throughout his creative career. He admits to consistently telling himself "just write one more good album" and approaching each project as if it might be his last. This mindset has been a motivating force but also creates unnecessary pressure.

The conversation reveals how many artists are fueled by a mix of insecurity, doubt, and scarcity thinking. While this can drive productivity, Matt questions whether it's sustainable long-term: "How long can you be fueled by insecurity, doubt, scarcity?" He acknowledges the pattern but hasn't yet found a way to fully break free from it, suggesting it might be an inherent part of his creative process.

4. Don't share creative ideas prematurely

Both conversationalists strongly agree that discussing creative ideas before executing them can be detrimental. They describe it as "putting it on a credit card" or getting "a payday loan" with "crippling interest" - you get the dopamine hit of sharing the idea without doing the actual work, or you might end up doubting your concept when saying it aloud.

They suggest that ideas need to be developed in private before being shared with the world. Matt mentions how he avoids sending voice memos of song ideas even to his manager. This privacy allows the creative process to unfold naturally without external judgment, preserving the energy needed to actually bring the concept to life.

5. The "what if it goes really well?" mindset

Quinn shares a valuable approach to managing performance anxiety. Instead of spiraling into negative thoughts about potential failure, he consciously redirects his thinking to consider the possibility of success. This simple reframing technique helps break the "feedback loop of anxiety."

The strategy acknowledges that since outcomes are unknown, positive scenarios are just as likely as negative ones. Matt explains that it's about "turning the tide" on anxious thoughts by intentionally entertaining the idea that "you're going to kill it." This approach doesn't eliminate nervousness but transforms it into more productive energy focused on potential success rather than feared failure.

6. Creating in context of consumption

The podcast discusses the importance of creating art with awareness of how it will be consumed. They reference Max Martin's "PCH test" where he drives along Pacific Coast Highway listening to songs he's produced to see if they work in that environment. This approach recognizes that art doesn't exist in isolation but in specific contexts.

The conversation highlights how different media are consumed in different environments - music in cars or clubs, books on airplanes or in bed. Understanding these contexts can help creators make more effective work. Matt notes how bands often work particularly well for road trips, which may explain why Mt. Joy has found success in that niche.

7. The challenge of preserving creative authenticity

The transcript reveals the tension artists feel between commercial success and creative authenticity. Matt acknowledges he could strategically create music more likely to become a "hit" but isn't willing to compromise his artistic vision completely. He worries fans would see through such an approach.

This balancing act represents one of the core challenges for artists: how to reach a wider audience without losing what makes their work special. Quinn suggests that their gradual success has allowed them to maintain authenticity while still growing their audience. He values making music that resonates deeply with listeners over chasing temporary trends.

8. The post-success identity update challenge

The conversation explores how difficult it can be for artists to update their self-perception as they achieve success. When success comes gradually rather than in one defining moment, artists may struggle to recognize their own accomplishments. Matt admits this is something he "struggles with the most."

He describes still approaching each album with the mentality that it might be his last chance, despite evidence of sustained success. This reluctance to fully embrace success might stem from a fear that acknowledging it could lead to complacency. However, Matt has begun to recognize patterns in his career that suggest he has earned a place in the industry, even if he hasn't fully internalized it yet.

9. The true value of audience experience

Quinn contrasts audiences who approach concerts with an analytical, comparative mindset versus those who come ready to enjoy the experience regardless. He observes that in places where concerts are rare, like Alaska, audiences bring incredible enthusiasm because they're not taking the experience for granted or comparing it to numerous other shows.

This perspective challenges both artists and audiences to focus more on the joy of the moment rather than critical assessment. Matt suggests that the best concerts happen when audiences arrive with the intention to have fun, rather than to evaluate the performance against others. This mindset shift creates better experiences for everyone involved.

10. The pitfalls of cultural judgment in music

The podcast examines how cultural judgments about what's "cool" can prevent people from enjoying perfectly good music. They discuss how bands like Nickelback have become punchlines despite selling out arenas worldwide. Both conversationalists suggest that as people mature, they should move away from defining themselves by what they hate.

Matt observes that much of music criticism works against what's actually popular, which creates a disconnect between critics and audiences. He points out that sports media takes the opposite approach by focusing coverage on the most successful teams. This insight highlights how arbitrary many cultural judgments are, and how they often say more about social positioning than actual quality. The conversation encourages embracing curiosity rather than judgment when encountering popular things that aren't to one's personal taste.