Meet Matt Kollock

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Matt Kollock a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Matt, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Here’s the big secret about imposter syndrome: Everybody has it, and no one ever overcomes it. The best we can do is project the appearance of having overcome imposter syndrome!

But seriously, the truth is that imposter syndrome has been a big deterrent to me and the achievement of my dreams. However, I’ve come to understand that’s just part of the deal when you’re an artist. There’s really no escaping it.

Over the last few years, I’ve made progress in this area by simply accepting that I will probably suffer from imposter syndrome for the rest of my life and career. I’ve learned through talking with other creative people that it’s incredibly common, if not universal, to feel like an imposter most of the time. So I determined that if everybody feels this way, even the most successful people on my radar must feel this way, too. They have just found ways to operate in spite of it.

So for me, I don’t treat imposter syndrome as an enemy; I see it as a sign that I’m on the right track. The more I feel it, the more I try to push against it, even it feels counterintuitive. And that’s scary! But it’s a threshold, not a barrier. And every time I cross that threshold, no matter how scary it seems, I get rewarded.

And you know what? I keep doing what I do, year after year, and not a single person has called me out for being an imposter. The only one to subject me to such criticism and scrutiny is myself. So I work on that overly critical, overly self-deprecating part of me instead of focusing on the possibility of being an imposter. That seems to really help.

 

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am living the dream. For real. Even though I thought my creative dreams had died years ago, an awakening experience in my late 30s altered the course of my life and career, sparking a renaissance of artistic progress for me.

I make music as a solo artist, and that’s what I’m most passionate about. Over the last few years, I’ve written hundreds of songs and released two albums and an EP independently.

Being the driving force behind every aspect of my solo music projects is something I really enjoy, but I’m also keen to lend my skills and values as a collaborator. Recently, I’ve begun producing music for other artists, which allows me to shine a light on those whose work I admire, while continuing to explore the landscape of my own creative world.

In 2024, I released the 20-track epic hard-rock concept album ‘Family Plot,’ which allowed me to level up my career significantly. 2025 is set to be a huge year for me, with lots of new music being released and numerous collaborations on the calendar.

 

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Openness. As a creative person, it is absolutely necessary to navigate the world with flexibility and openness. Once I stopped being so rigid about “the way things are supposed to be,” I began to create more freely and experience much more success.

2. Resilience. I’ve been hurt. Badly. I’ve been to the bottom. I’ve had it all fall apart. But here I am. I think humans are incredibly resilient. But it feels like we’re not. Somehow, I’ve learned to just keep going. There are no dead ends, no stop signs. There is value in putting one foot in front of the other, day after day, no matter what.

3. Whimsy. Sometimes stuff is just funny. Sometimes stuff just doesn’t make sense. And there is silliness in the world. Seriousness has its place, but it’s not the only game in town.

 

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
Lack of resources.

I’m operating on a very small budget, making my art with mostly inexpensive gear, much of it in need of repair or replacement.

I feel like this is the case for a lot of creative people. And it’s easy to get bogged down when it seems like so many things are just out of reach.

So I’ve learned to be resourceful. And to appreciate the fact that I have everything I need, even though it’s far from what I want.

Would it make life and work easier if I were able to upgrade, for example, my studio monitor speakers? Yes! But that doesn’t mean I should stop what I’m doing because my current setup is less than ideal.

I’ve figured out how to do a lot with a little. I’ve recognized that even though money is not an abundant resource right now, time is, so I’ve used my time wisely, accumulating new skills and enhancing existing ones. Always moving forward, never blaming my frustrations on my lack of resources. Well, sometimes, but I’m always doing better at this.

 

 

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Photos by Nate Lemuel, Darklisted Photography Album art by Matt Kollock

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