Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Matt Roach. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Matt, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
I have been a touring musician for over 30 years. I made a decision early on to only perform original songs. When I was starting out no one knew a thing about me. There are still many times, when I perform, where the audience has never heard of me. Most musicians play cover songs. It is a lot easier to book shows and audiences respond to familiarity of the songs. In deciding to perform only original songs, it forced the audience to pay attention. There are times when the audience could care less and that is really hard. It would be so easy to slip into playing a cover song that everyone knows. But, then I’m just a human jukebox. The songs I’ve written are a reflection of my life and all the ups and downs. I put those experiences into songs that I hope connect with people.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have been lucky enough to be a touring musician for 30 years. That sentence sounds more glamourous than the reality of the job. It involves a lot of driving, rejection, more driving, more rejection, etc. It’s hard to explain why creative people do what they do. In my case, I had no other choice. I needed a way to express all these experiences in my life. Songwriting has been a way to get out of my own head, exercise demons about love and loss and bring me comfort. I have released 10 albums so far. They were all self produced. I basically lock myself in my home studio and come out when the album is done. Many of my albums coincide with milestones in my life. My 2007 album “Borrowed Time” was written after my Mom died suddenly. My Dad passed away in 1985. He was just 51, a year younger than I am now. In a way to mark the 30th anniversary of his passing, I released the album “The Ghosts of Aldine St.” in 2015. My most recent album was released in 2022. I called the album “Born on a Saturday Night” because I was born on a Saturday night in 1972. I was born in a blizzard with a hernia. So, life started out interesting right away! I try to find humor in as many things as possible. For all the songs I have about losing a loved one, I have just as many fun and comedic songs. On my website www.mattroachmusic.com I describe my style as “An Alternative to Rock and Pop with some Country-Comedy thrown in for the Folk of it”.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The most important skill I have is being able to put my emotions into words. Songwriting provides the outlet to release the sadness, anger or confusion you are going through. It’s also a great way to articulate happiness and encouragement when you need it.
The second most important skill I have is the ability to perform. I’ve always been a performer, long before I had a stage to perform on. Making my family laugh and just being goofy is in my blood. So, it was a natural transition to doing that as a career. I started in sketch comedy. Writing and performing in sketches was a great way to have fun and make people laugh outside of my own house. That continued when I started performing music. I never get “stage fright” or feel uncomfortable on stage. It is actually much easier for me to be on stage than to socialize with people off stage. I don’t know how to turn off that performer in me and just relax.
The third greatest skill I have is perseverance. Being any kind of performer is not easy. It’s not glamorous and involves a lot of hard work and rejection. It’s easy to get discouraged and it’s easy to want to quit. So, the fact that I keep trying is impressive or maybe I’m just masochistic and don’t know when to quit!
The advice I would give anyone who wants to be a performer is pretty simple. If you have something inside that you want to express, whether that’s happiness or sadness, let it out. Find an outlet that helps you be creative. Whether that is songwriting, painting, dancing, etc. It doesn’t matter if you are doing it for an audience. I would suggest not thinking about pleasing anyone else with what you contribute. Worry about pleasing yourself. If you want to write a song, don’t worry about how it sounds or what genre it fits into. If you are happy with it, then it’s good. If you are lucky enough the stuff you create may touch other people. But, you have to start with how your art makes you feel.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
The challenges are never ending when it comes to being a performer. Trying to find venues that will book someone who only plays original songs is tough. I’m still surprised, even after all these years, that I still find places to perform. Then, the on going struggle of finding an audience. Trying to be true to yourself while still pleasing other people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mattroachmusic.com
- Instagram: roachmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matt.roach.90/
- Twitter: @roachmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jppi87/videos
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