Mt. Joy's guitarist Matt Quinn talks about the band's latest album 'Hope We Have Fun' in an interview
FRESH TAKE:
Embarking on a journey of self-discovery took a heap of guts for Matt Quinn, a former student at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. While his mind was set on a stable career, his heart longed for something more.
MATT QUINN: Letting go was a bit scary, considering my main goal for law school was to secure a decent living. But the allure of joining a struggling band was too strong to resist. There was this feeling that it was going to work, even though we had no guarantee of success.
He teamed up with four other musicians, forming the band Mt. Joy, who recently released their new album entitled "Hope We Have Fun."
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
QUINN: We've learned that having fun while making music is what we do best, and concerts are a place where people can unwind and enjoy themselves. There's no need to use the word 'joy' to describe a Mt. Joy concert because we naturally reach an upbeat zone because that's where we've always been.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "GROOVE IN GOTHAM")
MT JOY: (Singing) All that we do is groove in Gotham. You bite your lip and shake your bottom. You look so good in that heartland.
One of the fans inspired the creation of one of the album's songs, "Lucy."
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LUCY")
MT JOY: (Singing) I want to live like Lucy died, living my life wire to wire. Burn up like a star in the northern sky, dreaming only of the light. Dust to dust...
RASCOE: So, who's Lucy and what's her story?
QUINN: The evening we played Madison Square Garden, we were celebrating a major milestone for us at a bar. As we were making our way back to the bus just in time for our next show, one of our band members shared a heartbreaking story about a friend who had been diagnosed with multiple brain tumors. I was deeply moved by her story, which inspired me to write a song about facing adversity and maintaining hope. I used the pseudonym 'Lucy' to protect her privacy.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LUCY")
MT JOY: (Singing) Leaning on that red jukebox, and the music's on fire. Lucy's going to take this wire to wire. Now I'm dancing with an angel, and I'm crying. It's painful 'cause the dream that she's made for will live on forever. Oh, Lucy won't fight...
RASCOE: Has Lucy recovered from her diagnosis, or is that something you can discuss?
QUINN: We reached out to her, and although her condition remains uncertain, she's still fighting. We asked her if we could help raise money for the American Tumor Association to show our support. It's amazing what hearing from fans who share similar struggles has done for our purpose and solidified the reason we make music.
RASCOE: Your song "God Loves Weirdos" offers a glimpse into the more intimate moments of your life on the road. Can you talk about that, and why is the title so fitting?
QUINN: It seems everyone in the band identifies with being a weirdo, and we embrace our quirks. The song voices the journey of traveling, living, and experiencing life with the ones you care about. Even though I'm not religious, I believe in a God who loves everyone and doesn't discriminate.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "GOD LOVES WEIRDOS")
MT JOY: (Singing) Hold on now 'cause we still got time, honey. It's 4 a.m., and we're laughing in the gas station. You're calling my name. It's the sweetest thing. Holding up a T-shirt says God loves weirdos. And damn, I'm still in love with you.
RASCOE: Making music and being on the road has taught you a lot about yourself. Can you share what you've learned?
QUINN: I discovered the power of music as a means of healing and self-expression. As a troubled teen, I struggled to find my identity, but finding songwriting and playing guitar gave me a purpose. It helped me get out of my head and embrace who I am.
RASCOE: Last question for you - did you, um, have fun while making this album?
QUINN: Heck yeah, we sure did! We had a blast creating songs like "Pink Lady," which is an ode to our crazy bus driver and his wife leaving him on a motorcycle. We aim to enjoy our music, and hopefully that joy comes through in our tunes.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "PINK LADY")
MT JOY: (Singing) Pink lady. Pink lady, now. Pink lady on that red...
RASCOE: That's Matt Quinn, the lead singer and guitarist of Mt. Joy. Their fourth studio album, "Hope We Have Fun," is now available for purchase. Thanks for joining us!
QUINN: Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.
- In the band Mt. Joy's album "Hope We Have Fun," music serves as a form of entertainment, providing a space for both the performers and the audience to unwind and enjoy themselves.
- The upbeat and fun nature of a Mt. Joy concert is so inherent that there's no need to use the word 'joy' to describe it, as the band naturally operates in an upbeat zone, reflecting the essence of their music.
