We recently had the chance to connect with Matt McCalpin and have shared our conversation below.
Matt, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
My kids and my family. I have been married to my wife Anna for 8 years and we have been together for 15 years. She is the coolest and most talented person I know. We have 3 kids, Addie who is 7, Wes who is 5, and Mya who just turned 1. I am truly grateful for them, and for the rest of our family. We are very close, and I try my best to prioritize valuable time with them as much as possible.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Father, husband, musician, and Director of Operations & Booking at The Alluvion. My lifelong commitment and devotion to music, playing in bands, producing albums, writing songs, teaching music, and my love for Traverse City has led me to being involved in The Alluvion. This has turned into way more than just a venue and project. It is a way of life. The energy that is coming out of this place is so powerful. The Alluvion is in its third year and I never could have imagined what riding this beautiful wave was going to be like, and the impact it would have for so many people. A small venue doing big things no doubt, but now we are heading into a new chapter: seeing who might want to support us beyond just buying tickets to shows, so we can take it to the next level. Exciting times, and if you are curious about all that we have going on, head to thealluvion.org and check it out.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
This is a really cool question. I believe that life is a series of many different relationships. I discovered my love for music and creativity as a young kid with my guitar, a giant cd collection, a discman, and headphones. I strive to develop and nurture this relationship everyday because it is how I best see myself. But beyond music, there are so many relationships I value like my family relationships, my relationship with the community around me, or my relationship with the earth.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I recently released a new solo album “No Feel No Deal” that sort of addresses this topic with all of ts songs, and what I was working through and writing about at that time. Hopefully the music and the lyrics can speak to this, but in short, getting out from under your pain and being honest about it is way more powerful than hiding it.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
In music, I think listeners should always seek out music that makes you feel good no matter the era or the current fads.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What will you regret not doing?
Sitting on the beach with my family and doing nothing as much as possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/MattMcCalpin?fbclid=PAAabYbFKNtXZc5_ujxaq85KKl8X9QYdA3yHTuIzcIRcyxUyvW9RDVX9SQXpk
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mccalpinmusic/
- Other: https://www.thealluvion.org/
Image Credits
All photos please credit: Tyler Franz
