Rising Stars: Meet Matthew Carlson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Carlson.

Hi Matthew, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
I am a middle-aged musician, songwriter, and graphic designer that’s spent most a lifetime pondering deep and meaningful questions about music, film, literature, and art. 

It seems as though we’re living in age where musicians have to give their music away, content is around every corner, and we don’t seem to really value much of any of it the way we used to. 

What is it really like to make a living pursuing a life in the arts these days? Why are we seeing a lower percentage of artists in the workforce than at any time in 100 years? 

Now, I’ve reached a point of massive change in my life, and I am preparing to spend more of my time and, hopefully, generate a portion of my income from my creative endeavors. That’s a terrifying prospect, but it’s also incredibly exciting. 

I’ll be discussing these ideas and a whole lot more of my own curiosity and creative endeavors on this platform using the written word, videos, podcasts, music, and probably some other assets I learn along the way. I’ll be seeking out smart and fascinating creatives as they build their own lives while navigating an ever-growing series of new challenges and opportunities. 

All of these journeys, sidetracks, and detours are an effort to share my exploration of culture in the modern world and to help shine a brighter light on the work I have been doing for years as a musician, designer, and podcaster. 

This discussion is at the very center of our civilization, what it means to be human, and how we find a meaningful way to connect through that shared humanity in the form of artistic expression in an age of shifting cultural sands. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I am currently in the midst of a major career transition. After 23 years in the high school graduation business, I have walked away to pursue my own path. The process has been a long time coming, and much of it simply has to do with the state of my mental health in recent years. It’s a demanding job with a lot of deadlines and moving parts, as my mental health issues increased my aptitude and my enthusiasm for my job began to be affected in significant ways. 

The downhill road began in earnest when I lost my dad very suddenly in the summer of 2020. Additionally, the effects of COVID-19, other family struggles, and the economic toll on my business enhanced my anxiety and depression, and for a period of two years or more, they controlled my life nearly every day. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
A year ago, I began writing about why artists make what they make. To begin, I focused on my own experience as a musician, designer, podcaster, and creative. I talked openly about my mental health struggles and a sometimes unhealthy relationship with the concepts of work and worth. 

As I began to dive in, I found a voice within myself that was more confident and clear than it had been any time before. I began to look at the work of writers, musicians, podcasters, filmmakers, and more. My gaze also turned inward to my community as I looked for folks in the Lansing area who were creating and making important cultural things. 

The process of asking these questions and diving into the why behind the work has led to any number of connections, conversations, and ideas for the future. In finding the willingness to continue to tell my own story openly and honestly, I give permission to others to share their stories through the lens of culture. 

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Daily writing has become a very important practice in my life. In posting and writing daily, it becomes as much a part of my life as breathing or walking. It is something that I must engage in each day for my own fulfillment. That regular discipline has led to an impressive collection of work in just the first year. It has also given me a purpose and fortitude that I did not possess before I began this journey. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://whatamimaking.substack.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatamimakingblog/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matt.carlson.16

Image Credits
Ian Walker