Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Mattei.
Hi Josh, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started my broadcasting career in 2012 at 97.7 WCTY in Norwich, CT. I joined their staff as a part time on-air personality and it was at that moment I fell in love with country music and its amazing community of artists and listeners. In 2015, I was promoted to a full-time position and worked on-air for five more years, until my time there ended in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. I continued to nurture my love of country music and broadcasting, by creating Country on Deck: a weekly podcast in which I speak with a new emerging country music star and discover their incredible, personal experiences in the music industry, all under one hour. After a few years of building a community, I organized an accompanying event of the same name, Country on Deck. The event is a monthly, free-to-attend, Nashville-style writers’ round, featuring all original music, played live in an acoustic setting.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Country on Deck began as just a podcast, but has grown into a larger brand. In the early podcast-only days, I tackled a lot of the same challenges that most podcasts face: high competition, low organic discoverability, and the need for consistent, high-quality production, all while balancing work and personal goals. However, I’ve built Country on Deck to be more than just a podcast. The free-to-attend, monthly Nashville-style writers’ round features the live performances of original music by many of the artists who tell their stories on the show. This has set Country on Deck apart from other podcasts by allowing listeners to experience the brand beyond the digital space. By partnering with local artists, venues, and sponsors, Country on Deck has been able to keep the event free, which is a point of pride for me. The monthly writers’ rounds are in their second year, and have attracted local talent (Nick Bosse, Sofia Lee Davis, Jason Ingriselli, Isabella Spiers), as well as Nashville recording artists (Mika Lynch, Drew Ryder Smith).
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an audio production specialist, who gained his expertise through a combination of formal education and radio broadcast experience. Having developed my skills for over a decade, I know what it takes to conduct an interesting and engaging interview. I thoroughly research every one of the artists I invite to Country on Deck in order to generate genuine, interesting, natural conversation. I am most proud of my ability to make the most timid guest feel welcomed and comfortable. This allows artists to open up and expand on unique stories they may not have originally thought about sharing, which is what sets Country on Deck apart from others.
In addition to being proud of the high-quality interviews I offer, I’m also proud of the connections I’ve made through our free, monthly event. The Social Bar + Kitchen in New London, CT, where we host our Nashville-style writers’ rounds, trusts my country music expertise to organize and produce the event in a way that is authentic to Music City. I’ve also built trusted relationships with the artists who play at these rounds, giving them a safe space to be vulnerable and share original music. My trusted relationships also extend to outside vendors who enhance our writers’ round events such as Watchu Makin’ DIY Hat Bar, in which attendees can create their own custom trucker hat.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
In a world that’s increasingly digital, human interaction has been redefined. It matters most to me to offer an experience that builds community and relationships. Country on Deck offers that both digitally and face-to-face. It matters to me that listeners of the podcast not only learn about a new artist and discover new music, but enjoy the conversation as if they are a part of it themselves.
Country on Deck’s Nashville-style writers’ rounds deeply build on that connection by allowing listeners to hear original music in a live, communal space. Personalized algorithms have sent listeners down their own curated music journeys, which has some advantages, but fails to combat the isolation of listening alone. Country on Deck allows listeners to share in the emotional experience of the music together.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/countryondeck/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/countryondeck/
- Other: https://www.linktr.ee/countryondeck
