Why It’s Never Too Late
What six years of silence taught me about starting again
It was my birthday the other day.
I didn’t post about it on social media.
Instead, I spent the day reflecting.
I’ve spent the last 13 years building a career in music.
And yeah, I’ve done okay.
Songs I’ve written and produced have gotten over 100 million streams, been played on the radio, charted overseas, and been featured in TV shows.
Still, I can’t help feeling like I’ve failed.
Staying in the background, helping other artists find their voice while keeping my own locked away…
For the first half of my career, I was releasing my own music.
Playing shows with my band in New York and Philly.
Sharing my songs with anyone who’d listen.
Then I moved to LA.
The level of talent there was so high, I told myself I’d better focus on writing and producing behind the scenes.
I spent 6 years in LA helping other people share their voice, while slowly convincing myself it was safer not to share my own.
Those years weren’t passive, but they were silent.
And silence becomes a habit.
Moving to Nashville helped me to break that habit.
To share again. To risk being seen.
Which is what I’m doing now.
Releasing consistently. Building an audience.
Some days I still feel like I’m trying to make up for those 6 years of hiding.
But the journey only makes sense looking back.
And to look back you have to keep moving forward.
What matters is that it’s never too late to do the thing you’re meant to do.
I can’t get those years back.
But I can use this story to help someone else who’s stuck in their own silence.
Someone who’s waiting to feel “ready” or “good enough.”
I waited years to feel ready. I thought confidence would show up first.
Spoiler alert, it didn’t.
And when I finally did start sharing, it wasn’t because I felt ready.
It was because staying silent hurt more.
If that’s you, here’s what you need to know:
You don’t need permission.
You don’t need perfect timing.
You just need to start sharing.
The silence will tell you it’s protecting you.
That you’re not ready yet.
That you’re being patient. Strategic. Practical.
That maybe next year, when things are better, when you’re better…
But silence isn’t protection.
It’s just another way to disappear.
And the only real failure is staying hidden when you have something to say.
So yeah, I spent 6 years hiding.
And I still feel like I’m making up for lost time.
But I’m not hiding anymore.
And that’s what matters.
It’s never too late to sing your own song.
If you enjoyed reading this, the highest compliment I can think of is if you restacked it or shared it with one person who you think it would help.



Happy belated birthday!
Well put, Matt. Oh...and happy birthday!