"When you keep the caliber of musicians very high in the band, people are going to come and go. Some of them will be people who have to try various things, it's natural"
About this Quote
High standards create motion. When a band insists on top-tier players, it naturally attracts restless, ambitious musicians who are always listening for the next challenge. Kathy Mattea, a veteran of Nashville stages and studios, recognizes that excellence and turnover are linked, not opposed. The best players are in demand, juggling sessions, tours, and their own creative urges. They do not stand still, and that is part of what makes them great.
Nashville’s ecosystem makes this especially clear. Road bands often overlap with the city’s elite session community, where players develop a wide palette of styles and relationships. A singer like Mattea, known for nuanced storytelling and high craft, builds her sound on that breadth. But the very musicians who can elevate a song in the studio or on the road are the ones most likely to say yes to a new artist, a side project, or a genre detour. Calling their departures natural reframes change as a sign of health rather than instability.
Leadership in that environment becomes an art of continuity without control. The core vision, the arrangements, and the culture do the stabilizing, not a fixed lineup. New arrivals bring fresh ears and energy; exits create space for evolution. Treating musicians as artists rather than possessions breeds respect and often long-term loyalty, even if the path includes detours and returns.
The insight travels far beyond music. Any high-performing team will see people come and go as they pursue growth. A leader’s job is to keep the bar high, invest in development, and normalize transitions as part of the creative cycle. Stability then comes from values and practices, not rigid rosters. Mattea’s perspective blends humility with confidence: trust the caliber, welcome the flux, and let the work stay alive by remaining open to the artists who make it so.
Nashville’s ecosystem makes this especially clear. Road bands often overlap with the city’s elite session community, where players develop a wide palette of styles and relationships. A singer like Mattea, known for nuanced storytelling and high craft, builds her sound on that breadth. But the very musicians who can elevate a song in the studio or on the road are the ones most likely to say yes to a new artist, a side project, or a genre detour. Calling their departures natural reframes change as a sign of health rather than instability.
Leadership in that environment becomes an art of continuity without control. The core vision, the arrangements, and the culture do the stabilizing, not a fixed lineup. New arrivals bring fresh ears and energy; exits create space for evolution. Treating musicians as artists rather than possessions breeds respect and often long-term loyalty, even if the path includes detours and returns.
The insight travels far beyond music. Any high-performing team will see people come and go as they pursue growth. A leader’s job is to keep the bar high, invest in development, and normalize transitions as part of the creative cycle. Stability then comes from values and practices, not rigid rosters. Mattea’s perspective blends humility with confidence: trust the caliber, welcome the flux, and let the work stay alive by remaining open to the artists who make it so.
Quote Details
| Topic | Music |
|---|
More Quotes by Kathy
Add to List
