The House Concert: Matti Joy Puccio Interview

Happenings @
The House Concert
In today’s Happenings @ The House Concert, it’s my great pleasure to write about the concert and interview I had with Matti Joy Puccio. I’d like to share some of the highlights of the interview that stick out in my mind.
Matti’s musical journey started in Branson, Missouri, a town steeped in American folk music. From a young age, Matti began training in classical piano and voice and then other instruments, which continued through the college years, graduating with a music degree in voice and piano performance. Currently she teaches at Cascade School of Music as well as performs with her guitar in venues throughout the Central Oregon community.
Matti’s music continues in the tradition of politically charged folk music. Based on who those musicians were affiliating with, who they were listening to, what they were doing, and whose stories they were amplifying, she also read history books. it was clear to her that those people were on the right side of history, with Woody Guthrie being a particular hero. That’s where Matti wants to be.
In being on the right side of history, Matti raises her voice to fight oppressive systems, specifically pointing out how education has been weaponized to continue the status quo, the ecological impact of climate change, and the stigmatization of mental health.
Of particular interest to her is the importance of as an adult challenging destructive and divisive stories that one heard as a child and just automatically assuming those stories as truth. About “decolonizing” the mind and being open to the full experience of what it means to be a human being.
Matti speaks about her own decolonizing journey, having done a more thorough review of the destructive stories told her, based on her conservative evangelical church background. Stories that fed into a deep anxiety, a general dissatisfaction and self-loathing, to say nothing about how those stories seemed a complete contradiction to the Biblical stories of what the message of Jesus truly is.
Matti also speaks frankly about how a large part of her decolonization of mind comes from recognizing that from a very, very young age she has always appreciated the deeply feminine side of life. Matti talks about how for the first time in her life she was able to feel free and comfortable in her own skin as she transitions in her gender expression from male to female. I hope you’ll pay special attention to how Matti “melted” in receiving support from her wife, a
relationship she says sometimes makes her and her wife sad, because not everyone experiences the “wholesomeness” that she has in her marriage.
Matti finishes the interview by talking about the heroes she finds who are helping move things forward. Matti reflects on the work of a Christian group in Tucson, AZ called No More Deaths, people who were arrested for putting food and water out in the desert by the border and then brought to court, with the outcome being the group was within their constitutional rights of freedom of religion to do so. This is what it’s about for Matti, not just doing the talk, but making the walk. Matti also highlights the support within the queer community of Bend and how “incredible their trueness, kindness and helpfulness has been.”
I found Matti to be a very complex, intelligent and interesting interviewee. I think you’ll agree.

Видео The House Concert: Matti Joy Puccio Interview канала The Bulletin