Today we’d like to introduce you to Quin McIntosh.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
As to what has gotten me to this point as a songwriter and an entertainer, I would mention a few things.
At 26 years old, I have lived a wonderfully diverse life including spending time at an international school and around a completely Iranian community. I went to (and wrote a song about) my middle school which was mostly black, though I didn’t even realize that at the time. I was expelled from that middle school due to my awful behavior (though my grades were excellent)
I then moved in with my grandparents which was another culture shift and attended High school in a still often racist/uneducated and very white Farmington Missouri. This diverse upbringing, along with a passion for reading has afforded me quite the input of information which I believe generally leads to the best output.
I do not believe that living or going through tough times makes you tough or wise or more aware. I do believe that these times afford someone the opportunity to grow and learn, which will in turn lead to the aforementioned wisdom and toughness.
I have been sober since 2016 and I attribute everything to my sobriety. As can be heard in much of my music, the daily overcoming but never forgetting has been the greatest gift to me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I do look at the road as smooth in hindsight. I battled mightily with alcohol and crystal meth and took a few trips to rehab. Life was very dark, and the hardest year of my life was my first year of sobriety. I lived in a halfway house with no money; just trying every day to make it until I fell asleep. The song ‘McCausland Street’ is about this first year.
I struggled with family relations as well, as is wont to happen with such problems as drug addiction.
I can speak for hours on these topics and I often do when it benefits others. I believe everyone has their challenges in life and I say my road has been smooth because I have been able to face so many of that head-on at such a young age. For example, I am now best friends with my twin brother whom I didn’t have many relationships at all for years and years.
There have been many obstacles in the world of music though none are obstacles I would even come across had I not gotten sober. Life, and this career choice, is a marathon and not a sprint. I am confident in my abilities, and I work really hard for the things I deem important and valuable. For that I say, the road is bumpy and always changing, though that’s what I knew it would be which takes a lot of the power out of the bumps.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Comedy and perspective set me apart. Because we are bragging here, I will say so that without feeling too full of myself. I am a professional musician/songwriter and will be on tour singing songs about very serious topics, but comedy and showmanship, and perspective set me apart.
I have been blessed with the funny gene and in school was voted class clown every year. I am also a viral TikTok comedian (@quinmcintosh) and have just ventured into standup comedy and just can’t get enough. I always incorporate plenty of comedy into my shows.
Perspective is something I get complimented on quite often. I attribute most of this to reading. I often write songs from the perspective of children or women, of young people trying to understand their gender/sexual identity.
A song I am quite proud of is ‘The Talk’ which details a conversation between an American and an Iraqi soldier in the final moments of American life. The American has been shot at the Iraqi’s hand and they now sit and talk and realize how similar their lives are as they become friends. They bond over family and love for their children.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I have actually struggled to find mentors in St Louis. I have done lots of networking and have made many associates in the songwriter/Americana realm, but that is also a hard-partying bunch that I don’t see in person very often.
I am looking forward to getting on the road and hopefully meeting folks In other cities that have a little more insight/background/expertise in the style of music I play.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.quinmcintosh.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/quin_mcintosh
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/2167593286805837/
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/QuinMcIntosh
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/MrParkour3
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@quinmcintosh?_t=8UYfHpnMJCw&_r=1
Image Credits
Tristan Shannon, Jesse Newman, and Kaylee Reagan
