Matt Quinn and Sam Cooper first met in high school in Philadelphia and later reconnected in Los Angeles in 2016. Their shared love for music led them to collaborate once again. They named the project after a mountain in Valley Forge National Park near their hometown. Their debut single, "Astrovan," gained rapid streaming success, attracting the attention of drummer Sotiris Eliopoulos and keyboardist Jackie Miclau.
The band made their debut in 2016 with the release of their single "Astrovan," which was recorded in Los Angeles by Quinn, Cooper, and Byrnes.
In 2017, Mt. Joy signed with Dualtone Records, further solidifying their presence in the music industry. This was followed by the release of three singles in 2017: "Sheep," "Cardinal," and "Silver Lining," with the latter reaching the number one spot on the Billboard Triple A charts.
Throughout 2017, the now five-piece band recorded additional tracks with producer Jon Gilbert at his home studio in Pasadena, California, and released their self-titled debut album, Mt. Joy, on March 2, 2018. The song "Silver Lining" went to #1 on the Billboard Triple A charts.
Following their initial success, Mt. Joy embarked on extensive touring, performing at festivals such as Bonnaroo, Newport Folk Festival, and Lollapalooza, while also opening for notable bands like The Head and the Heart, The Shins, Whitney, and The Revivalists. They also headlined their own North American and European tours.
Unfortunately, their tour with The Lumineers was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Undeterred, Mt. Joy released their second studio album, "Rearrange Us," on June 5, 2020. The album was produced by Tucker Martine, known for his work with My Morning Jacket and Modest Mouse. The songs on "Rearrange Us" range from folk-stomps to psychedelic reflections and gospel elegies.
In April 2022, the band announced their third full-length album, Orange Blood, which was released on June 17, 2022. The album was recorded at Headroom Studios in Philadelphia. Four singles were released ahead of the album, "Lemon Tree", "Orange Blood," "Evergreen," and "Bathroom Light." Their headlining tour for the album started in June 2022 and runs through November 2022.
Alone
Mt. Joy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With hinges on chimneys for stars to go by
A sweet slice of Heaven for just you and I
When we're alone.
From all of society we'll stay aloof
And live in propriety there on the roof.
Two heavenly hermits we will be in truth
We'll see life's mad pattern
As we view old Manhattan
Then we can thank our lucky stars
That we're living as we are.
In our little penthouse we'll always contrive
To keep love and romance forever alive
In view of the Hudson just over the drive,
When we're alone.
We can thank our lucky stars
That we're living as we are.
In our little penthouse we'll always contrive
To keep love and romance forever alive
In view of the Hudson just over the drive,
When we're alone.
The lyrics of Mt. Joy's song "Alone" portray the desire to escape from society and to live in a place where only two people are present - a penthouse in the sky with chimneys for stars, away from the mad pattern of life in Manhattan. The lyrics describe a life of simplicity and romance, where two individuals are taking refuge from society to find and cherish their love for each other. Even though there is no mention of a particular person that the singer wants to share this penthouse with, the lyrics are filled with a sense of longing and desire, suggesting that the singer wants to find someone to share this life of seclusion and love with.
The image of a penthouse in the sky with chimneys for stars, represents a life of comfort and luxury, but also suggests a place far from the rest of the world - away from people, society and the chaos of life. The words "we'll see life's mad pattern as we view old Manhattan" indicate a sense of disillusionment with society, and the desire to escape from it. The singer of the song feels that the best way to experience life is to be with someone they love, away from the noise, distractions and the pressures of the world.
The chorus reinforces the idea of how lucky the two individuals are to have found each other, and to be able to live a life of love, tranquility, and comfort. The repetition of the words "When we're alone" emphasises the importance of harmony, simplicity, and the desire to preserve their love that they both share.
Line by Line Meaning
Just picture a penthouse way up in the sky
Imagine a luxurious penthouse located high up in the sky
With hinges on chimneys for stars to go by
The penthouse has a chimney with a view of the stars
A sweet slice of Heaven for just you and I
The penthouse is our own personal paradise
When we're alone.
We want to spend private time together away from the rest of the world
From all of society we'll stay aloof
We will purposely avoid contact with the rest of society
And live in propriety there on the roof.
We will live with proper behavior while staying on the roof of our penthouse
Two heavenly hermits we will be in truth
We will live like hermits in this heavenly abode
When we're alone.
We value the privacy and intimacy of being alone with each other
We'll see life's mad pattern
We will observe the chaotic nature of life
As we view old Manhattan
While looking out at the cityscape of Manhattan
Then we can thank our lucky stars
We will express gratitude for the fortunate circumstances in our lives
That we're living as we are.
We are content with our current way of living
In our little penthouse we'll always contrive
We will continually devise ways to keep our love alive while in our small penthouse
To keep love and romance forever alive
Our goal is to never let the love and romance in our relationship fade away
In view of the Hudson just over the drive,
We have a stunning view of the Hudson River nearby
When we're alone.
Being alone with each other is when we feel the most connected and in love
We can thank our lucky stars
We feel grateful for the blessings in our lives
That we're living as we are.
We appreciate the life we have created for ourselves
In our little penthouse we'll always contrive
We are committed to making sure our love remains strong and passionate in our small living space
To keep love and romance forever alive
Our goal is to never let the love and romance in our relationship fade away
In view of the Hudson just over the drive,
Our view of the Hudson River is a constant reminder of the beauty of our life together
When we're alone.
Being alone with each other is when we are the happiest and most fulfilled
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: VAL BURTON, WILL JASON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CaramelSauce
His voice and the vibe of the band as a whole is like that beauty you'd see around you during sunset by the beach or atop a mountain. Love this band.
Noah Hudelson
Mt joy and houndmouth. Match made
Joshua Taylor Hamilton
Saw them live with Lumineers. Honestly we went to see Mt. Joy and happened to see the Lumineers. They are amazing live
Lima Meisem Cuspir
I'm sorry but I can only feel jealous about you 😅, this show must've been amazing.
Adam Major
This is band that got me to start learning guitar just so I can play their songs
Patricia Burke
Hope things get better in Baltimore! After moving to Florida, I miss my wonderful students there. Love your sound! Rock on!
jhony lefit silva
beautiful sound ....🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷
Mel Bau
I just discovered them. They are awesome!
amerocker
July 16, 2022
This is the first time I am hearing Mt Joy. They are very good.
David Paul
Go see them for a full show. Your life will change