Fitz and the Tantrums: Finding your creative voice in your 40's and why success feels different than you think

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Oct 15, 2025

Michael 'Fitz' Fitzpatrick, frontman of Fitz and the Tantrums, shares his inspiring journey to success in his 40s. He talks about the importance of perseverance despite years of rejection and the pivotal moment at SXSW that changed everything. The band’s creative process, including using constraints as a tool for innovation, is a highlight. Fitz also delves into finding his authentic voice and the emotional complexities of achieving dreams. His candid reflections on what true happiness means today offer relatable insights for anyone chasing their creative passions.

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ANECDOTE

Betting On The Band

Fitz invested his personal savings and bet a quarter-million dollars to keep the band afloat through early tours.
That gamble led to a record deal at South by Southwest and launched Fitz and the Tantrums' career.

ADVICE

Use Adjacent Work To Build Toward Your Dream

When rejected, pivot to adjacent roles to gain skills and networks instead of quitting entirely.
Fitz worked as an engineer and in music-for-media to build competence and income before relaunching as an artist.

INSIGHT

Prototype Rapidly To Match Creative Pace

Early access to recording tech let Fitz prototype songs quickly and match his ADHD-driven creative pace.
Rapid iteration (making a song in a day) revealed music suited his workflow better than long film projects.

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This is a preview of a premium Design Better episode. Visit our Substack to hear the whole interview, for bonus content, and more: ⁠https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/fitz-and-the-tantrums

With the 150th official episode of Design Better, we’ve got something special for you.

For many of us, if we haven’t had creative success by our 40’s, we feel like we may have missed the boat. But Michael “Fitz” Fitzpatrick of Fitz and the Tantrums didn’t achieve pop star status until he was well into his 40’s, and now that he’s in his 50’s he feels like he’s just getting started.

Haven’t heard of Fitz and the Tantrums? Yes you have...their hit single "HandClap" has rocked stadiums at sporting events around the world.

In our conversation, Fitz reveals how the band prototypes their live performances and why constraint has been essential to their creative evolution. He talks to us about the parallels of songwriting and product design, the importance of reading the room—whether it’s 50 or 50,000 people—and why the best performances, like the best designs, create space for the audience to become co-creators.

Fitz also opens up about how even after achieving his creative dreams, there was an emptiness that he struggled with, and where he found true happiness.

Bio

Michael “Fitz” Fitzpatrick (born Michael Sean Fitzpatrick on July 21, 1970) is a French-American musician, singer, and songwriter best known as the frontman and creative force behind the indie pop and neo-soul band Fitz and the Tantrums. Born in Montluçon, France and raised in Los Angeles, Fitzpatrick studied vocal music in high school and later attended the California Institute of the Arts, where he explored experimental film. Before forming his own band, he worked behind the scenes as a sound engineer, collaborating with producer Mickey Petralia.

In 2008, Fitzpatrick bought a used church organ for fifty dollars and wrote “Breakin’ the Chains of Love” that same night — the song that would inspire the creation of Fitz and the Tantrums. As lead vocalist and keyboardist, he helped the group rise quickly with their debut album Pickin’ Up the Pieces (2010), which drew praise for its blend of Motown soul, indie pop, and modern energy. Subsequent albums such as More Than Just a Dream and their self-titled 2016 release, featuring the breakout hit “HandClap,” cemented the band’s place in the modern pop landscape.