Welcome to our Start Today Harm Reduction Interview series, where we’re connecting with bands, musicians, and others who have stories to tell about mental health and addiction, and how they intersect with life in the music industry.
Today we are interviewing Heather, Andrew and Alex from The Board of Directors!
Do you think the culture of touring/performing contributes to substance abuse in musicians? If so, how?
- Andrew: I could definitely see this being a thing. Touring and playing, while having a 9-5, can get exhausting and lonesome at times. Taking substances to fill those voids is an easy (but hollow) way to solve these issues. Being in a band is tough.
Have you ever felt pressure to drink or use substances in order to fit in or be creative?
- Heather: I wouldn’t say there’s pressure to drink or use substances, but there’s certainly prevalence. A lot (perhaps a majority?) of venues offer free drinks to performing musicians. It’s a nice perk and easy enough to decline if you don’t care to drink. But I do imagine it could be tough for someone who’s in recovery to have drink tickets preemptively thrust into their hands every time they load in to play a gig. I know I always really appreciate when venues offer credit that can be applied toward food or drinks. Musicians are hungry people.
How has your music changed as you’ve worked through mental health or addiction challenges?
- Alex: I like the challenge of making really sad subjects into bubble-gummy pop songs. When you say something earnestly depressing or angry in the context of a happy song, it ends up. being kind of funny, and all of a sudden you’re laughing to get it all out. I’ve always had kind of a dark, sarcastic way about me lyrically.
How do you support each other’s mental health within the band?
- Andrew: Mostly through abusive comments and manipulative behaviors. Kidding. Respecting each other’s boundaries while still reaching out to check in on each other seems to have done well so far.
- Heather: One thing we do particularly well is feed each other (yes, I’m talking about food again). Being on the road is hard, physically. There’s a lot of time in the van, a lot of carrying heavy gear, a lot of late nights, and not a lot of time getting quality sleep. That can all take a real toll on mental health, too. We always make sure we travel with plenty of nutritious snacks and water, and we pack things that we know our bandmates like to eat. We’re a very snacks-positive band. I think this habit of taking care of each other is equally supportive to our collective health as the actual nourishment itself.
Have you or your band written any songs or albums that were directly inspired by these experiences?
- Alex: We have a new LP coming June 27th called *Flightless*. It’s essentially a series of vignettes that are allegories for various mental health issues that I’ve either dealt with or witnessed. The thesis is that those issues may never truly subside, but that fighting those battles every day is the human experience. The record doesn’t have a traditional happy ending, because I don’t think most things in life do. It’s about learning to find peace of mind within that struggle.
Are there any local organizations or resources in your area you’ve partnered with or want to support to promote mental health within the scene?
- Alex: They’re not officially partnered with the band or anything, but the Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen in OTR is near and dear to me. I’ve been working with them for several years now and I know it’s a resource a lot of people in the city rely on. Kathy and the whole staff there do great work.
Is there anything you would like to plug or promote while you’re here?
- No, we’d prefer to just get right into it.
