We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nick Rucker a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Nick thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us a story about a time you failed?
8 years ago I was a very bad alcoholic. I spent most of my time drinking in the evenings and dealing with depression post active duty military. I was a musician at the time and playing just to keep enough money in my pocket to get hammered during shows. I finally hit a breaking point on April 23rd 2016 when I attempted suicide. I ended up in the ER and the hospital overnight. The next morning my er doctor gave me an ultimatum of quit drinking by going to rehab or die a pretty miserable death in the next few years. I chose rehab, and it ignited my music, as I started focusing more of my time playing shows and writing instead of drinking. I now spend a great deal of my time working on the board of “Operation 22 Til Freedom” it is a non profit that provides resources and funding for veterans and active duty members that are struggling with a plethora of issues. Its my way of now giving back to the veteran community who struggle with life after active duty.
Nick, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
The big thing that I feel truly sets me apart is my back story and how I got to where I am. I started writing songs when I was probably 13 and have let my sound mature through other musicians that I listen to. I am self taught in everything that I do. So guitar, song writing, singing etc. I feel that my back story is what draws people to me. I get a lot of messages from people looking to find help for an addiction. I’m very transparent with my struggles and share with them what I have had to go through. I feel that people dont talk enough about the small things it takes to make the big things happen. I get up every morning and I’m working out at 4 am. I do a lot of powerlifting and I show those things on my social media. I work a full time job on time of everything else I do, and I’m still in the military in the national guard. There are just a lot of hats that I wear. I get most of my feedback about my discipline and how I have time for everything.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
This was a big one, because when I showed up to Omaha my only connection was a fellow alcoholic that was honestly blowing smoke up my ass on what connections he did have. So, I had to really pave my own way. I knew there was a music awards show in Omaha and I remember thinking at the time that this is completely out of reach in this market and I will never get there. Well, that was the alcohol talking at the time and once that was a figment of the past then I replaced that time with my nose to the grind stone and playing show after show and making connections. The big thing I feel is that my work ethic is different than most people. I always show up an hour ahead of time and I’m ready to go, and have the ability to play 4 hours without needing to play the same songs over and over again. The songs vary so much too, this is to keep things from being one dimensional,
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
The main goal is the same in this as it is in everything that I do, is to help people that are willing to help themselves. My biggest pet peeve is people who refuse to help themselves and want a handout. I don’t want to hear it, there is always time, there is always energy to fix things. The thing is that most people don’t want to hear the truth that it starts in the weight room or on a walk or eating right in order to get other things to fall in place. If your mind isn’t right then nothing else will be. You have to earn it or you will not appreciate it. So, my overall goal is to help people out there and to pull them up by their bootstraps and get them back in the game.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruckcountry?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickruckercountry
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-rucker-989bb2207/
- Twitter: @ruckcountry
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@ruckcountry
Image Credits
aspects and angles photography