We were lucky to catch up with Hank Barbe recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hank, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I didn’t set out to do it professionally—it kind of landed in my lap. I was a teacher, and I got hurt. There were a few months I had some time off. I always played around writing songs. One night I hit up an open mic, and like five or six weeks later, I got signed to a little indie record label in Atlanta. It wasn’t a planned move, but once the opportunity showed up, I ran with it. And that’s kinda how I ended up here.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Hank Barbe, singer/songwriter/frontman of Three Beards. I got into the music industry almost by accident. I was a teacher taking time off after an injury, and I decided to hit up an open mic. Just five weeks after that, I landed a deal with an indie label in Georgia. Since then, I’ve been all in—writing, recording, and performing with my band. We play Americana rock and tell stories that hit home with our fans. Beyond music, I’m also into filmmaking, focusing on documentaries that highlight the craftsmanship behind the music. What I think sets me apart is my journey—from being a combat veteran and teacher, to being a musician and filmmaker—which kinda gives me a unique perspective. I’m proud of the community we’ve built and the authentic connection we share with our fans. Whether it’s through music or our film, everything we do is about keeping it real and meaningful.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

One of the biggest resources I wish I knew about earlier is the value of a great producer. They can really level up your music and help you find your way in the industry. Professional organizations like the Recording Academy and ASCAP offer tons of education, support, and networking that can be total game-changers. Plus, the community of musicians around you is priceless. Having other artists to collaborate and share experiences with makes a huge difference.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My path from being a flight medic in the Army to a teacher, and then to a full-time musician, has been all about resilience. Serving as a flight medic was pretty intense and came with its share of risks and losses. When I switched over to teaching, I was looking for some stability, but life had other plans and sidelined me with an injury. I was pretty down , so I turned to music as a way to cope with the grief and loss I’d experienced. It became my way of making sense of everything and finding a path forward. Art gave me a means to process those emotions and transform them into something meaningful to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://three-beards.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hank_barbe
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThreeBeards6
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hank-barbe
• Twitter: https://x.com/three_beards
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@three-beards