We were lucky to catch up with Alex Szotko recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alex, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

When the world was shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, I had an honest conversation about what I wanted out of my life. Throughout my education and professional career I was involved with marching band, professional mascotting, and performing music on stage, but always felt the pressure of “Well that’s a fun hobby but it doesn’t pay the bills.” However, up until that point I was juggling multiple jobs and struggling to pay my bills, all while still being involved in music. I was simply not fulfilled in my day to day life. I knew I would be able to live with the results of potentially failing in pursuing music professionally versus the regret of never trying. I utilized the down time during lockdown to plant seeds with my budding connections in Nashville, not fully understanding how small of a town this city can be. Over time each little domino falling led me to the point of “Oh wow, I guess we are really doing this.” After almost 2 years of planning, I made the move to Nashville in June of 2022 and this is the most fulfilled I’ve ever been.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I grew up in a very musical household, to the point where I can’t remember a time when there wasn’t music being played in the background while my dad cooked dinner or my mom was cleaning on an early Saturday morning, and everything in between. My father toured the country playing the accordion at major Polka music festival stages and my mother’s father was a professional drummer in Chicago during the big band era, so both sides of my genetic makeup were drawn to music. I was very active in sports growing up, but there were musical and performance undertones throughout. I was able to blend my passion for both of those aspects of my life through my time in the University of Notre Dame Marching Band and through performing as a Major League Baseball mascot, but never thought of my own musical journey as something that could sustain me. Moving to Nashville in 2022 was the beginning of my professional music career, and I was able to work and network myself into a position where I was able to become a full-time musician by February of 2023.

I think what sets me apart from other people who come to Nashville to pursue this career is that I moved here with a firm idea of what I wanted to achieve and an understanding of what it would take to get there. I spent many years out of the music industry, so I was not as jaded as others and was genuinely happy to be a part of the ecosystem. As a drummer, I grew up in the pop punk scene with vibrant musicality and a unique feel behind the kit, so I wanted to combine my musical influences very deliberately with the traditional elements of country music to help me stand out while fitting in. My mentors and colleagues gave me a seat at the table, so I aim to honor their work while trying to leave it better than how I found it for those that are coming up after me.

I am most proud of the fact that I continue to get hired by artists simply because I care about their success and believe in the power of music. Every person in this city is talented and can play the notes accurately with their own unique style, but not every person will do it with a great attitude and a willingness to stretch their limits. In 2024 alone I was able to play 396 shows with over 40 different artists – I firmly believe that that happens more by being a “glue guy” rather than being the most accomplished musician.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

he biggest takeaway as a creative is that this is my life’s work. It is a passion project that gives me purpose and also pays my mortgage. Many people can feel a spiritual tie to music or art and would love to be able to focus their attention on doing that alone, but it is an all-consuming career that comes with unique stressors.

A wise man once said “If you can imagine doing anything other than music for a living, do that.” Performing on stage and traveling the country may appear to be glamorous, but the rigors of never being off the clock and the pressure to succeed can make some fall out of love with music. I always remind people there are 23 other hours in a day, meaning that the time spent on stage is the pay off to the real work happening at all hours of the day.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I actually love this question! I think it’s really important for people to be oddly specific when they dream and set goals. Sure everything in life is relative and we can always “move the goalposts,” however when it’s our life’s mission, I feel like being honest with ourselves first and foremost is key. I have 4 very specific musical goals that I keep close to my chest and know that they can’t be achieved by happenstance. In my opinion, many people are afraid of letting themselves down and then don’t want to feel judged by someone else who will never understand the complexities of that goal. By setting lesser goals to protect yourself or protect yourself from outside scrutiny, you’re only letting the unapologetic version of you down.

Even more importantly, however, we must be present along the way to achieving our goals. Having your inner circle with you for the highs, lows, and in-betweens is essential for staying motivated and for accountability, but also for the laughs, the perspective, and the reminder that we are indeed never going to simply travel from point A to point B. Being a creative is truly a blessing, but making it sustainable for the long haul takes a tribe!

Be a dreamer, be yourself, and be the person who previous you would want to associate with!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @ashotkodrums

Image Credits

Adam Spain
Trey Bonner