We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hank Mehren a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hank, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

One day in high school, must’ve been 9th or 10th grade, my dad was giving me a ride to school. When we arrived we soon realized that it was holiday and school was closed so it being before 8am, my dad suggested we go to Jones Coffee Roasters in Pasadena for a bite. Well, it wasn’t long before I found the piano they had at the shop and started playing. I spent 30, maybe 45, minutes improvising some instrumental, quasi-classically influenced music. When I finished, to my surprise, there was about $50 in a tip jar that people had left as I was playing. This was really the first time I made any money playing piano and I took it as validation to continue doing it. For years after that I frequented Jones, sometimes playing solo and other times with other musicians. This unexpected “gig” let me know that what I was doing had some value so I kept with it, finding or creating other gigs wherever I could.

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

I really fell into this business through chance, family support, and years of determination. When we were given a piano as a child I gravitated toward the instrument. But if it weren’t for my family’s support through providing me lessons and unyielding moral support I wouldn’t be where I am. Beneath all that, however, was, and still is, a great a deal of determination I have had to maintain in order to push through the many versions of myself as a player and as a person. Through it all, I have come to embrace my imperfections and allow my limitations to guide me to a style that is genuine and unique. As an artist I think the most important thing is the ability to be yourself so that is what I try to reflect in my playing.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

To me the most rewarding thing is when others are inspired to be creative. Making art can be such a liberating processes but at the same time can be very scary because you are putting yourself out there and, often times, diving into a part of yourself you have yet to discover. I try to find that sense of exploration whenever I play and hope to inspire others to find that as well.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I just want to spread love and encourage people to give themselves the space to be themselves and the freedom to be vulnerable. If that means, finding a sense of joy, working through sadness, or just being content with being here and now, I hope that my music and sense of child-like exploration that I seek can foster even the smallest act of self-love and love for others.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @hank.mehren
• Other: @honk_anonymous
  Spotify: Honkanonymous

Image Credits

Danielle Head
Andrew Guterman