We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sherman Potatoe. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Aaron below.

Sherman, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most important and life-changing decision for me was to start the musical project called “Sherman Potatoe,” which is now my stage name for three years now.
When the ol’ Covid showed up and my life was falling apart in a lot of aspects (getting divorced, almost becoming homeless again, struggles with addiction) I was about to quit making music, which was the only thing I could really do with my life. And still do.

In 2023, after life and concerts started to happen again, I suddenly decided to give it another try and come out of my cave of self-pity and fear. I started writing songs, more personal than ever and was motivated to record them and gi back on a stage. The best decision of my life and it changed everything for me.

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 started making music when I was 10 or 11 years old. I started playing the guitar without a teacher or any lessons or advising. It was frustrating sometimes but I never stopped trying.
First I was playing the old ones from the 60s and early 70s. Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bob Dylan, Beatles and so on. Always a bit hippie and old fashioned. Later there was the blues. What a wake up call!

Over time I discovered more and more punk rock and heavy metal, but still… I was attached to the acoustic guitar and more intimate way of presenting songs (except some experiments playing in amplified punk bands).
I learned performing and singing in the streets, since I started busking almost everyday when I was 15 years old.
With punk rock and more political musical influences such as Utah Phillips, David Rovics and lots of German songwriters like Konny, Hannes Wader and Fidl Kunterbunt, I started going down a similar path.

By the time, I also developed a hard alcohol and drug addiction. Booze and Meth have been my daily company. I became homeless, landed in prison and got myself in trouble a lot. Traveling and a restless life was, what I thought, my destiny.
Until the day my girlfriend told me that my son is on his way to being born. I quit alcohol and drugs, went through withdrawal and stayed sober for a long while.

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

My main goal and kinda mission, for me as an artist and storyteller on stage, is to tell and let people see that there’s always a way to express your inner self. To overcome hard times, with self love, community and strength from within.
Not without struggle, not without a lot if doubts and painful experiences. We need this as human beings and social creatures.

No matter what you’re doing or what you can do “good” or “bad.”
Express yourself. Find a way to show the world who you are. Find yourself and don’t search for love from tho outside.
To realize who you are and what you really need can lead to something great and can make you happier and more comfortable with yourself than anything else.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The sweet songs and old books made me think different about the world and my place in it.

When I started listening to old Americana music, Old Time songs and classic Appalachian Folk music, it changed something. Whether it may be a song about a valley, a river, the love of family and community or simply a song about a bird. It made me think smaller. Not longing for the stars or following an unreachable goal. Look around you. Right next to you. Your surrounding area. The woods close to your hometown. There’s so much beauty and good in this world. It’s not far and it’s worth to fight for it. And it’s worth to stay, embrace it and live in it.

The same told me my love for the books and stories of J.R.R. Tolkien. Just read it and read it closely. Keep Samwise Gamdshies words in mind.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shermanpotatoe.official?igsh=aWY4YWU0MGd5cGxv
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@shermanpotatoe?si=1fRURgNIad_th3hu
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/2LY4nZZtZE5gUHWc2zEjvkhttps://shermanpotatoe.bandcamp.com/

  https://tidal.com/artist/48703389/u