We recently connected with Stephen Lind and have shared our conversation below.

Stephen, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I am really happy with my choice to pursue a creative career. My story is a bit unique in that I essentially got my start by being a web developer and graphic designer for creatives in the film industry. Those connections and that exposure helped me enter the world as somewhat of a “professional” as opposed to a “starving artist.” I think the fact that I continue to work within the web + graphic design realm allows me to be seen as an expert; and being seen as an expert in anyway grants you the freedom to play around in other areas. You’ve already shown you know how to be successful; so instead of it looking like a career change, it reads as you just diving into other creative outlets.

I also believe that ‘regular jobs’ are a really important piece of a creatives journey. You won’t know how bad you want something until you’re living a life that makes you want to scream and change everything around you. I am a believer it’s that knowledge and experience that pushes one to make the decision to really give the creative world all you got.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I recently released my single, “Nosebleeds,” and that track is one that I am really proud of. When I first started making music, it was really hard for me to find “my voice.” I had so many inspirations, like Ashlee Simpson and Gwen Stefani, that when my music didn’t sound like a carbon copy of theirs, I couldn’t see it. It took some time and trust to get to a place where I can now go into the studio, be completely honest and not feel like I have to prove anything to anyone. “Nosebleeds” is a great representation of that growth; it’s a track that is a bit odd in its structure but the hooks and songwriting are incredibly fun.

This past year has been amazing, I was a headliner at this years “Tucson Pride,” my short film/music video “Lovers’ Roulette” has won 10+ awards from film festivals across the globe and my music is slowly but surely finding it’s audience.

My focus and mission is to continue to do the things that I have always wanted to do; regardless of the amount of co-signs I get from peers and strangers across the internet. This is for me, and I want to remember that.

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

My music career was not one that was supported at first in any way, shape or form. I had only shown one side of myself to so many people that when I told friends that I was going to start writing and recording, the responses were either a joke, thinking I was making one, or one that read like “lol, good luck.”

When you are afraid to try something for long, you lock away a sincere piece of yourself. When you are able to acknowledge it’s something you need to address, because you’re either feeling empty or lost, it is a lot to unpack. There is an immediate desire to be seen how you want to be seen; that exists in a lot of ways and is a current “hot topic” for a lot of people. The hard truth is, it’s not up to anyone else to validate our existence. If we give that power away, we’re never going to get what we are looking for.

So, my resilience comes in the form of not needing anyone to tell me something is great, that I “can sing,” or any of the other millions of things I worry about… When I listen back to my music, or look at my photos from a shoot… am I happy? Does that look and sound like me? If I can answer yes to that, then I’ve done my job and my work will find it’s place in this world.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think people who look at themselves as “non-creative” are doing themselves a disservice. I don’t think those of us who dive into that world are actually all that different from one another; we just had an inkling or moment that pushed us in that direction. Someone who doesn’t actually get out any of their creative ideas or thoughts must feel a permanent, for a lack-of-better-term, blue-ball situation.

A creatives journey can be wild and somewhat exciting because it exists outside the norm. A lot of people are born and follow the path that was made for them; school, family, death. Creatives get to breakaway from that and live a life that has more twists and turns, and I think that in itself is scary to a lot people.

I don’t think our journey can be fully understood if you don’t go on it yourself. The fear of betting on yourself in a way where you risk everything, but most notably stability, is a lot. But it’s something that everyone can do if they feel the urge to do so.

So, long story short — I believe that everyone is creative, it’s just whether or not you enjoy exercising that part of your brain enough to make it your livelihood. But regardless of that, everyone should find an outlet for that stuff they just can’t seem to shake.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stephenlind.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/stephenlind
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/stephenlindmusic
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/_stephenlind
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@stephenlind

Image Credits
Teron Beal