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

Tim, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I have been making music in band settings since I was 16. When my last band broke up in 2021, I was disenchanted and tried to quit music. A good friend (and former drummer in 3 of my bands) suggested I use the studio time the band had already booked to record solo. That studio session and the subsequent album proved to be the most important thing I’ve ever done artistically. I have recorded a another album since and have been playing solo shows as stage name “He, Then” ever since. These past few years have been the most meaningful for me

Tim, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a recovering addict and I struggle with multiple mental health disorders. I also was raised in abject poverty and violence. I’ve experienced homelessness on multiple occasions in my life. I have been lucky enough (due mostly to my privilege as a straight, white male) to have found stability and safety. I’ve been sober for 12 years, have addressed my mental health and I went back to school for my degree. These struggles became the driving force behind my expressive self and are a central theme in my music. I write songs about my experiences and am very open on stage. I feel it is extremely important for people struggling to hear that others have. We stigmatize addiction and mental illness and we are culturally trained to not talk about it. I do, proudly. I want to be a small voice for all the other misfits, addicts, freaks and outcasts.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I spent many years as a back up/harmony vocalist in bands. My confidence and self worth had always been an issue. Mixed with active addiction , or in some cases being newly sober, I would shy away from being a lead vocalist. During a particularly hard point in my artistic journey, I was approached by a fellow musician I truly respected. He told me he had a side project he wanted me to be a part of. I jumped at the chance. What I didn’t realize is that he had heard my voice and believed I was a lead vocalist. In this project he essentially forced me to be the primary vocalist in this project. It took a lot of discussion and some soul searching, but he finally convinced me to trust my voice and believe in my vocal ability. It took some years to unlearn being just a backup/harmony vocalist.

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

I’m not sure there is just one story. I feel that coming from hunger, homelessness, abject poverty and addiction as a child and young adult shaped the person and artist I am today. A reminder that all of us are one step from struggle forces me to be resilient. Each one of us is far closer to homelessness and struggle than we realize. In the blink of an eye, everything could change. Use this as a mechanism for continuing to grow as a person and artist

Contact Info:

• Website: https://popl.co/card/D0GKryTb/1/s