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Welcome to our Start Today Harm Reduction Interview series, where we’re connecting with bands, musicians, and others who have stories to tell about mental health and addiction, and how they intersect with life in the music industry. 

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5.  Band Interview: The Board of Directors

Today we are interviewing Heather, Andrew and Alex from The Board of Directors!

Do you think the culture of touring/performing contributes to substance abuse in musicians? If so, how?

 

  • Andrew: I could definitely see this being a thing. Touring and playing, while having a 9-5, can get exhausting and lonesome at times. Taking substances to fill those voids is an easy (but hollow) way to solve these issues. Being in a band is tough.


Have you ever felt pressure to drink or use substances in order to fit in or be creative?

 

  • Heather: I wouldn’t say there’s pressure to drink or use substances, but there’s certainly prevalence. A lot (perhaps a majority?) of venues offer free drinks to performing musicians. It’s a nice perk and easy enough to decline if you don’t care to drink. But I do imagine it could be tough for someone who’s in recovery to have drink tickets preemptively thrust into their hands every time they load in to play a gig. I know I always really appreciate when venues offer credit that can be applied toward food or drinks. Musicians are hungry people.


How has your music changed as you’ve worked through mental health or addiction challenges?

 

  • Alex: I like the challenge of making really sad subjects into bubble-gummy pop songs. When you say something earnestly depressing or angry in the context of a happy song, it ends up. being kind of funny, and all of a sudden you're laughing to get it all out. I've always had kind of a dark, sarcastic way about me lyrically.


How do you support each other’s mental health within the band?

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  • Andrew: Mostly through abusive comments and manipulative behaviors. Kidding. Respecting each other’s boundaries while still reaching out to check in on each other seems to have done well so far.

 

  • Heather: One thing we do particularly well is feed each other (yes, I’m talking about food again). Being on the road is hard, physically. There’s a lot of time in the van, a lot of carrying heavy gear, a lot of late nights, and not a lot of time getting quality sleep. That can all take a real toll on mental health, too. We always make sure we travel with plenty of nutritious snacks and water, and we pack things that we know our bandmates like to eat. We’re a very snacks-positive band. I think this habit of taking care of each other is equally supportive to our collective health as the actual nourishment itself.


Have you or your band written any songs or albums that were directly inspired by these experiences?

 

  • Alex: We have a new LP coming June 27th called *Flightless*. It's essentially a series of vignettes that are allegories for various mental health issues that I've either dealt with or witnessed. The thesis is that those issues may never truly subside, but that fighting those battles every day is the human experience. The record doesn't have a traditional happy ending, because I don't think most things in life do. It's about learning to find peace of mind within that struggle.


Are there any local organizations or resources in your area you’ve partnered with or want to support to promote mental health within the scene?

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  • Alex: They're not officially partnered with the band or anything, but the Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen in OTR is near and dear to me. I've been working with them for several years now and I know it's a resource a lot of people in the city rely on. Kathy and the whole staff there do great work.


Is there anything you would like to plug or promote while you’re here?

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  • No, we'd prefer to just get right into it.

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4.  Jeff  Russell

Today we are interviewing Jeff Russel, the guitarist from Cleveland, OH’s Signals Midwest!!!

Can you share how you or someone close to you coped with or overcame struggles related to alcoholism, drug use, or mental health issues?

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  • I became sober February 28, 2022. I drank and used random drugs, but booze was always my D.O.C. My rock bottom was that I got completely wasted here in Cleveland and sent some unfaithful texts to a mutual friend of my fiancée and mine, which resulted in canceling our wedding. It was definitely the worst few months of my life, realizing I had ruined the relationship with the person who I cared about most. There was no one to blame but myself. Rock bottom is a very dark time, but once I realized that I could stop digging myself deeper into a hole, I could start climbing out.

    I spent the first month of sobriety calling and texting friends and family that the wedding had been canceled due to my drinking and me not being the type of partner my fiancée needed. On the recommendation of one of my best buds, Christine, I signed myself up for an outpatient program here in Cleveland through University Hospitals where I met some like-minded folks struggling with the same addiction I was. I learned real quick how much alcoholism and drug use is tied to mental health.

    The more I participated in the outpatient program, and the more involved I got, the quicker it was for me to realize how much easier life is sober—if you make sure to prioritize your own mental health. During that outpatient program I learned about breathing exercises, mindful meditations, and other tricks I keep up my sleeve if I ever get a craving or am feeling low. I used to think getting inebriated would help with my daily anxieties and rocky mental health, but this program showed me how opposite that thought was.


Do you think the culture of touring/performing contributes to substance abuse in musicians?  If so, how?
 

  • Oh absolutely. Substance abuse is so romanticized in our society, especially in the touring scene that we find ourselves in. I think a lot of my generation (almost in our 40s) grew up listening to bands like Alkaline Trio and Lawrence Arms that just make you want to get absolutely tanked and rip up a photo of your ex, or whatever. Sad Bastard music. It's just so easy to think about punk rock tours being associated with PBR, cocaine, and sleeping on someone's piss-covered floor. I think there's probably a few years’ worth of my life in total where I woke up in Kalamazoo or wherever having no idea where I was, wondering who had pissed my pants, and asking myself if I even had fun last night. Being almost 40, we grew up idolizing bands that were famous for trashing hotel rooms and drinking whiskey and blah blah blah.

    I mean, I still think Keith Moon is cool and all, but after 3 years of sobriety, it's insane how different tours are looking through the lens of a clear mind. It's night and day. Signals has played Fest I think 11 or 12 times, and the 3 I've done sober have been my favorite ones. And by far the cheapest ones. Now that I tour sober I feel like I meet people and form genuine friendships, as opposed to drinking buddies, ya know? If I would have met Jared during my partying days, I don’t think I would have understood how truly awesome that dude is!!!!!!!


How do you support each other’s mental health within the band?
 

  • Well, luckily I hit the jackpot with dudes who are super chill and down to earth. Like mad chillers, bro. Signals turns 17 in 2025 which is insane. When you spend almost two decades with someone, you grow up with them, ya know? I feel like when I joined Signals in 2010 I was the complete opposite person that I am today in 2025. I prioritized partying first and foremost and took for granted the opportunities and friendships that were right there in front of me. Hindsight is always 20/20 I suppose.

    During COVID the band had to quickly adapt to the new way of things. We were in the process of writing *DENT* and only able to practice once every month or two, so our texting and calling started to increase. It was such a gnarly time, and the Signals group chat was more than just talking about *DENT*, it was also “how are you doing, dude?” or “how is everyone holding up?” I think the fact we weren't able to tour, play shows, or barely even practice made us all realize how much we missed each other. Around that time is when I realized I missed Max, Steve and Ryan as friends first, and band members second (awwww!). When something or someone gets taken away from you, you realize how much it means to you. Since I got sober in 2022 I've really been working on myself and my mental health, and I've seen a huge increase with that in the other guys as well. I talk to Max on the phone at least once every few weeks. Anytime I start a new project around the house I have to text Ryan to let him know, and Steve and I have legit the most therapeutic conversations I have ever had in my entire life when we drive to Pittsburgh for practice. The best part of band practice is the drive with Steve.

    I also want to give a shout out to my dawg Steve because he unfortunately got stuck with drunk me for the first decade of our band, and man, that couldn't have been easy. I wouldn’t have made it to Australia for our 2018 tour if he hadn’t gotten me on that plane. Saint Steve, as he's known around my inner monologue. Him and I are also talking through my past transgressions and have these heavy, deep conversations about things I have done that weren't things best friends do. I don’t think if we knew how to prioritize mental health and talk through emotions we would be able to have the conversations that we have. Now that I'm rereading this I'm realizing my answer is probably a bit too long, so a quick TL;DR is that the Signals Midwest mental health game is top tier. I support them and they support me, and if Fanduel ever allows you to gamble on “band who is most in touch with each other” put your life savings on us.
     

What role do you think musicians can play in de-stigmatizing addiction and/or mental illness?
 

  • Talk about it and be there for each other no matter what. Talk about it with each other, talk about it with anyone who's sober curious, and talk about it with anyone that's been sober for 200 years. Us musicians have such a unique opportunity since we are lucky enough to travel and meet so many new people on a daily basis. Say we do a 14-day tour and 20 people come out to each show—that's 280 new homies we get to meet for being in this silly little band. At least two people at the show will be struggling with addiction or mental illness, so if a traveling musician seems to notice the struggle, we should take the lead and reach out to them and remind them they're not alone in this. There's at least 10% of this room that is statistically an alcoholic, but I bet you there is more. Sobriety is crazy because statistically speaking 10% of us in the entire world are alcoholics, and out of that, 80% of us relapse at some point. Sobriety is never “achieved,” it’s an ongoing battle. In AA they refer to anyone in recovery as a “fellowship,” so to me that means we are all in this together—a bunch of Aragorns, Gimlis, and motherf***ing Frodos—and we got this, as long as we hold each other accountable and reach out to one another if we are struggling.


Are there any local organizations or resources in your area you’ve partnered with or want to support to promote mental health within the scene?
 

  • We should all take a day and go visit a random stranger at the VA. The VA is full of folks who are doing the right thing, and are under-supported by our current government. Everyone from the vets to the nurses to the staff could all use a pick-me-up. Maybe if every one of us went to our local VA, we could bring a $5 Hot-N-Ready pizza, meet a stranger and just hear their story. PTSD wasn't really “a thing” for some of these vets, and mental health is still not talked about enough. The VA is a place I think everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime.

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3.  Daniel Hart
 

Daniel Hart is an environmentalist, musician, and writer who’s spent the last decade leading sustainability, climate justice, and community planning initiatives at the university, city, and nonprofit levels across the country. He plays guitar and sings in Old Pictures / New Pictures and The Slow Go Oftens, as well as in Richmond, VA-based bands Midlife Pilot and Hard Count.

What was the moment you realized that mental health and addiction are real issues in the music industry?

  • Mental health is such an important issue not only in the music industry, but also in the broader culture. For me, I see many of our culture’s substance abuse and mental health issues as being related to the effects of industrial culture and colonization—that’s not only showing up in the degradation of people, but also in the way that humans have treated themselves as separate from nature, resulting in the degradation of the natural world. Outside of being a musician, I’ve spent the last 10+ years of my career helping people connect to the natural world in more meaningful ways, mostly through leading organizational change efforts toward sustainability and climate justice in higher education, city-level policy, and grassroots nonprofits. For me, the healing of Earth and the healing of human culture is one and the same.


What kind of support systems do you think musicians need that they currently don’t have?

  • I love the work of Start Today Harm Reduction, which one of my closest friends and bandmates in Old Pictures / New Pictures co-founded. I see it as an incredible organization getting young people stoked that it’s actually cool to not get super fucked up, because for us to be able to be the best human beings we can during these times of climate crisis, unraveling, and geopolitical tensions, we need to be taking great care of ourselves.


How do you use your platform—either on stage or online—to raise awareness about these issues?

  • For me, I teach college classes focused on sustainability and environmental studies, and I work to integrate contemplative practices like meditation into the classroom. I feel like this culture is moving so fast, and we can have agency over our lives through slowing down, breathing, being there for other people, and being real and decent human beings.


Is there anything you would like to plug or promote while you’re here?

  • Life’s so short. Have fun. Be there for your friends. Be kind to strangers. Explore new opportunities. Be the kind of person that you’d want to be in love with.

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2.  Benjamin Lee - Scenario

What was the moment you realized that mental health and addiction are real issues in the music industry? 

  • That’s a little hard to pinpoint, but I think I made the connection pretty early in life. I grew up watching a ton of VH1’s Behind the Music and there were always a lot of tragic stories about mental health and substance use. Little did I know, that path would be one I would travel myself.

 

Can you share how you or someone close to you coped with or overcame struggles related to alcoholism, drug use, or mental health issues?

  • I struggled for a LONG time with my substance abuse. It took several court ordered trips to rehab, a lot of time incarcerated, and all the pain that I both experienced and caused to the people around me to culminate in the place I am today in my recovery. The only way I found any success was to accept that I was an addict, that I was the problem, and to work a 12-step program. I’ll always be an addict but with the tools and relationships that I’ve been given in my program, I don’t have to ever use or go back to that way of life if I don’t want to.

 

 

Do you think the culture of touring/performing contributes to substance abuse in musicians? If so, how? 

  • Definitely. If a musician has any kind of substance issue and doesn’t have a network of support, or the tools to cope with being around drug/alcohol use things could get dicey even just playing locally/regionally. Add to that the chaos and stress of touring in larger chunks/further distances, and it’s just another level of risk if you’re not dialed in.

 

Have you ever felt pressure to drink or use substances in order to fit in or be creative? 

  • When I was younger, I think there was definitely an element of wanting to fit in. The creative part, I just dealt with that when I got clean in 2023. I had such a strong connection between substance use and my creative output that I was really afraid that I wouldn’t be able to even enjoy making music anymore or be any good at it. I’m happy to report that’s not the case, but it was a real fear that I had to deal with and overcome.

 

How do you support each other’s mental health within the band? 

  • I’m extremely fortunate in that I’m not the only member of Scenario. that’s in recovery. Since I rejoined the band last year, it’s been a hugely positive experience for my mental health. We’re all pretty open with each other as far as any kind of personal issues that we’re dealing with. Being in a band again is extremely rewarding for me, and I’m very lucky to be playing and creating with the rest of the guys in the band. I think they would say the same.

 

What role do you think musicians can play in de-stigmatizing addiction and or mental illness? 

  • Probably one of the biggest things is not glamorizing the substance use/pain of mental illness. Also, don’t sidestep around it. Being honest about the role that either issue has played in your life is the key. I think people relate to that and it builds connection. That’s what life is all about. Deep down we all just want to have real connections with others.

 

Are there any local organizations or resources in your area you’ve partnered with or want to support to promote mental health within the scene? 

  • I feel like these journeys are so deeply personal that it’s hard for me to advocate any one particular pathway to wellness and recovery. What works for one person may not for another. I think open lines of communication are the biggest asset and resource in any community.

 

How do you use your platform—either on stage or online—to raise awareness about these issues? 

  • I’m not really one of those people that puts a big emphasis on my recovery in my social media, but I’m very open about it if I’m asked. I think avoiding the conversation is a huge disservice to all involved. Honesty and open-mindedness are the keys to understanding.

 

How has your music changed as you’ve worked through mental health or addiction challenges?

  • My relationship with music and the messages that are conveyed through it has evolved. It’s really a perspective thing. Before, it was pretty surface level I think. Now, it’s about a deeper meaning to the emotions that are being expressed. I can write an angry or sad song, but I want it to come with a message of hope or resolution. I don’t want to just stew in the negative.

 

Have you or your band written any songs or albums that were directly inspired by these experiences? 

  • I’m in a new role in Scenario. now as a vocalist/lyricist, whereas before my contributions were just musical. Our last record, “When All Is Said And Done”, has a good bit of lyrical content that deals with our friend and former bandmate Mike’s own journey in recovery. I’ll definitely be covering my own experiences in our new material and I’m sure it’ll end up being a big theme in my lyrics.

 

What advice would you give to younger artists who might be struggling with similar issues? 

  • No matter what you’re going through or how bad you think it is, as long as you’re still alive and breathing there’s the opportunity to get better. It’s not easy but it’s pretty simple. There’s life on the other side of the pain if you’re willing to listen to suggestions and put the work in.

 

Is there anything you would like to plug or promote while you’re here? 

  • You can find any info on the band through our Instagram @scenariopunk. We’ve got a couple cool shows locked in for the summer that we’re excited for. We’re playing Covington MetalFest in June and Fairview Fest in August. Other than that, I think the focus will be mostly on writing the next record right now. In the meantime, you can stream our music on Spotify, YouTube, or directly through our bandcamp scenariopunk.bandcamp.com

 

Thank you Start Today for the opportunity to discuss recovery and it’s role in both my personal life and the music community!

Jet Turner - Boys Night Out

1.  Jet Turner - Boys Night Out

We’re excited to kick off this series with a great read from our new friend, Jet Turner, guitarist for long-running Canadian band Boys Night Out. Below, he tells his story in an open, honest, and humble manner, and we can’t thank him enough for taking the time, being so vulnerable, and really getting into some of what Start Today Harm Reduction
is here to help with.

Take it away, Jet…

I come from a pretty successful family who were trying to set me up to be successful. I went to a private school on a small island off the coast of where I grew up (St. Simons Island) and lived in Brunswick, GA (the mainland) in middle school. When outside influences started to appeal to me, I found myself getting along less and less with people at my small private school. It was very elitist. Myself and my brother and maybe one other person were the only students who didn't live on the island we went to school on. We were always considered outsiders. By 8th grade I had discovered punk rock and was in full on rebellion against the school, the people that went there, and my parents. I begged to go to public school but I ended up getting kicked out.

 

I hit the ground running in 9th grade. I was so ready to make a name for myself and I quickly ran across a group of people who were privy to chemically changing the way they felt. This quickly became my MO. By 12th grade I was already into pretty much everything and was a known party guy. I was also a known musician and by 12th grade, I already had a band doing bigger things. 

 

At my dad's request, I gave college a chance but I dropped out really quickly when my band at the time was offered a tour. This became the central theme to my life - giving up anything to chase music. My 20's were a blur of touring and throwing home shows and different business ventures, but the most common themes were - doing anything it took to keep the band going and getting as fucked up as possible along the way. This continued well into my 30’s. I had to have a couple surgeries along the way, and I was no stranger to opiates. They were always my favorite. In my mid 30's, the band I was in that was probably the closest to doing something real broke up and I took it so hard. I had poured my entire soul into that band and we had come really close to doing something with a major label.  

 

I was devastated and my use afterwards ramped all the way up. I eventually pawned all my gear and graduated to IV heroin. I wanted to die and I was trying every day. I did this for like 6 sad years before I finally admitted I had a problem. I tried and tried to get clean in my hometown but nothing ever stuck. It took getting arrested the last time and taking someone’s advice to get the fuck out of my home town. I was lucky enough to meet the girl I would marry while I was living in a halfway house in this time period. We started talking nonstop and I started finding reasons outside of music to stay clean. She had kids. I can't have kids. I wanted a family. She was my dream girl. Literally out of my league. But we kept talking and talking and started dating and we were married 6 months later.  

 

She saved my life. Her and the kids literally saved my life.  

 

Being in recovery and in Boys Night Out has honestly been amazing. The two are directly related. I have been off heroin for about 5 years and I'm so proud to say that, but that doesn't go to say that my entire recovery since leaving my hometown and getting married and moving away has been without incident. I've had a few relapses and had to learn the hard way that I have some other mental issues going on. I was diagnosed with Major Depression and generalized anxiety about two years ago. I've been treating those disorders with meds and I've been an active member of NA and HNI. Joining BNO, who is literally my favorite band of all time, was just more evidence than anything that the person I am when I'm working a program in recovery is capable of anything.

 

There hasn't been too much to navigate, everyone in my band is super respectful of my stance on recovery and mental health. I'm what I guess most people would refer to as "Cali sober," as I just quit doing the poison that was killing me. I still smoke. I still have a good time. But I'm a super advocate for anyone doing any version of recovery that they feel safe with. My message is simple: "recovery isn't cookie cutter." What works for me won't work for anyone else - we just all have to be really honest with ourselves about what we can handle and what is best for our recovery in the long run. For me, smoking weed is part of the process. I wouldn't have found my higher power without it.

 

The best advice I can give anyone who's trying to get or stay clean is really simple - don't lie to yourself. I used to do it all the time and am still very capable of doing it now. You have to be really honest with yourself. While we were on tour, I was pretty much in my sponsor's ear all day long and I did bare minimum one zoom meeting a day. I was lucky enough to catch a couple in person meetings in cities that I had recovery friends within. 

 

[This] tour was insane from beginning to end. And not even in a "crazy party stories" kinda way. We did everything ourselves. We managed it ourselves, we handled the logistics ourselves, loaded our own gear, did our own tech. It was such a cool experience, but it was challenging to both my recovery and my mental health and I'll definitely need to keep the entire experience in mind if we ever set out to do it again."
 

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