We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dan Paquin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Dan, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
I was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 Disorder after a manic episode and hospitalization on January 1, 2008. After that I made my mental health my number one priority. It took a long time to figure out what that looked like in practice. Years of therapy, a medication regimen that works for me, good sleep hygiene, journaling, making music were the main things that helped me navigate the twists and turns of my journey. I had four leaves from my job in advertising over the course of fifteen years. The first two I was advised to keep quiet about the nature of my leaves. After my last leave I decided to not hide my bipolar and started a mental health group at work. That was at the end of 2019. In 2020 I got laid off from my job. This was a huge blessing and I was able to take a 3 year break where I focused on music, traveling and processing a new hurdle: divorce. The tools I’d gained since 2008 in processing past traumas really helped. The time I’d carved out really helped. Living with bipolar can be very challenging but I feel proud looking back on the hurdles I’ve overcome and feel grounded as I face the future. I have become an advocate for mental health issues. I wrote a song and made a music video for an original song called “Into the Fire Again” that describes the cycle of Bipolar. Verse 1 is about depression. Verse 2 is about mania. The chorus “Into the Fire Again.”
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a musician. I play guitar, bass, drums, sing, songwrite, arrange, produce and make music videos. I played bass in a pop punk band named Dirt Bike Annie for over 9 years from 1996 – 2005. Almost twenty years later we’ve started doing reunion shows including NY, Seattle and an upcoming tour of Japan! In February 2021 I participated in the RPM Challenge where I wrote a 10 song record from scratch, playing all of the instruments. My favorite piece of done recently is a song and accompanying music video on the theme of bipolar. I shot and edited it and my son and his friend did Lego animations. https://youtu.be/-jLVAxTXe-k?si=-L6D-BjruIJVYDvm. It puts together my advocacy around mental health plus a fun silly art project. I have a solo record in the works that I’m hoping to release by the end of the 2nd quarter of 2024.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I’m a performer at heart. Hearing my parents be the loudest ones cheering for me when I was in my first school play in Kindergarten got me hooked. That, and the work itself – rehearsing the play – was so fun. Something about the thing itself has to call to you. You have to enjoy the work. Once you get to a certain facility with an instrument it’s important to get together with other musicians and play. I’ve learned so much just jamming with friends. I had a friend who was a drummer. I’d go to his house and he’d fumble with the guitar and he’d teach me basic drum stuff. I joined a band that the guitar player knew how to record. He taught me how to record. Once you pick the path – or the path picks you – you can just go deeper and deeper. There’s always something to learn or get better at with being a musician and producer. Follow your heart, follow your instincts. That sounds like something on an Instagram meme, but to live that can be challenging. If you want to play an instrument, or paint or sculpt or write – just do it. I come from a punk background where you can do it all yourself. Get the basic chords, basic beats, book a show in a basement or garage. Grab a paintbrush. Grab a pencil or pen and start sketching. You don’t have to go to school or get the best instructor to get started. With Youtube obviously you can get instruction at your own pace.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I love playing with people. I love being in bands and collaborating with other musicians in a room. I have also found that I can do it remotely. I have a friend who is based in Baltimore that has a backlog of almost 100 great hard rock songs. We get a demo going then I send it to a really great drummer in Illinois. We can watch his performance in realtime and approve takes, then I mix them in. Here’s a video he did for a song called “All the Evidence.” https://youtu.be/sPHsOnYeHKA?si=ex0RIukqBOeS-aM5
My 8 year nephew is a rapper. He freestyles into Garageband on an iPad. I tease out the various elements and then put them into a more cohesive song. We did a music video and I think it’s cute and funny.
One of my favorite collaborations is with my friend Lorianne Chapman. She’s the vocalist/lyricist and I’m the musician/producer. Her vibe is kind of Americana. Hoping to start releasing some songs in 2024
I’m listing these artists to show that I have a diverse range of taste and can bring all of my talents to bear on any collaboration!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.danpaquin.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danpaquin
- Facebook: facebook.com/danpaquin
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danpaquin/
- Twitter: dan@danpaquin.com
- Youtube: @danpaquin1
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7dJFPNQ8LqVELWdwqoFYxV?si=LvHR8RBqRpypW5eG_KZsQQ
Image Credits
First Photo of playing bass, standing black and white: Mike Mitchell Other two bass player shots: Chris Chappell
