We recently had the chance to connect with SCOTT STEWART and have shared our conversation below.
SCOTT, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Are you walking a path—or wandering?
“I’d say I’m definitely walking a path, though at times I find myself tempted by detour signs along the way. Since my last interview, I’ve become more deeply involved with my faith and community—I serve in two churches, playing drums and percussion on worship teams, I’m part of a Christian-based band working on original music in addition to Blacktop Rodeo, and I also help with a Nursing Home Ministry once a month. With four days a week serving or attending church, from the outside, it looks like a very straight path, and in many ways it is.
But I’ll be honest—struggles, doubts, and fears sometimes cloud my mind, and I stumble. The difference now is that I’ve learned how to realign myself when that happens. I have accountability through my church family, my bandmates, and my faith, and that helps keep me grounded. So while I may wander briefly at times, I know my direction, and I’m committed to walking it with purpose.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
“My name is Scott Stewart, and I’m a gigging, touring, and session drummer who balances a very full plate. Alongside a demanding full-time job that keeps me on call 24/7, I spend most of my mornings and evenings behind the kit—playing five nights a week and two mornings a week. My home base is with Salt and Light Church, Salt and Light Academy, and Southeast Christian Church, while I also perform with Blacktop Rodeo and Willie Graham.
The church and academy work is volunteer-driven and deeply fulfilling, especially starting on Wednesday mornings, assisting with leading worship for over a hundred students at Salt and Light Academy. Seeing them pray, pledge, and sing together is a powerful reminder of why I play—it grounds my faith and keeps me aligned on the path I’m meant to walk.
On the other side, my work with Blacktop Rodeo and Willie Graham has been expanding, making the dream of playing music full-time a real possibility. My brand is really about balance: bringing energy, professionalism, and passion to every stage—whether it’s a worship service, a festival crowd, or a session gig. At its core, it’s about serving people through music, staying true to my faith, and building something meaningful that connects with every audience and band I play for.”
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
“To be honest, this is a hard question for me. A lot of my past relationships have been painful and even destructive at times, and for a while, that made me question my worth and who I really was. But through that hurt, I started to learn something important about myself—that I am more resilient than I ever thought I could be. The relationship that has truly reshaped how I see myself isn’t with another person, but with God. My faith has been the constant that steadies me when everything else feels uncertain. It has helped me heal, given me direction, and reminded me that I’m not defined by my failures. Whether I’m behind a drum kit at church, playing in a club, or just facing everyday life, that relationship gives me confidence. It reminds me that I am loved, I am forgiven, and I am still growing into the person I’m meant to be.”
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
“One of the most defining wounds in my life came from a failed relationship. It left me not only with deep emotional scars but also with a significant amount of personal debt. At the time, it felt like I had lost my footing completely—both financially and personally. The emotional impact has taken years to work through, and if I’m honest, it’s something I’m still healing from.
What helped me begin to move forward was leaning on my faith. Spiritually, I’ve grown in ways I never expected. Learning how to forgive—not only the other person, but also myself—has been one of the hardest and most humbling lessons of my life. Forgetting is harder, but forgiveness has given me peace.
On the financial side, I pushed myself to work harder, to take on more opportunities—especially through music, which has always been both my passion and my outlet. Every time I sit behind the drums, whether at church or on stage, it reminds me that pain can be turned into something meaningful.
I won’t pretend that it wasn’t a shameful chapter in my life. But what I’ve come to realize is that those experiences have shaped me into someone stronger, more resilient, and more empathetic. They’ve reminded me that setbacks don’t define me—how I respond to them does. And for me, that response has been to pray, to serve, and to keep moving forward.”
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
“For the most part, yes—the public version of me is the real me. When I’m on stage behind the drums or sharing on social media, I’m loud, commanding, and energetic. That side of me is very real, but it’s also polished and presented in a way that fits the platform or moment. Off stage, though, I’m a little more reserved, quiet, and even shy at times—which can feel like a contradiction, but both sides are authentically who I am.
I also recognize that in certain settings—because of my bands, professional relationships, and partnerships with brands—I may choose to temper how strongly I express certain opinions. But even then, I never compromise my morals or values. At the end of the day, what you see publicly is a true extension of me, just one facet of a person who has both bold and quieter layers.”
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
I’ll be honest—my mind rarely shuts down. I’m always thinking, planning, or moving to the next thing, so peace usually comes to me in short bursts. But there are two places where I feel most at peace: on stage behind my drums and sitting in church.
In church, I find a deeper peace through hearing the Word and experiencing salvation. It’s where I can lay down my worries and feel comforted, almost like everything else fades away for a while. On stage, the experience is completely different but just as powerful. No matter how loud the music is, how many people are in the crowd, or how much is going on around me, being behind the kit is my happy place. It’s where I’ve always felt like I belong.
There’s something about making music—whether it’s covers, original songs, or even filling in with another band—that allows me to be the truest version of myself. The shy part of me falls away, and my loud, energetic side comes through. Yet, even in that space, I stay humble and grateful. Both places—church and the stage—are safe spaces for me, where I can quiet my mind, be fully present, and feel at peace with myself and my surroundings.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.scottstewartdrums.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whistler00gage
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scott.stewart.5891
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/scottstewart2194
- Other: https://www.linktree.com/whistler00
Image Credits
Photographer: Sara Townsend
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