Meet Ax Stinnett

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ax Stinnett. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Ax, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

I spent much of my life concerned that I didn’t entirely fit into any group I was included in. I’ve remained open to trying new things and connecting with people that have other interests than my own, and THAT has led to having a wildly diverse group of friends. I remember trying to fit in with the “cliques” in high school, and always being welcome in their groups despite not being “one of them.” It wasn’t until adulthood that I began to realize that “standing out” was more of an asset than a hindrance. I still compare myself and my art to others and their work, but my focus now is less about fitting in and more about being or creating a version of something nobody has seen before. If you ever feel like you aren’t enough of something to fit in with the others, don’t worry! You’re the first of a new thing!

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Quite a few of you may know me from my visual art and graphic design. I’ve helped design shirts, stickers, and other merch for a bunch of local bands in Columbus, OH. I’m also a performing musician with a number of different groups. You might have seen me darting from one stage to another at ComFest (2025) this year, getting selfies and hugs from all of my homies! I’ve been lucky enough to perform at Riot Fest (2024), Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival (2025) with my friends Huge Euge and AJB, and I’ll also be at Grandview Hop (2025) on August 23rd, and at Midwest Psych Fest (2025) on October 3-4th with my band The Fronks. My focus these days is mostly on being a better performer and continuing to help lift my friends up. I’m so grateful to everyone that has contributed to the life I get to live, and I just want to give back as much as I can in return.

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?

1. Be amicable.
Honestly, I’ve always been good at making friends. That skill has helped in so many other areas of my life. Learning to treat others with kindness and to appreciate how unique every individual is, is a crucial skill to have.

2. Be confident.
I know that as artists we like to romanticize “staying humble” and that’s not necessarily wrong, but at a certain point if enough people are telling you how awesome you are, BELIEVE IT.

3. Be yourself.
Don’t let yourself get bogged down trying to fit in with what others are doing or expecting from you. Pour your energy into the ideas that you are passionate about, and dedicate yourself to doing them the best you can. Just because you don’t see anyone else doing it, doesn’t mean it’s a thing that can’t be done.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

That’s a hard one for me. For most of my life I focused my energy on areas where I was already likely to succeed. I would try a new thing, sure, but if I didn’t show promise in that first attempt I would move on to the next thing. Now, I try to find ways that those natural talents of mine could open doors to new areas I hadn’t considered before. I’m joining all the bands and performing at festivals and even hosting shows as an MC these days! I think it’s important to not let yourself rest on the accomplishments you’ve already made, and to keep striving to be something bigger and better than you were yesterday. That could mean continuing to push yourself at a skill that you’ve already proven yourself at, OR trudging through the beginnings of learning a new skill until it becomes one that you’re confident in. There is no right answer to this interview question, so long as you are pushing yourself to grow and be better.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Pictures taken by Rick Carr, Brian Schwartz, Domino Hunter, and Tom Perley.

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