We were lucky to catch up with Jeff Hans recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jeff, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Every author I’ve ever met has told me stories of struggling with writers block. Likewise, every musician I’ve ever met has told me stories of imposter syndrome. I think it’s a huge piece of the human experience that has yet to be taught well enough. Maybe it’s a wholly American thing, but when I was young, I was only taught what to do if you lose. Things like being gracious, congratulate the winner, look at the positives of your performance, learn from your mistakes, every loss is one step closer to a win. But there was an utter lack of explanation on how to handle things when you win. Aside from the obvious (not to boast or brag) what do you do with a win? How do you capitalize on it? Was it a fluke? Will this lead to more wins? What if it doesn’t? Should I even enjoy it because it will be short lived?
I think imposter syndrome is our inability to believe that the things we’ve worked toward are being realized. It’s your mind’s way of tricking you, not maliciously, but to keep you safe. To keep you grounded. To keep you realistic. Because you’ve known a lot of failure and trial and error to this point, and now suddenly the results are changing? Why would anything ever change, especially something to benefit me specifically?
The same type of people who experience imposter syndrome are the same people who are extremely uncomfortable taking compliments. Tell me I’m wrong.
That doubt you feel, that feeling of not being worthy, you’re only denying yourself joy, joy that you earned by the way. If you invite those compliments with open arms and take those opportunities you think might be out of your ability or reach, take on challenges, you’ll be surprised at how you rise to the occasion, and who knows, maybe you’ll impress even yourself.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Jeff, I’m a musician and filmmaker. I go by the artist name or “band name” Astronaut Country Club. It’s meant as a slight towards space tourism and the only ones who can afford it calling themselves “Astronaut” and then creating a members only club. But I made the first one so they couldn’t have it. My music is eclectic, there are so many amazing artists to pull inspiration from, but I try to stay in the pop-punk / alt-rock genres. I have a blues song, I have a march that sounds like an Irish bar song, I have angry songs, I have happy songs.
For those of you who love poetry, I focus a lot on my lyrics, I love how words can paint a picture, but music can make it a masterpiece. I write music that I like, things I think are catchy and have meaning. Songs I’m proud of and proud to have written. If the internet lasts forever, maybe like so many artists before me, my music will be discovered hundreds of years from now and be regarded as the best of it’s time, this hidden gem who was undiscovered and underappreciated. Forgive my delusions of grandeur.
All of my music is available on all (most) streaming platforms. I recently started a Substack that has an option for paid subscriptions, I have live shows planned for paid subscribers, each new single comes out a month early for paid subscribers. I also made my accounts private on my TikTok account as well as Instagram, my content wasn’t reaching my followers, this was kind of the only way I could ensure people who want to hear my music can actually hear my music. I’m not really looking to play stadiums or be wildly rich and famous, but what I do want is community. I want to be able to make music for people who want to hear it and for it to be enjoyed, no matter the metrics and the numbers. I just want to know someone is listening, and people are, and I really appreciate every moment I get to do this.
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?
The first skill every artist should acquire is knowing what you like. It sounds simple, all it takes is time. If you’re going to make any type of art, consume a lot of it. Take notes on what things stick out to you that you’d like to emulate, and research how to accomplish it. Copy artists you admire, not just one, but a bunch. Do as they do and adapt their habits and skills, then combine everything you’ve learned from all of those sources of inspiration, and congratulations you have your own style.
The second skill is knowing and understanding the tools you’re using to accomplish your goals. Tools come in all shapes and sizes. For a musician it can be a guitar, piano, or microphone. For a painter, brushes, pastels, or pencils. Knowing what a quality tool is and how to care for it makes learning and creating easier as well as more rewarding. So many starter kits for art are (including beginner instruments) made as cheaply as possible. Do your research, ask your peers, know the difference between inexpensive and cheap. Creating art is difficult enough without the hindrance of poor quality instruments. Don’t empty your bank account, but know what you’re buying and learn when to replace something that no longer serves it’s purpose.
The last but most important skill I encourage all creative people to develop is knowing when to take a break. Great art comes not only from experience in craft, but life experience. Your perspective, your lived experience, the people you meet, the places you go, they’re all unique points to draw inspiration from. If you ever find yourself lacking inspiration or motivation, go live life. Leisure can seem like a waste of time for someone trying to create, but without life there is no art. Art is a reflection of a time, place, and its people. The more life you live, the more you can create. It’s necessary, take the break.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
This question has been on my mind for quite some time. Since the inception of Astronaut Country Club I’ve contemplated how I would gradually evolve things to keep it unique and interesting. I drew inspiration from several local artists who would play live shows with backing tracks (including my good friend Pat Renny) and I was able form and craft a one man show that is both engaging and entertaining. I was able to create a body of music that isn’t a repeat of the same songs every show I play and incorporate elements like video packages, costumes, and props. But I’ve been putting off adding members to the band because I’ve been a part of a band before, and it’s a lot of work and compromise. Having personalities that compliment each other is almost more important than a person’s ability and skill on their given instrument. I often joke that being in a band is like maintaining multiple marriages. On the positive side, having people to bounce ideas off of, to create with, to share in the responsibilities of the band beyond the music (promotion, merch, booking, etc.), to have more than me to do all the things necessary for a band to be successful could speed up the process and make for a better live experience for the audience. With a one man show, I’m not going to mince words, it’s glorified Karaoke. I use my pre-recorded backing tracks, sing live, and play the guitar solos live. It doesn’t quite have the live performance feel I’d like it to have.
In a perfect world, here’s what Astronaut Country Club would look like: Myself as the primary writer and lead vocalist, I’d like to relinquish all instruments to musicians better than myself. I’d love a rhythm guitarist, lead guitarist, bassist, and drummer. The rest of the instrumentation and production pieces can still be supplemented by backing tracks so I need musicians familiar with in-ear monitors and the ability to play to a click track. Ideally one of these members would be female (or a male with a soprano range) who is comfortable with harmonies and eventually lead vocals as I’d like to write songs based around a female vocal (I’m a huge fan of Paramore). I also would like people who are willing to be ridiculous, to be “cringe af” as the kids say. I like being “extra” when it comes to presentation, costumes, music videos, all of it and I want people who won’t drag their feet or complain about doing fun things to promote and release new music. If being over the top makes you feel embarrassed, this band probably isn’t for you. Personality trumps all though, I can forgive less experienced playing if we get along and have the same goals, the skill comes with practice, and all we need is time. This is the dream of the future on Astronaut Country Club, if this seems like something you may be interested in, send an email to [email protected] with the subject line “I want to join the band” and in the body, tell me about yourself and your history with music, how you found me, what you like about my musical style, and why you think you’d be a good fit for the band. This process might take a while but will be well worth it with the right people in the right positions.
As far as collaborations with other artists, creating songs with other people, I’ve done one such song so far with an artist Sero ( @serotoninchaser on socials), it’s a song about being a parent but still living the pop-punk lifestyle. I have already set up a few other collaborations with friends I’ve made in the Baltimore music scene and with artists I’ve become friends with on TikTok. If you’re looking forward to me working with other artists, follow my socials, and subscribe to my Substack because that will be the first place everything I do will be posted.
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Image Credits
Jessi Grace, Scott Homebrew Mr. Homebrew Photography
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