We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Conner Stephens. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Conner below.
Conner, 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.
Since I was young, I have battled with mental health and drug/alcohol related issues. I didn’t have many friends until I was 17, and I used to feel extremely isolated and alone. I would say there was and still continue to be two main things that keep me able to cope, overcome and find success in my life.
The first is my relationship with God. Without Him, I don’t know where I would be, but I can tell you I would still be lost. In every moment of darkness, every inexplicably low valley, He was there. I used to think that God was selective with His love, that I was outside the scope and unworthy of such unconditional love from some “higher power”. I thought it was all just some dogmatic man-made religion to keep people in line with man’s will. Through my experience it is quite the opposite; I have given up on myself more times than I can count and He always pulled me out, saying “you are worthy, you are good enough, you are my child and I love you”. Sure, many folks greatly benefit from medications and doctors help, and yes I have gone those routes. I have been to hospitals, rehabs, outpatient programs and countless hours of counseling. For me, I have benefited most from applying tools learned from all of these different avenues into my daily life. The coupling of these tools with prayer and meditation is what keeps me here today. Sure, I still have my moments, sometimes days, sometimes weeks of constantly battling with my own mental state, becoming my own worst enemy, and that’s normal, it’s okay. This is all part of the human experience and I am grateful to have a connection with the God of my understanding.
The second thing, of course is music. Quite similar to my relationship with The Lord, music has been consistently present in my life. It’s been around long before I was born, and it will be around long after I’m gone. Being a full time musician, sometimes I forget just how much music has saved me- it’s easy to get caught up in the business side of things and remember just how much music has changed my life. I touched earlier on battling with myself and I think it’s important to say that there has always been a song that has helped me get through that moment, those moments, and hope for something better, believe there is something better, and I am meant for that. The song will always vary, and that is one of the many wonders and beauties to music- it is ever changing, ever shifting, evolving and there will always be testaments of past songs that all have so much to offer to so many different individuals, without conditions, boundaries or rules. Music is truly a tangible magic, and I am beyond blessed to see it as such, and to be able to have opportunity to hopefully write that song for someone else.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a full time singer/songwriter and the frontman of my band Country Worms! We formed a little over a year ago, blending a wide range of sounds from southern rock, to country & honky tonk, funk, blues and soul. We just released our first single, ‘Would Ya Stay’ featuring our best friends from the band Nether Hour on all streaming platforms. We will be releasing a single to two singles a month until February, when our debut 20-song double album releases!
I have been so excited about this new music for so many reasons! Country Worms has allowed me to get outside of myself in my writing, whether that be writing with other amazing artists, or the sheer fact of creating a new sound that I had not previously ben exposed to! This is also the biggest project to date I will have released! 20 songs is one beefy record and it has been such an incredible learning and growing experience. My understand of the recording and post production aspects of music has grown exponentially as well as my personal growth of my understanding of myself and my walk with being a musician and producer.
Every Wednesday at Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Icehouse on W 6th st, Country Worms plays from 8-10:3o (we call it Wormsday)
August 25th we will be at Pershing Hall in Austin, TX
September 2nd we will have a showcase at Sunset Strip Comedy in Austin, TX
you can find us on instagram @countrywormsofficial
and my personal page @conner_stephens
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
One, perseverance in the face of doubt, skepticism and cynicism. There is ALWAYS going to be someone out there that will say you won’t make it, you don’t have what it takes, you are not worthy. If you’re reading this and have experienced these things… keep going! The world may not ever understand us, and that’s okay. Do not give up, remember why you started writing, singing, playing, creating however that may manifest itself. You are worth it and your creativity is worth it.
Second, I would say lean into learning. I did not go to college and I refuse to let myself stop learning, whether it be from pride, lack of motivation, whatever it is; push yourself to know and understand more and more every day about new subjects. For me that looks like asking questions in studio and asking questions in life. I firmly believe that the moment I tell myself I know all there is to know, or I’m comfortable so I am free to stop learning, is when I start to take steps backward. My experience with learning has (of course) taught me so much about things I didn’t know, but most importantly consistently teaches me humility.
Lastly, take risks! It may sound controversial, and it sure as hell is uncomfortable, but quit your job, move to a new city, explore new avenues of creativity and make connections. It ain’t easy, isn’t for everyone, and if your heart and soul are calling you to a higher purpose, take the leap. The job will always be waiting, even if it’s at a different company, the hometown will always be home. When I quit my steady job to pursue music full time, I was broke and afraid, and I pushed through, found a way to learn more about the industry, and took that risk. Fear can feel overwhelming, but it just takes an ounce of faith and belief to crush that feeling of apprehension.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
From my personal experience I have found it best to go all in on my strengths as a singer/songwriter and once having the confidence and experience with that facet, begin to grow the areas that are not as strong. Growing up in Austin, everyone is a guitar player, (at least that’s how it seemed when I was getting my start) and I knew I wouldn’t be able to get to that skill level of someone who’s been playing Hendrix since they were 9, but I knew I’ve always had a gift for singing and writing. I devoted all of my time to being the best singer/songwriter, for myself, making songs I wanted to hear, and do hear inside my soul. Now having about 13 years of experience I have been able to work in the time to grow my guitar playing skills as well as my producing skills inside the studio. Everyone’s got a different story, we are all unique in our journey and understanding of the world around us, and this is just my experience!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/countrywormsofficial/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd-7ykv2OLH63VrSNP3rQng
