HIT THE STAGE. Tim Hackemack

say art and music are pretty equally for me. I draw and paint as much as I make new music or play shows. I can tell you that I get more enjoyment looking at art than I do listening to music these days so I don’t know what that says. Expressing myself artistically is probably the most crucial thing going in my life.

      What are the things that inspire you, that make you want to write a song?

      Either the stupidity or the brilliance of humanity. I love to observe and document so all of my songs and paintings reflect real life, real situations, real places. One of my biggest hobbies is to paint while I watch YouTube “celebrities” do their thing on their channels. Most of them have enormous followings but do some of the most incredibly dumb and ridiculous shit imaginable and they get paid millions to do it. I don’t covet their life. Even with all the money they make, I wouldn’t trade my life for theirs. Often times, what they say and do repels me but I find inspiration in it, for some reason.

      What comes harder to you, the melody or the lyrics?

      The melody is easy. Lyrics come harder these days.

      Do you have songwriters that you would call your idols?

      I don’t think I idolize anyone but I think people like Billy Bragg and Steve Earle are incredible songwriters.

      Do you think you could just start working a regular job and cutting the time for your art?

      I’ve worked regular jobs throughout my adult life. I haven’t done too much full-time work anywhere but I’ve taken a lot of part-time and temporary jobs to help make ends meet over the years. I have no problem working whatsoever. I come from good, sturdy working-class roots.

      Nowadays it’s quite normal for singers of punk or hardcore bands to start a solo-career and nobody cares anymore. Was that the same when you started it in the 80s or did you encounter a lot of negative responses?

      I think people were a little excited at first but once they realized it was just me and an acoustic guitar, the excitement faded. I get it. There’s not much you can do as a solo acoustic performer to rival what you can do with a full, loud band. Now, people are pretty used to the fact that I primarily perform solo so they either like it and come out to see my shows, or they don’t.

      Your lyrics are mostly with a very positive outlook on life. Is that something that comes naturally to you?

      I don’t necessarily think that is true. I mean, I’m always looking for the better, brighter spots in life to focus on but my creative side is very much rooted in a much darker, sadder, angrier place. That’s kind of the point … try and squeeze some good out of the stuff that has been bad. It gives my life soul and purpose and gives me something to work on pretty much every day.