About 16 years ago I joined a band. I had just gone to trial for crimes related to graffiti. I painted trains through my teens and early 20’s and an old warrant I was completely unaware of caught up with me. The result of this was distancing myself from a long time friend group, most of whom were graffiti writers. I was feeling pretty directionless.
A friend of mine contacted me and said she was starting a band. I was living with a drummer at the time and had been casually playing drums in the living room in my spare time. with the limited experience I had playing the drums I was hesitant to join a band. My friend said she didn’t care and the band was wildly experimental and I could make my own percussive instruments. So I did. Over the next 6 months we went on two tours and recorded and album in Seattle. It was on this trip that my friend decided to move here. She encouraged me to move too.
Leaving all of my friends and family behind. I got on a plane and flew to Seattle. I had very little money as I was still paying off restitution from my trial. I had no friends or support group other than the band I was in. This change of scenery made me anxious, but I just kept reminding myself that if I ever wanted to I could move back home and everything would be the same. 15 years later I’m still here.