Life & Work with Scotty Hasting

Today we’d like to introduce you to Scotty Hasting.

Scotty, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was shot 10 times while on patrol in Afghanistan. I found archery as an adaptive sport during my recovery and started shooting archery within the U.S. Paralympic program. Once covid started, archery stopped, but I still needed something to keep my mind busy, something that I could do to escape. I had always had a guitar sitting in the corner of my room, and one day decided that I wanted to learn how to play. I jumped on YouTube and started learning. I learned and got comfortable with G, C, Em, and D. Once I got comfortable with those chords, I started writing music. Writing was a way for me to express how I was feeling, and it was a great feeling being able to relieve the weight on my shoulders with writing. I had become pretty comfortable with those chords, learned how to use a capo, and realized that I could play covers, so I decided to do an open mic night. Once I got on stage and started playing, all the depression and PTSD, and anxiety just disappeared, and nothing mattered but me and the song I was playing. I had found a new escape. Archery was an escape for a long time but being on stage and playing music was that feeling on steroids. I have never been able to find a feeling like that anywhere else, and I lost myself on stage and was hooked. After that, I started reaching out everywhere, and now, I play at least 4 times a week downtown. I have started working on getting singles out on digital streaming services and am in talks with a label. Music to me is therapy, so I try to get as much of it as possible.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. I had to learn how to play guitar with an injury to the nerves in my hand. I can’t play like most people play the guitar, and I use a strap that attaches a pick to my thumb since, because of the nerve damage, I can’t hold a pick while playing. Then just learning how to sing while playing the song is a challenge in itself. I make all of my bookings, so there can be a lot of frustration when getting booked into these places, especially downtown. I still have a list of places and a list of emails I send out every Monday to try to get into some of the bars on Broadway. I feel like the struggles make it feel so much better when it finally happens. It teaches you to be in that moment when you are finally able to do something you have worked so hard to be a part of.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I play music and write songs either by myself or by cowrites for work. I’m not so sure I specialize in one thing yet. I’m not a great guitar player due to the nerve damage in my hand, so I try to focus on my vocals and keep rhythm with my guitar. I’m not sure I am known for anything, maybe being the guy who got shot 10 times and is out busting his butt to make it in one of the most unforgiving cities for musicians in the world. I am most proud of my song “The Stories That They Tell.” I wrote that song with my good friend Doug Johnson who wrote “Three Wooden Crosses” and “Love Like Crazy.” I came into that writing with an idea. I wanted to tell the story of why we as Veterans tell the stories that we do and how for those brief moments in time, the people that we lost come back to life in our hearts and minds. I had the idea, and we put the direction together, and the song came out great. I have had so many veterans respond to that song and love that song, and that’s why we wrote it so that people could understand us veterans a little more and so veterans would have a song they can truly connect with. The thing that I think sets me apart from others is my story. Doug Johnson once told me, “Your story will get you in the room; your talent will keep you there,” and I have lived by that. Use what you have to get to where you want to be if it’s my story that will open the door, I will utilize that, but it’s up to me once I walk through that door to put in the work or to make sure that I play or sing the best I can and I have to be ready for that.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
My advice would be to get out there and meet people and talk to them, go up and talk to the musician at a local place playing music, go to some writer’s rounds, meet some writers, and make connections that way. Cowrite with as many people as possible to find that 3 or 4 people you connect with and write great songs with. all of that I have used has worked great. Another thing that has worked for me is just taking every music-related meeting that you can get and let them know about yourself and your music.

Contact Info:

• Email: scottyhastingmusic@gmail.com
• Website: http://scottyhastingmusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scotty_hasting_music/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScottyHastingMusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJtZ6RC7cCmCT_erDZztzjg
• Other: https://linktr.ee/ScottyHasting