From Backyard Jams to Mental Health & Music Hustle – Stoney Banks on Life, Music & Sobriety

In this episode, I sit down with Nashville artist Stoney Banks to unpack his raw, honest journey through music, mental health, and finding purpose. We dive into what it means to balance creative expression with personal demons, the reality of the industry vs. the dream, and how reggae-country fusion became his healing outlet. Stoney opens up about childhood rejection, self-worth, and how those early wounds led him to pick up a guitar and never look back. We also explore his experiences touring with Big Smo, brushes with major labels, and how narrowly avoiding record deals turned out to be a blessing. He shares stories from Reggae Rise Up Fest, thoughts on sobriety, and why music is both lifeline and therapy. If you're an indie artist, creative, or just someone who values real talk, this is one of the most vulnerable and inspiring conversations we’ve had yet.