That is the message behind Punk Talks, a free mental health service geared toward helping artists, fans, and professionals in the alternative music industry. When asked to explain the meaning behind the mantra, founder Sheridan Allen simplifies it like this: “My hope is that we can eliminate the idea that you have to be miserable to be creative. It is crucially important to me that people understand, while music can [be] an excellent and healthy outlet for negativity, negativity is not necessarily a requirement of creativity. I saw a huge amount of people refusing to practice self-care for the ‘sake of music.’ Believe it or not, it is possible to be mentally healthy and be a talented artist!”
or in-person at shows or festivals. Allen toured with You Blew It!, All Get Out, and Free Throw throughout February and March. “When I heard about the tour, I reached out to Tanner [Jones of You Blew It!] about joining them for a few dates, and they were gracious to have me,” she says of the Abrendot Winter 2017 tour. “This will be my first time bringing Punk Talks to Boston and Philly, as well as returning to some of my favorite cities like Lansing and Richmond.”
Allen—who launched Punk Talks back in January 2015— describes the project as a “product of my quarter-life crisis.” A senior at Northern Kentucky University at the time, her attention became divided when she sought to make one last attempt at finding her place in the music industry. “I was trying to figure out what role I could take on,” Allen says. “I had no photography skills. I wasn’t a writer, and I certainly couldn’t play any instruments. So, what could I do?”
Allen previously worked with You Blew It!—and many others—on Punk Talks’ 2015 Silver Linings Charity Compilation. She also joined Free Throw last summer with Tiny Moving Parts and Prawn, as well as a separate tour with Sorority Noise. “I am so excited to be working with bands who truly care about the importance of mental health treatment and making sure that it is accessible and normalized in our community.”
She cites bands like Modern Baseball, who have had major successes, but might not have had an outlet to confront “the stress they must be under.” “I was so stressed, and college was the only thing on my plate!” Allen exclaims. “I couldn’t imagine having to plan full U.S. tours during summer break on top of that. It sort of dawned on me that mental health services weren’t really available or accessible within alternative music. Lots of support groups—[To Write Love On Her Arms], HeartSupport, etc.—existed, but I saw a real lack of actual services. I was about to graduate with my Bachelor of Social Work and knew that helping people was my only real skill set, so I thought, ‘OK, this could work.’” Allen says Punk Talks works on a referral process. “If someone is interested in services, they can email me at punktalks@gmail.com,” she explains. “I am the only person with access to it.” If someone is requesting therapy services, “I will first try to help them identify in-person therapy options in their area,” she adds. “If we have exhausted all other options and they are an eligible candidate for our services, a referral is sent over to our volunteer [Licensed Clinical Social Worker], who will contact them to begin services.” That LCSW is Ryan Kelly, who offers a weekly 30 to 45-minute session by phone. Other members of Allen’s team include volunteer coordinator, Hailey Lamb; outreach coordinator, Emily Balcerak; social media coordinator, Alyssa McCarthy; artistic director, Joel Funk; marketing director, Jeff Fidler; and financial director, Michelle Tirpak.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDY WELLS
78 NEW NOISE
Advocating and educating others about mental health services and mental illness is crucial to keeping the conversation alive and moving forward, and Allen takes the time to promote Punk Talks through social media platforms
It has been two years since Allen created Punk Talks and began her journey, but she still remembers the days when she was “hand-printing logo shirts” and “[using] my graduation money from my parents to sponsor the smallest stage at Bled Fest.” One accomplishment she holds onto tightly is the release of Jingle Yay!, a holiday-themed compilation album, which included a new song from singersongwriter Julien Baker. “To go from the truly literal definition of DIY to releasing a new Julien Baker track in the span of two years was absolutely something I never expected,” Allen continues. “Through Punk Talks, I’ve been able to truly see the best that our community has to offer.” “The power of positivity is strong in a time when our nation’s future is uncertain and things are generally scary,” she concludes. “I’ve learned that DIY houses some of the kindest, most intelligent, insanely talented individuals in the world, and I feel so privileged to be the voice for mental health in our scene.”