We recently had the chance to connect with Sam McKinney and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sam, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
For years I spent my time chasing and building a career. Throughout this process I found much success, but also strayed away from many of my core passions. Music is something that has always been a part of my life, but over the past decade stopped prioritizing time for music, instead, dedicating my time to my career. A year ago, feeling the burnout of the career that I had built, as well as the absence of time away from my family and passions, I decided to step away from my career and embark on a new journey. I started my own company, McKinney creative Ventures, and threw myself back into music. When playing music, whether it’s alone or with a group of people, I am able to completely lose myself within the element of creation. It brings me pure joy, but also a regular practice of meditation, patience, and humility. Music is something that has allowed me to connect with so many people over the years. Through teaching music, I’ve been able to connect with kids who are just beginning their journey, impacting them not just from a musical education, but often a greater impact on their overall lives and growth. Through playing music in the two bands I am a part of, I have built lasting relationships with my bandmates that have played a pivotal role in my own growth and journey.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Sam McKinney, and I am the drummer for Twin Citizen. Twin Citizen is a musical group based within the Twin cities of Minnesota. We are comprised of five members, myself on drums, Adam Lifto on lead guitar, Joe Hartley on lead vocals and guitar, Laura Lunde on Bass, and Ryan Taylor on Keys.
As many musicians will say when asked how to define their sound, it’s a bit difficult to capture in a simple way. But if we had to put a pin on something, we are a powerful Indie rock group with complex songwriting and impactful lyrics, delivering a “wall of sound” in the essence of legendary producer Phill Spectre.
Twin Citizen was born from a group of several individuals bonding over their shared struggle with mental health conditions and addiction. The original formation of the group was made up of individuals who are all embarking on their journey of long-term recovery. Although the lineup of the band has changed over the years, myself, Adam and Joe are all in recovery, and the band is still highly supportive of the local recovery community. Recovery is certainly not what defines us as a group, but our struggles and stories directly lend to our songwriting and performances, delivering our voices and journeys through the music that we create.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Since I was little, I have always been a non-standard creative individual. I always had a difficult time “fitting in” to the normal crowd. As I have grown, I have certainly faced many points within my journey where I questioned the essence of who I was, and wondered if I needed to change in order to succeed within this complicated world. Rather than change who I am, however, I have consistently decided to stay true to myself, and over time have learned to accept that some people may not resonate with my unique personality and energy, but for those that do, I have an ability to create a lasting impact within their lives, and they within mine. Changing who you are will only ever lead to negative outcomes, no matter how appealing it may seem in the beginning. Being your true self is always the best path to take.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
This past year has been one of the most challenging and transformative of my life. In early January, I was diagnosed as bipolar. Just two weeks later, on January 17, I made the decision to become sober.
That diagnosis forced me to look back and realize that I had likely been living in a manic state for at least the past two years. It’s a strange and humbling thing to suddenly see yourself clearly for the first time and understand that many of your choices, both good and bad, were shaped by a state of mind you didn’t fully recognize.
Since then, I’ve had to start the process of relearning who I am. That’s meant facing mistakes I made along the way, not running from them, not covering them up, but instead, confronting them head-on. I’ve learned not to be embarrassed to speak about them publicly, and when I’ve opened up, something unexpected has happened; people have shared their own stories with me. Stories of mental health struggles, addiction, and quiet battles they fight every day.
It’s taught me that being grounded by your own shortcomings doesn’t have to defeat you. Instead, those moments can shape you into a better, more self-aware version of yourself. But it doesn’t happen on its own, it takes willingness. The willingness to face and accept what you want to change. The willingness to work hard for that change. To be honest with yourself and with others. To ask for help when you need it. And to truly listen when others share their stories.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the parts of ourselves we’re most afraid to face often holds the greatest potential for growth, if we have the courage to confront them.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
I have traveled around the world and had the joy of experiencing people and cultures that are widely different from the experience of who I am and how I grew up. Throughout this journey, I have regularly encountered people who have the view that different cultures, different religions, and different countries equate to people themselves being inherently different. Although people certainly have their unique differences due to their unique backgrounds, my personal experience in interacting with this wide variety of people from around the world has shown me one simple yet powerful truth; we are all far more similar than we are different. We all seek common core values, such as a desire to be loved, a desire to feel safe, a desire to have community, and a desire to live a fulfilling life. When you strip away different views, such as religion, politics, or cultural norms, we truly are all after the same common interests and goals. If only we could see the world in this way, our ability to unite and heal an otherwise broken and divided world would be much more possible.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I’ve thought a lot about this question over the years, and have come to settle on a rather simple answer. I don’t much care if people talk about my legacy from a perspective of accomplishment, but rather hope that they instead look back on my life and their relationship with me with one shared understanding; Sam was a kind and loving individual who left this world a better place having been a part of it.
This is also the hope that I have for everyone that I know and love, that their legacy will be one of kindness, compassion and empathy. At the end of the day, what more can we ask for than to be remembered as good people?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://twincitizenmnmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twincitizenmnmusic
- Twitter: https://www.x.com/twincitizenband
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twincitizenmnmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCagEV8RLGJwFQ2U1zroshPg
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/PpgeC5L2rDeTRiWaQK
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@twincitizenmnmusicSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5OCdlSbl1okfeosbSXmNY6?si=0aIthA1nQoiwPA7wVouBsw
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