Witnessing our favourite artists open up about negative past experiences that they’ve grown from offers a warm feeling of security and comfort. Although their music and lyrics act as an effective means of catharsis, hearing direct messages and lessons of resilience are an extra layer of armour.

Awsten Knight of Waterparks has opened up about his past experiences with bullying and insecurities, which have shaped him into the person he is today, in a recent interview with Alternative Press. 

“I was bullied so much, that I am very self-aware, that was the plus-side that came from that, being shat on in junior high and high school,” said Knight in the interview.

“In second grade, I remember crying in school because I got two different colour [ed] eyes, and these kids said I was the devil because of it,” the frontman recalls. “That’s not really sad looking back on it, [but] at the time I was very flustered—I was torn up.”

Awsten said that these experiences have helped him through his time in Waterparks, noting the importance of self-awareness when being in a band.

“I feel a lot of band guys are insecure [because] everybody has been either cool for too long or cool for no reason they lose their self-awareness, and it makes them do lame things, say lame things or put out lame things.”

Waterparks are currently embarking on the last ever Warped Tour alongside some of our all-time favourite bands, including Tonight Alive, Real Friends and Knuckle Puck.

Watch Waterparks’ video for ‘Not Warriors/Crybaby’:

The article was originally published on Don't Bore Us