Kool Things: Punk in Practice - Part 3

Build It Together, Bloom Whenever

🦋 Hello Dreamers!

Welcome to Part 3 of Kool Things: Punk in Practice—my talk for CreativeMornings / Vancouver.

In this chapter, we’re unpacking creative partnerships, big-picture dreaming, and how the right collaborator can help you see your path more clearly. We’ll also talk about what it means to be a late bloomer (hi, it’s me), and why taking your sweet, sweet time is not a flaw, it’s a feature.

Enjoying this series and want to support my work? You can subscribe below, or send me a coffee to help maintain the ideal caffeination level for creativity. 💙

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🖤 Missed Part 1 & 2? I’ve linked it for you here ⬇️

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🧠 KOOL THING #4: SCHEMING + DOING

Every dream needs a blueprint and a hammer.

There are two kinds of creative spirits: schemers and doers. Schemers are big-picture people. They connect dots, make plans, and pull the right people together to make it all a reality.

Doers are the task slayers. I’m a doer. Inbox at zero. Give me a list, and I’ll fucking crush it.

I spent years doing without scheming—and kept getting lost in the weeds. But then I met my schemer (Jason Corbett). He’s probably scheming right now.

Back in 2015, I started posting short clips of me singing and playing guitar on Instagram. That caught the ear of Jason, who would become my bandmate in ACTORS. He started scheming—not just about me joining the band, but about helping launch my solo project too.

Our creative partnership grew out of a shared love for the legendary post-punk band Bauhaus, and of course, our heroes David Bowie and David Lynch.

We’re both dreamers, just wired differently—and together, we’ve become a superhuman creative powerhouse. 💪

Find your schemer. Find your doer. Make kool things together.

🌱 KOOL THING #5: BLOOM LATER

Bloom slow, bloom strong.

Ok, I was not going to tell you how old I am, but fuck it.

I’m 43 🤭

It actually feels pretty punk to say to a room of people that I’m a 43 year old woman and thriving.

Age is still such a taboo in creative fields. I’m what you’d call a late bloomer. I didn’t start touring until my mid-thirties. I didn’t release my first full-length album until my forties.

In a world that glorifies youth, choosing to grow older on your own terms is an act of rebellion. I’m more myself than I’ve ever been—and you can be too.

The older I get, the more fearless I become. Not because I’ve got it all figured out, but because I’ve learned how to live with a little mystery. I’ve stopped needing every answer. I trust myself more.

(I love this quote from Kim Gordon.)

The women in music didn’t just inspire me—they made space for me. As a shy girl with big feelings and no roadmap, their visibility was everything. I’m so grateful for their courage, grit, and artistry.

Getting older in public, especially as women, takes guts. But it’s powerful. You can bloom late. You can bloom again.

Bloom later, bloom louder.

🔄 FULL CIRCLE

In 2010, when CreativeMornings launched in Vancouver, I was just a young graphic designer trying to figure it all out. I sat in the audience and began to dream. I wouldn’t be here now without the people who believed in me early on. I want to give a heartfelt shoutout to a few folks in the room for their guidance and support:

• Johnny Strebly — my design mentor

• Chris Hold — my tattoo mentor (I didn’t get a chance to share my tattoo journey with you today but please feel free to ask me questions in the Q&A period if you’re curious.)

• And of course, Jason Corbett — my music partner and bandmate

💬 KEEP IN TOUCH

Thanks to Mark and the CM team for having me today and thanks for spending your morning with me.

I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface here, so if something created a spark within you—please say hi. I’m nice, I follow back!

I’m @shannonhemmett on Instagram. My bands are @leathersmusic and @actors_the_band. And I write about creativity and tour life on Substack at www.daydreamtrash.com.

I’d like to leave you with this:

You don’t have to be perfect.
You don’t need permission.
And you definitely don’t have to be young.
You just have to show up and remember that PUNK isn’t a phase, it’s a lifelong practice.

That concludes Kool Things: Punk In Practice!
Whether you’re a schemer, a doer, a late bloomer—or all three—I hope this chapter reminded you that it’s never too late to begin, or to find your people.

Also… I’ve got a few stories that didn’t make the final cut, next week, I’ll share the outtakes with you.

Thanks for being here.

xo,
Shannon