Bad State of Mind

"Bad State of Mind" is Treaty Oak Revival's full-throttle dive into the inner turbulence of lead singer Sam Canty, a sort of three-minute guided tour through the attic of his psyche. The song grapples with dissipation, isolation, and that doomed effort to stay youthful while time continues its relentless march forward.

Canty wrote "Bad State of Mind" in possibly the least rock 'n' roll location imaginable: his newborn son's nursery. Two weeks into parenthood - an experience that famously involves little sleep or silence - he found himself wrestling with old anxieties. Canty is a recovering alcoholic. He described the song to American Songwriter as being about the "throes of entering into parenthood" and how "those thoughts in the back of your mind" led to "Bad State Of Mind."

The song was truly a band effort, with the full Treaty Oak Revival lineup: Sam Canty, Lance Vanley, Jeremiah Vanley, Andrew Carey, and Cody Holloway, plus songwriter Blake Stiles all contributing. Taylor Kimball, a producer with a metal background, handled production.