Kevin Patrick Sullivan – aka Field Medic, aka paper rose haiku – started out in metal bands in high school, before losing his scream at sixteen. Rather than leaving music behind, Sullivan pursued folk music under the moniker Field Medic, while still staying true to his emo roots under another secret persona, 'paper rose haiku.' In his latest single, "i had a dream that you died," Sullivan sings, "I woke up and realized / It was my subconscious showing me what it would be like." The upbeat track explores his own mortality and suicidal ideation by placing himself in the aftermath of what would have transpired after the death of a distant friend – still while using humor to tackle complexity. Sullivan's dream helped him recognize that dying by his own hand would be "a total bummer" and not the right choice to make.

On this episode of Flashlight Podcast, the interview feels like a conversation, which is probably the best part of chatting with Kevin. We discuss the differing emotional and creative processes of producing music within seemingly opposite genres, finding purpose in creating music that connects with listeners, touring as a solo artist, and how his poetry book series, 'Paper Frames,' aims to inspire his fans to foster their own creativity.