Nearly 30 years after “Not An Addict” became one of the defining alternative rock songs of the 1990s, Sam Bettens is revisiting the track from a completely different place in life. The multi-platinum voice behind K’s Choice has reimagined the iconic song with a stripped-down Americana approach, bringing new meaning to lyrics that have followed him throughout his career.
Over the last three decades, Bettens has built a remarkable journey both personally and professionally. From international success with K’s Choice to years spent living in Tennessee working as a professional firefighter while continuing to tour and record, his path has been anything but conventional. In recent years, Bettens publicly transitioned and now openly lives as a transgender man, bringing a renewed sense of authenticity to both his life and music.
His latest solo album, Coming Home, further embraces the Americana and roots influences that have shaped his recent work. Recorded in Nashville alongside some of the city’s top musicians, the album reflects a songwriter who continues to evolve while remaining committed to honest storytelling. With a European tour underway and a new chapter unfolding, Bettens shows no signs of slowing down.
We recently caught up with Sam Bettens to discuss the new version of “Not An Addict,” his evolution as an artist, life on the road, and what fans can expect next.
Nearly 30 years after “Not An Addict” first became a defining alternative rock anthem, what made this the right moment to revisit the song in a completely new way?
Partly the 30-year anniversary, but mostly the shift toward the Americana/Country genre. I was reluctant to touch it at first, but to me it felt more like a challenge than reliving the past. I love the idea that you can do something completely different with a song and still maintain its essence. The fact that this song is able to cross into a different genre is also a reminder that all these genres are often pulling from the same well. I love the interconnectedness of that.
The new version has a much more Americana and roots-driven sound. What inspired you to reinterpret the song through that lens instead of trying to recreate the original?
I’ve been living in this American musical world for a few years now while writing and recording Coming Home. To me, that was the only way it was worth revisiting, by looking at it in a completely different light. The alternative rock version is perfect the way it is.
Revisiting lyrics you wrote decades ago must feel very different today. Were there any lines in “Not An Addict” that hit you differently now than they did in the ’90s?
The original version was centered around drug addiction. For this new interpretation, I wanted to broaden it to include alcohol as well. Having lived a few decades since the original came out, all that experience contributed to feeling differently about the song. I know people who have had to grapple with addiction, and that made it feel more personal.
You originally became known around the world as the frontperson of K’s Choice during a very different chapter of your life. What has it been like returning to one of your biggest songs today as a transgender man?
Honestly, it’s been liberating. It’s like a weight I didn’t even know existed has been lifted off my shoulders. I’ve found a new confidence that makes even the most familiar things feel new again. Just standing on stage and holding a microphone, those simple actions, all of it feels better. Normal. That gave me a nice boost to tackle this new version.
Your latest album Coming Home marked a real creative shift into Americana and country-inspired storytelling. Did making that album help open the door creatively for this new version of “Not An Addict”?
One hundred percent. I probably wouldn’t have touched it again if it hadn’t been for this shift. I think whatever you do in life, when you’ve been doing it for 30 years, you need to actively find ways to keep yourself challenged and interested. I’m having more fun now than I can ever remember having. It’s partly feeling comfortable and at home in my own body, and partly following my own compass when it comes to what I think will feed my creative side. It’s constantly changing. I don’t imagine I’ll ever settle into just one thing.
You spent years living in Tennessee and even worked professionally as a firefighter while continuing to tour and make music. How did that chapter of your life shape the artist and person you are today?
Living in Tennessee and working as a professional firefighter really broadened me as a person, and I think that spills over into everything I do. When you’re taken out of your familiar environment, whether geographically, culturally, or professionally, it forces you to look at things from different angles. I hope it made me a more interesting person and also more empathetic. We develop ideas and opinions based on our own little world, and when you step outside of that, it’s a good reminder that maybe you don’t know as much as you thought you knew. Tennessee was a wonderful adventure, and firefighting was life-changing. I learned so much about empathy, service, and teamwork. That time and the people I worked with will always hold a special place in my heart.
Your story is one of reinvention in many ways, musically, personally, and emotionally. What have you learned about yourself through all those different chapters of life?
I learned that I’m resilient. And also that resilience is not a given or a place of arrival. It’s something you need to work on every single day. We have so little control over what life throws at us, but how you respond and how you come out on the other side defines who you are. I’m always thinking about how I can be better and stronger.
You’ve talked openly about transition, identity, and finally feeling comfortable in your own skin later in life. How has that personal journey changed your relationship with music and performing?
I’ve always felt at home on stage or in the studio, but there’s now a sense of belonging that feels fresh and new. A lot of self-doubt and imposter syndrome can creep in when there’s a nagging feeling that something isn’t quite right. You can never put your finger on it, so it spills over into almost everything you do. Now that I understand that part of myself, I feel like I get to do it all over again, but this time without the 45-pound backpack I was lugging around.
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In addition to music, you also released your memoir All I Am. What inspired you to tell your story in book form, and was there anything particularly emotional or difficult to revisit while writing it?
There’s something very therapeutic about writing things down. In our minds, we tend to go in circles, and writing this book allowed me, or rather forced me, to dig a little deeper and really figure out what was important and what I should maybe let go of. Some areas that were difficult and that you tend to gloss over were now being explored, and in the end that was an entirely positive experience for me. I’m not saying writing was easy, but I did enjoy the process of letting it all out and then fine-tuning it into something that made sense and that people would hopefully relate to.
With the release of the new “Not An Addict,” your continued solo work, and touring plans throughout Europe this year, what else can fans look forward to from you in the coming months, both as a solo artist and with K’s Choice?
The focus is on this new “Not An Addict” release right now and continuing to promote Coming Home. I’m also taking further steps here in the U.S. to re-establish myself as an artist who deserves a lane. In the meantime, we’re working on a new K’s Choice album as well. Busy times, but action breeds action, so I’m always at my best, and most creative, when things are in motion.