100 Voices: Agnes Obel - On depression and music: #NowWereTalking

I am very curious about depression and music. There has been a lot of depression in my family and I have this feeling it is easier to manage if you have an outlet for it. I haven’t been depressed to the point of sickness so far, but I certainly have a fear because I had it in my teens. I’ve seen it in my Dad and other people in my family.

If you can use it in your music, then you are removing yourself from it. Depression is linked to a feeling that things are completely meaningless and there is no point, but there is so much hope in creativity.

I often heard my music has helped people who are sad and enabled them to deal with difficult things that have happened in their lives. This makes me really happy… If you sing with someone it is a communal thing, so it can make people feel less alone.

100 Voices was published in the Hot Press Mental Health Special in conjunction with Lyons Tea and Pieta House as part of the Now We're Talking Campaign. For more please visit hotpress.com/now-were-talking/