Irish musicians on mental health: "As clichéd as it sounds, talking changed everything for me"

Mental wellbeing has always been a prevalent issue in the world of music  – the trope of the “tortured poet” isn’t anything new, with troubled visionaries turning their pain and trauma into powerful art. From Kurt Cobain to Amy Winehouse, the list of artists who’ve endured mental illness is painfully long.

But with the conversation around mental health having opened up in a major way in recently, Irish artists have been leading the way in this vital new discussion. Many note the subject’s recurrence could be due to the tough landscape faced by aspiring Irish artists.

“As much as I love Ireland, it’s a hard place to grow up,” says R.O.C., previously known as Bitter Rocc. “If you are in any way creative, then forget about making it a career. Government policy and the lack of support makes it impossible to express yourself freely without financial worries. We pride ourselves as poets and artists, but when it comes to helping young people, it’s shot down from an early age.”

The sentiment is echoed by many Irish artists.

“If you’re trying to do anything in this industry, there’s no money, for a start,” says Lord Jane vocalist Clodagh May. “That’s such a big thing that gets people down.”

“Yeah, it’s the money thing,” her bandmate Carl Small agrees. “It’s the lack of support in general. It’s hard to be a musician full-time. That’s always going to be stressful when you’re trying to juggle day-to-day life, and you can’t really focus on the things you want to. It’s hard for people to be happy doing what they love.”

Even when they do make it in the industry, there are challenges.

“There was definitely a point a couple of years ago,” May reflects, ”when I was doing my own solo stuff, where before every show I was having panic attacks. I was going to give music up because of it.”

It’s a struggle R.O.C. is also familiar with. In 2013, he was considered one of Ireland’s most promising talents, releasing two mini-albums, MMXIII and MMXIII Pt. Deux, exclusively with this very publication. The following year, though, he abruptly took the decision to retire, citing disillusionment with the industry.

“I thought external praise was what I needed to be happy or normal,” he explains. “I learned pretty quickly that wasn’t the case. I hated the attention, I don’t do well in large crowds and performing gigs really scared me. I remember doing a headline gig in the Twisted Pepper with Hot Press, for the release of an EP I did with you guys, and it sold out – which was great.

“Everything went better than expected, but when I got off stage, I felt like someone had just killed my dog or something. All I wanted to do was cry. I felt awful for no reason. I didn’t know how to handle it, so I stopped after that. I turned down support slots, festivals and TV appearances. I was terrified of feeling that way again.”

Still, creative expression remained an important outlet.

“My first album helped me deal with what was going on in my head,” reflects R.O.C. “It helped me express it to a certain extent. I’m not a great talker, so I lean on music a lot for that side of my brain.”

May finds artistic pursuits to be similarly effective.

“I don’t know if that’s the most healthy thing, maybe I should go to therapy!” she laughs. “I feel that sitting down, and just writing, or playing guitar or whatever, takes me out of that headspace of panic or anxiety or even depression. That is my way of coping with it. That honestly is the only thing that really works.”

In recent months, there has been an impressive string of releases from Irish musicians discussing their relationship with mental health. In her most recent single, ‘Slump’, for example, indie favourite Maria Kelly acknowledges the difficulties of finding yourself stuck in a rut, singing, “I feel the weight of every word I say, it’s heavy”.

“It captures a starting point,” says Kelly. “It’s about finding myself, once again, at the beginning of a mountain to climb, with no real will to climb it. The sound landed in this funny, twee universe that, I think, pokes fun at the self-deprecating space we can all find ourselves in.”

On the introspective ‘City Lights’, the first single from her debut album Caught In Words, Eve Clague meanwhile explores themes of self-consciousness and insecurity. Specifically, she focuses on those who have faced struggles in the traditional education system. The record also addresses hurt, love, and frustration.

“It’s like a criticism of myself and my emotions,” says Clague.

Speaking about mental health is also a way to reach out to the listener.

“What better way to relieve people than through those sort of heavy subjects?” May continues. “When they’re listening, people will know they’re not struggling on their own.”

Spreading awareness is especially central to R.O.C.’s messaging.

“Music is a great way to get into a room,” he says. “It’s something you can listen to alone or in a group setting. We all take something away from a song we like. Maybe some young lad or young girl will chat about it with their mates. Maybe it will lead to somebody opening up or seeking help? Who knows, but at least it is being talked about. I hope it’s enough to make even the tiniest bit of difference to a person’s life.

“If anyone listens to ‘Change Ya Mind’ or reads this, the best way to battle mental health problems is to talk. As clichéd as it sounds, talking changed everything for me. I still have my off-days, I still find it hard to talk openly, but I’m trying. You take it one day at a time. Talking, to me, is the most important part of getting help and should always be the main focus.”

This idea of opening up about your struggles is also found in Dylon Jack’s poignant single ‘Speak Up’, which he released on October 10 to coincide with World Mental Health Day.

“Usually when I write songs,” the Co.Clare musician wrote in a statement, “I write them for me. It’s my way of expressing myself. My way of getting my thoughts and feelings out.

“‘Speak Up’ is the first time where the words I penned weren’t for me. I’m from Shannon, Co. Clare, a town where everybody knows everybody. Over the last few years, a number of awful stories broke out around the town in a short period of time, all with the same horrific outcome, that someone has succumbed to mental illness.”

In the song’s bridge, Jack offers a powerful message to the world.

“You can talk about it,” the lyrics read. “You can let it out, cause I would rather listen than put you in the ground.”