(Credits: Far Out / Press)
Sometimes, it seems as though the music industry was designed to inflict poor mental health on those who exist within it. It’s a sector based on late nights and long hours, alcohol and drug use, freelance jobs and limited funding. FOMO runs rife, so budding musicians and the teams around them jump at every opportunity that comes their way, shrugging off the burnout it might bring. But there’s also the fear of not making your bills this month, the fear that any job might be your last, the fear of not making it.
Money worries seem to be the prime issue for budding bands and musicians. It has become almost impossible to sustain yourself on music creation alone. Bands with hundreds of thousands of streams, comparable social media followings, and esteemed awards to their name are still struggling to make ends meet, touring to no end in an attempt to support themselves. Those without any funding or support are left working day jobs or freelance shifts, using their annual leave to play gigs that they might not even make their travel fees back on.
Freelancers who work in sound engineering or tour management feel similar instability, forced to take on every job that comes their way in the busier seasons in order to cushion the financial vulnerabilities of the quieter months. Alongside finances, late-night shifts, lengthy tours, the pressures of social media, substances, and more all contribute to poor mental health for musicians and their teams at all levels. In 2023, Help Musicians reported that three in ten musicians had low mental well-being.
For this number to be lowered, there needs to be a shift in the culture of the entire industry. Active support for freelancers, governmental investment into the arts, and action from bigger labels and organisations could all lessen the load for musicians and industry professionals struggling with their mental health amidst the current state of the sector. But while we rally for this well-earned support on a larger level, there are ways for musicians to protect their own mental health in the meantime.
During a visit to Manchester’s Beyond the Music conference, I asked a selection of upcoming musicians who played at the festival about how they learned to look after their own well-being. For Hull-born artist Chiedu Oraka, it’s about ensuring some separation between music and relaxation. “The main advice I would give is to try and leave work at work and let your home be your sanctuary,” he shared.
“Try to find things that you enjoy to occupy your mind, body and soul,” Oraka added, noting that he wasn’t sure where he would be without the gym and football. “I also need to socialise and have conversations with people outside of the industry,” he continued, “People who don’t really care about what I do for a living. This gives me the balance I need to overcome some of the mental hurdles the industry often presents.”
This advice cropped up more than once, unsurprisingly, given how all-consuming the music industry can become. If you’re constantly playing shows, working freelance door shifts, meeting your fellow musically-inclined friends at gigs and immersing yourself in the industry in every area of your life, it can become overwhelming. The problems within the industry can seem even more insurmountable, so maintaining those friendships, hobbies, and even jobs outside of that world is paramount.
Newcomer Lili Holland-Fricke, who is set to release her debut album next week, echoed Oraka’s advice. “I’ve found that it’s been really good for my brain to work non-music jobs so that I can be picky about the music work I do take on and have my day-to-day grounded in the world beyond the music bubble,” she explained. In addition to protecting her mental health, Holland-Fricke has also found that this has reignited her passion for the art.
“It keeps music-making feeling like a special and nourishing thing,” she commented, “Instead of something all-consuming and life-eating, an echo chamber.” The Manchester-based artist highlighted the importance of understanding yourself, your limits, preferences and goals and picking projects accordingly. “It’s so easy to feel a pressure to just take on everything vaguely music related that comes your way without stopping to consider whether it actually resonates with you,” she admitted, “Whether it’s actually going to make you feel good.”
It’s certainly not always feasible for a musician or freelancer to turn down a show, but it can often be the better option when it comes to protecting your mental health. There are also certain steps that can be taken if you are out on the road to curb the chance of burnout. Southern heavy rockers The Wytches have experienced how “debilitating” it can be to spend so much time on the road, but they have also found ways to cope with the intensity of touring.
“Find time for yourself once a day,” they advised, “For maybe an hour and just be alone. Read a book, watch a film, meditate, but, for that hour, be out of tour mode.” Taking just a little time away from venues, bars, and even your bandmates can be essential for protecting your mental health on tour, allowing you the alone time you would usually get at home. Using that time for something calming or to keep up a hobby can act as a haven from the stress of live gigging.
Brixton band Alien Chicks, who have played shows with the likes of English Teacher and Opus Kink, also recommend taking a break from the pressures and comparisons of social media, as well as limiting alcohol intake. “We love being on the road and the kind of manic but funny exhaustion that comes with that,” they shared, “But sometimes it does get too much… I think taking it easy on the alcohol helps too – which is hard when you’re half paid in beer!”
Blossom Caladrone, who releases as a solo artist and plays cello for English Teacher, admitted that the topic is “ever-changing” for her but acknowledged the constant importance of sleep. Though it’s difficult to ensure you get your eight hours on tour, Caladrone described it as the “most beneficial and free” thing available to musicians. “Everything feels worse when you are tired,” she commented, “And take each day at a time. Small challenges, etc.”
“It’s scary to think how constantly switched on you are from waking up in the morning to when you finally get to sleep,” The Wytches admitted while discussing the intensity of life on the road, “It can have a really bad effect on you if you do the same thing every day without switching off.” This effect isn’t limited to those who take to the stage each night, it’s the same for touring crew, too. “I’ve been both,” they added, “We are all human.”
There’s also comfort to be taken in the universal nature of that experience, according to the Wytches. “Confiding in and talking to people you’re touring with can really bring you out of yourself,” they shared, “Everyone is in the same boat and is probably feeling really similar things.” Talking to those experiencing similar things, rather than feigning complete love for life on the road, can open up more conversations on how to cope and support one another.
DIY music spheres, in particular, are rooted in community, in supporting one another to put on shows or sharing each other’s music. This can and should extend to supporting one another mentally, whether it’s making sure you don’t only see your music mates at gigs or checking in on them amidst a particularly lengthy tour or difficult financial period. But there are other people to rely on for more professional help.
“Counselling also really helped me,” Oraka acknowledged, “I won’t lie. It definitely put a lot of things into perspective and reminded me of why I do music and the reasons behind why I react to certain things the way I do. I try my best every day, and sometimes I might get it wrong, but the most important thing is trying to create an environment where protecting my mental health is at the forefront.”
Until more concrete support is put into place by those with the funding, small steps such as balance and collective responsibility can help us all to preserve our well-being amidst such a volatile industry. “Unfortunately, the music industry isn’t for the faint-hearted,” Oraka concluded, “We as musicians have to be very thick-sinned. I’m not sure there are as many jobs where the door is constantly getting slammed in your face. You just have to find a way to get back on your feet. It can be tough, but you’ve got this, remember the journey to the top is the best part.”
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