The month of May has been labeled as Mental Health Awareness Month, where we call attention to those who have or continue to struggle with mental or emotional wellbeing. As the industry proceeds to shift in the direction of inclusivity, vulnerability, and equity, what once was a taboo subject is moving its way to the forefront.
As artists are opening up about their personal struggles, they're slowly opening the door to conversations surrounding mental health and reminding us that we're all human.
BILLIE EILISH
The Academy Award winning artist has utilized her music in a way to not only connect personally with her inner-most thoughts but for others to understand that they're not alone. Whether it comes to body image, feeling lonely, depression, anxiety, or heartbreak, she isn't afraid to let the world know what plagues her mind. Her newest album, specifically within the song"SKINNY" discloses the double edged sword of publicly losing weight as it leads one to be perceived as "happier", especially amongst the tabloids. Her openness in discussing these insecurities spans across multiple albums within her discography and allows us to connect with her on a more personal level.
Celine Dion
The discussion surrounding mental and emotional health is not only seen within artist's music and accompanying visualizers, but within the long form video content where artists give us a glimpse into their lives behind the scenes. Celine Dion announced her upcoming documentary where she steps back into the limelight to discuss the recent events surrounding her rare neurological condition. Her candidness and vulnerability brings us back down to earth and brings attention to those who feel overlooked.
Paramore
Pop punk group, Paramore has housed our teenage angst since the early 2000s, which has brought along the spotlight facing their way at every point in time. They've used their success and platform to openly connect with others and call attention to depression and anxiety within multiple songs from their discography. One of which is their hit single "Fake Happy" where they plainly state that we're all used to facing the world with a mask first and discrediting how we're truly feeling, uniting us all.
Ariana Grande
For the entirety of Grande's career, she's opened up about events in her life that have altered her permanently, resulting in a multitude of mental health struggles. Her advocacy for these traumatic emotions, including grief, loss, heartbreak, and more has landed her as a leader amongst the large community. Within her latest body of work, the singer touched on the pain within a toxic relationship, specifically within "we can't be friends" and "i wish i hated you" where fans can utilize the audio to cope with similar situations.
Jess Glyne
English singer & songwriter uses her show-stopping voice and extraordinary lyricism to empower her listeners from across the globe, preaching being oneself and cutting yourself off from negative thoughts that seem to creep into our psyche. Her nostalgic album, titled "I Cry When I Laugh", released in 2015 continues to be a collection of tracks that serve as personal reminders to continuously move onwards & upwards despite what others opinions are or self-destructive thoughts that seep into your mind.
Justin Bieber
One of the most successful artists of the generation has had his life plastered across the world and received unnecessary commentary since his youth, which have to this day been an emotional burden. Due to his life being seated inside a glass house, it's become an emotionally tolling experience for him and has unequivocally given him a platform to discuss the struggles he's endured. Although he doesn't speak out publicly on how he's managed these intense emotions, he lets the music speak for itself, specifically within his singles "Lonely" and "Unstable" where he gives us a glimpse into these painful situations.
P!NK
The female powerhouse has been a source of support for those who go about their lives whilst carrying the weight of the world. Her music has become a place of open & honest discussion regarding self-acceptance, grief, and consistently picking oneself up from hardships. Her single "When I Get There" and "Who Knew" are hit songs that openly discuss the tragedy of grief and lingering feelings that follow suit. Not only is her music the encouragement and comfort we all need but she uses her platform to openly discuss her story and be the icon we can look up to.
NF
The rapper is known for using his vulnerable music that's used to tell his story and deeply connect with other music lovers. Whether it's trauma that seems to follow him years later, pressure to succeed, familial issues, and identity crisis, there is no stone left unturned for NF. His promise to the fans to remain the grounded artist that he is and continue to deliver raw and unfiltered music has led him to crafting multiple albums that have become a lifeline for millions.
Dean Lewis
The English singer continues his reign of crafting soul-crushing music for the masses, surrounding heartbreak, loss, and so much more. Through personal stories, heartbreaking lyrics, and sheer vulnerability within each track, Dean Lewis tells it how it is when it comes to his craft. Millions have used his music as a saving grace to move forward through hardships and do so optimistically and with their heads held high.
MGK
This pop punk singer has been open about his personal traumas since the beginning of his artistry. Whether it's disclosing personal experiences to detailing past traumas in his life, the singer has been candid about his life to not only connect with fans and exhibit a way to get through it but for his own therapeutic purposes. Despite his sound remaining in the more so upbeat category of music, he centers the story around multiple personal events, such as losing someone close to him, anxiety, addiction, and more.
Labrinth
The incredible vocals of Labrinth were beautifully used in the soundtrack for the hit show "Euphoria" where the loud discussion surrounding pain experienced during our youth is taken place. The music he crafted to perfectly align with the feelings we all can empathize with are a collection that we can now use to give words to feelings that are far too difficult to explain. Whether it touches on themes of ego, status, inner pain, and unspoken emotions, he provides a discography full of meaningful hits.
Although we take the entire month of May to remind ourselves of our strengths, we also use it to remember the many who have lost themselves while trying to navigate the difficulties around the world of mental health.
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