Stormzy is an incredibly talented Londoner who’s established himself as one of the best in the British grime scene, but while he may seem confident on stage, it seems his music has been shaped by his depression.
Stormzy has admitted his latest album is a reflection of how his attitude towards mental health has changed over the years.
In an interview with Channel 4, the grime artist said his album is a ‘realisation of how fragile we are as humans. In the most beautiful way possible’.
He said: “[Depression] was a world that was so alien to me. I just used to think, you get up and march on. So for me, I felt that I needed to address that, what I was going through.”
Stormzy opens up about depression
Stormzy: “If there’s anyone out there going through depression I think for them to see that I went through it would help”.
The grime artist shares his experience of depression, which features on his new album Gang Signs & Prayer.
Posted by Channel 4 News on Wednesday, March 1, 2017
The award-winning artist says that by speaking about his own experience with mental health, he hopes it will encourage others to do the same.
Stormzy added:
I feel like I always come across confidently and happy. I just present myself in a positive way so I can spread that. So people will be looking at and thinking I don’t go through nothing, so for me to let people know that, no i do. I felt it’s important for me to let people know that.
That’s not the case. I feel like I always come across confidently and happy. I just present myself in a positive way so I can spread that. So people will be looking at and thinking I don’t go through nothing, so for me to let people know that, no i do. I felt it’s important for me to let people know that.
He says what convinced him to speak out about his own experiences was the hope that fans seeing his recovery would help with their own mental health issues.
The theme appeared in Lay Me Bare, the final track of Stormzy’s debut album Gang Signs & Prayer.
You can watch his full interview below:
For help in battling mental health issues, visit the CALM website for more information.
