Irish musician and frontman for Fontaines D.C., Grian Chatten, has opened up about his struggles with mental health issues while touring. The singer-songwriter shared that he experienced “fits of anxiety and rage” during his last tour and was having difficulty adapting to this new lifestyle.
Chatten discussed his experience further in an interview with NME, saying that he was “sick of not living anywhere for five years” and feeling disconnected from his music. He also revealed that his healing process had an effect on the sound of his debut solo album, Chaos For The Fly, which was released this week.
The Fontaines D.C. singer-songwriter also divulged his struggles with insomnia while on tour in 2019, saying he’d often find himself in the hotel lobby, watching the sun come up.
NME gave Chaos For The Fly a four-star review, calling it a “stirring” and “subdued and vulnerable debut,” in which Chatten writes “confidently about what hurts with the support of rich arrangements.”
Grian Chatten’s story sheds light on the importance of mental health awareness for those in the music industry, and the need for support for artists struggling with depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. If you or someone you know is struggling, there are several resources available, including the Campaign Against Living Miserably, Help Musicians UK, Music Support Org, Young Minds, Time to Change, and The Samaritans.
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