During a recent chat with Audacy, Macklemore opened up about the importance of discussing mental health, and how he believes music to be a form of therapy.
LISTEN NOW: Macklemore opens up about mental health
“I think for so long with mental health there was this idea of — ‘oh, you don’t have it together?’ Or ‘oh, you’re going through that.’ Y’know this red tape kinda around the mind needing assistance in order to get through life. And now we’re at a point where we’re talking about it so much, in a beautiful way that it’s become commonplace.”
"Like you asking me these questions,” he continued, “I’m not like ‘oh god, we’re talking about mental health,’ I’m like ‘great, we’re talking about mental health, awesome.’ This is something that we could all relate to, and all need to make sure we’re prioritizing.”
When discussing what place music has in mental health, Macklemore explained, “music speaks to the spirit, it speaks to the soul, I think that music is therapy and hopefully it inspires… people to be the best version of themselves. And that's to take care of this, the temple” he said, pointing his index finger towards his head. “It starts with the heart, it starts with the mind, the body, and just making sure that we’re treating our vessel the best we possibly can."
WATCH NOW: Macklemore opens up about mental health
Continuing on to implore the importance of discussing mental health openly, Macklemore went on to say, “I think that whenever we talk about our struggles, as people, as humans, that there is an ability to connect with others that are going through the same struggle.”
“And if we’re vulnerable and we’re honest and we’re like ‘yo, I’m going through it right now, I don’t want to be a secret, I want to let the people in that are in my life that are important’ —there’s power in that,” he added. “And it allows other people to open up about the same thing. It’s super important to just be honest about where you’re at so you don’t hold it in and you don’t get stuck with that feeling of ‘I can’t tell anybody about my truth’.”
Listen to Audacy’s I’m Listening Mental Health Mix and more on the free Audacy app
Audacy's I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988. Find a full list of additional resources here.