A panel of DJs, label representatives and therapists discussed the importance of raising awareness around mental health

ELECTRONIC music makers gathered in King’s Cross to discuss the often neglected topic of how to improve mental health support in their industry.

Hosted by electronic music equipment company AlphaTheta, a sister brand of industry leader Pioneer DJ, the panel event aptly took place in a recording studio around the corner from Egg nightclub during Mental Health Awareness Week, which ended on Sunday.

Panellist Alexandra Williamson, founder of Blue Rhythm, an organisation offering therapy for creatives, told the Tribune about the mental health challenges facing people in the music industry.

Ms Williamson said: “A lot of it has to do with stress and poor work-life balance.

“Artists can feel that they have to be ‘on’ all the time, or they have extreme highs when they are in front of a crowd, followed by immediate lows when they are alone afterwards. Being a creative can be quite isolating for people. There is also a real grey area in this industry between what events count as work and what count as play. It can be hard to know how much of your week you’re spending at work.”

Ms Williams explained that conversations about mental health in the music industry began to pick up around 2017 and the death by suicide of Swedish DJ Tim Bergling – known as Avicii – in 2018 was a big turning point.

She said it showed us that mental health problems “are affecting people at the very top of the industry, as well as people who are overworking themselves to try and get by”.

AlphaTheta marketing associate and event organiser Ellie Donovan added: “The industry needs a shift. Burnout and hustle culture are glamorised. We need to be having more honest conversations.”

At the King’s Cross event – and a second event in Shoreditch earlier that week – a panel of DJs, label representatives, and therapists discussed the importance of raising awareness around mental health and tools to support wellbeing, including individual and group therapy.

DJ and producer Jess Bays said: “You’re the DJ, not the party. The party will carry on regardless – do not feel pressure to bring the party.”

Speakers also acknowledged that the normalisation of substance abuse in the music industry can play a role in perpetuating mental health challenges, and some of the panellists are sober or partially sober themselves.

Ms Bays, for example, noted that she maintains a sober DJ booth at all her sets.

Ms Williamson said: “That was cool to see, especially for the younger DJs in the audience who might aspire to be like the DJs in the panel. It’s good for them to see that you don’t have to fall into these outdated beliefs that idealise the use of substances to perform better or get ahead.”

The panel discussions were followed by a yoga class or a music-mixing workshop.

“There was an electric vibe in the room,” Ms Donovan said. “Everyone was so excited and it was really nice to be able to provide that platform.

“I feel that if we all put our minds together we can make changes.”