Changing the Tune
Singer-songwriter Toby Leonard has tackled mental health head-on with his honest and very personal lyrics, and he’s a big believer in addressing your issues by getting in touch with your creative side. “Not only is making music the best outlet to combat stress, but I found that I focused my negativity to turn it into creativity. I wouldn’t have been able to write an album of honest, painful and moving music without going through my darkest times, and as a result it really helped to heal my broken mind. I think there is a direct link between listening to sad music that you can relate to, and getting yourself out of a bad place. But for me, I didn’t start to get better until I wrote about my deepest, darkest thoughts from a more creative perspective.”
Encore
W
hile there are still clear, prevalent issues throughout the music industry when it comes to mental health, the increasing amount of help on offer for musicians, fans, and everybody in between, demonstrates an incredibly promising step in the right direction. With high profile figures, both in and outside of the industry, coming forward to talk about their issues, ending the stigma surrounding mental health in the music business is no longer a pipe dream – it’s a realistic, achievable goal. Whether you’re into pop or grime, country or metal, the sense of belonging that comes with being part of a music community is something that is arguably unrivalled by any other facet of the entertainment world. If all of these splintered communities can come together and take a collective stand to promote positive mental health, then the possibility of healing people through music could soon become a wonderful reality.
36 • happiful • June 2018
Photography | Toby Leonard: Lawrence Allan Wheeler, Rolling Wheels Photography, Festival: Ross Silcocks
Toby Leonard