Video Transcription
Music Feedback – Kaki King
Hi, my name is Steph, and I’m here today with Kaki King talking about mental health issues.
Some of your music is quite dark. How do you think your music has helped you deal with your emotions, especially those negative emotions?
I think music is the language of emotion. If you want to express sadness, there’s nothing better than instrumental music. As a younger person, I dwelled in that world a bit too much. I was very emotional, and I was lucky to have music to write and to feel like I had something that would comfort me. It really did help. As I grew older, living in a dark place became very tiring, and I was afraid that if I let go of the negative feelings and resentments that were hurting me, I wouldn’t be able to write good music. But I was completely wrong.
Did you have a good support system when you were dealing with your sexuality and coming out?
No, I didn’t have a support system at all. There weren’t gay characters on TV, and it wasn’t just another way to be. Growing up in the late ’80s and early ’90s, if you were a gay man and came out, it could have been a death sentence. It was really different. I didn’t know other gay people or have role models to follow. I had to invent who I was for myself. But as I got older and moved to New York, my circumstances changed, and it became easier to express myself. The world was changing too, and there were gay role models and politicians. It went from being a fringe issue to something more accepted.
Growing up in the U.S., did you find there was a stigma associated with talking about mental health issues?
Yes, I think people didn’t want to talk about it. It’s okay to say, “I have cancer,” but it’s not okay to say, “I’m sick, I’m bipolar.” People really struggle with that and often hide their diagnoses because of the shame associated with it. I think it’s crucial for people with mental health problems to engage in something creative. There’s so much therapy in creation, and I don’t think there’s as much in consumption. Our society emphasizes consumption, but we’re in an age where we can create our own music, movies, and photos. Creating something and feeling proud of it—even if no one sees it—is great for mental health and self-esteem. It helps to get things out of your system that might otherwise fester.
Do you think music helps people communicate the issues they’re dealing with surrounding mental health?
Absolutely. There are so many songs, pieces of literature, and art that express someone saying, “Help me, I’m in a dark place.” What’s going on with me right now is really bad, and you can’t always say that in conversation, but you can sing it, and it might even become a number one hit.
Other than music, what other outlets do you have to help you deal with stress or anxiety?
I try to read every day, write every day, and speak with people every day. I think someone very famous and very bright once said that, and I try to follow it. I try to read, write some music, and interact with people. People with mental health issues tend to isolate, and I know that’s my instinct, especially when I’m getting darker. But I know it’s dangerous, so I try to reach out to others and check in with them, even if I’m not talking about my own problems. Trying to be useful to someone else is really good for me.
