Band members discuss the pressures musicians face ahead of their Leeds Festival performance
Theresa Jarvis, frontwoman of Brighton rock band Yonaka, has opened up about the mental health struggles faced by those in the music industry, stating that many are “falling apart” due to the immense pressures of their careers.
Speaking ahead of their performance on the Festival Republic stage at Leeds Festival 2023, Jarvis, along with bandmates Alex Crosby and George Werbrouck-Edwards, discussed the toll the music industry can take on mental health and the importance of addressing it.
Reflecting on their recent performance at Reading Festival, Jarvis described the show as “so much fun” and revealed that it was the band’s fourth time playing at the iconic festival. However, she also shared the challenges artists face in recognising when they need to take a step back for their wellbeing.
“It’s really hard and I think that’s why people are f****** falling apart,” she said. “You get to a point and you’re like… ‘If I just keep going then maybe things will get better.’ I think everyone just thinks like that, don’t they?”
Werbrouck-Edwards echoed this sentiment, adding, “There’s pockets of pressure from every part of the industry, yourself as well, because you’ve got your own goals, then you’ll do the comparison thing and whatever. I feel like it’s definitely important to address because people will just burn out, lose love for music, and disappear.”
He went on to note how the growing understanding among fans of mental health issues has led to a shift in attitudes. “Fans are a lot more understanding of that world now. If you were to cancel a show maybe five, six years ago because ‘I’m just really not in the best way, I feel like this might be detrimental to my health, my mental health,’ whatever, people would be f****** pissed off. But now everyone’s like, you know what, they’re f****** people too.”
The band’s candid conversation highlights the ongoing struggles musicians face in an industry that often demands relentless work, and the importance of mental health awareness and support.
