“I owe it to my younger self to shout it from the bloomin’ rooftops!”
INTERVIEW BY HARRIET ARGENT, WORDS BY MARTINE HESS
Just in time for Mental Health Awareness Week, LAKY has released her first single, Saving Me. In a powerful yet vulnerable voice, she addresses her personal struggles with mental health and hopes her listeners will share the solace she has found by listening to the song.
The Kent native has been gigging since the age of 15 and studied songwriting at BIMM in Brighton. She admits that it took her nearly 10 years “to muster up the courage” to release a song but, finally, it is here.
DIVA: You have said your new single Saving Me is about struggles with mental health. Can you tell us a bit more about the song and its meaning?
LAKY: When I wrote Saving Me, my mental health was the best it had been in a long time. I wanted to use the energy I had at “my best” to write about “my worst”. Although I want people to interpret the song however they need to, I personally wrote it about how we save ourselves in those dark moments. Plenty of things have saved me this year: people, places, etc, but the most important [thing that has saved me is] myself.
You are very open about your own mental health on social media. Why do you think it is an important topic to address?
I wasn’t always so open. It’s hard not to get swept up in the expectation of the music industry and keeping a “cool” exterior. Now that I’m older and my mental health is my number one priority, I aim for my social media to be honest, always. That means telling people about the bad days as well as the good. It’s not healthy for the world to be rose-tinted, it gives people a false idea of reality. I’ve felt like a shell of myself on a few occasions due to mental health struggles and I know what a comfort it has been when others talk about going through something similar. It truly is less scary when you know you’re not the only one. That’s why I’m releasing this single for Mental Health Awareness Week. I’m lucky enough to have a voice and I want to use it to help people feel less alone.
You are also very open about your sexuality. Why is that important to you?
I suppressed that part of myself for a long time. I feel like I owe it to my younger self to shout it from the bloomin’ rooftops! I also want to help young people feel like they can be their true selves. If I’d seen someone like myself in the media, gay and proud, maybe I’d have felt like I could come out sooner. In all honesty, if it hadn’t been for one person who bravely came out to me, I’d more than likely still be incredibly unhappy and in the closet to this day.
You have been making music for a while, but do you think you have found your identity as an artist now?
I do. I’ve finally gotten over my fear of not being liked by people. Plus since coming out, I’m actually writing what’s 100% true and relatable to me.
Does your sexuality come into your music and lyrics?
Absolutely. Whenever I’m writing about love and heartbreak it’s about girls. I really like girls, haha.
What advice would you give to your younger queer self?
Trust what you’re feeling. You are not alone, you’re not faulty and one day they’re even going to love you back exactly as you are.
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