London-based musician Levina talks about mental health, her latest single Battleground, and how important it is to celebrate uniqueness in music. She tells Jejune how she overcame her own struggles with mental heath through the support she received from Help Musicians. Her story inspires people to seek the help they need, instead of keeping it all bottled in. Levina’s music is her way of expressing her emotions and helping others in their mental health journey. Please read on.

Where are you based?
Camden, London.

Has music always been something you were interested in?
Music really just happened to me. I remember being in the garden of my childhood home and just singing and making up lyrics about the birds in the garden. I was like seven years old – I think I probably knew back then already. We had a piano in the house as well, so often I would just find myself sitting there playing chords that sounded nice and singing along to them. I think It just naturally felt like the more comfortable way to express myself.. through music. When I was nine years old my choir teacher told my parents it might be worth giving me singing lessons, so they looked into it and since then I had classical singing lessons twice a week till I was 16 years old. I always told people I wanted to be a singer and songwriter, but I think I properly realized that I didn’t want to do anything else in life apart from music after studying Geography at King’s College London. I did the BA next to managing my own band at the time, just to have that ‘proper’ degree. Although I really enjoyed the time – I met some of my best friends then – I just knew that music was the only thing I wanted to do, and I threw myself into it full-time.

What is the inspiration behind your music?
My music is definitely influenced by my personal experiences, but also experiences of friends and family, and everything that is happening in the world around us. It’s like my songs are partly a working progress of myself, and partly a response to things that are happening on our planet. One of my main themes is freedom.

You’ve carved out your own unique space in the music realm. How significant do you believe that is for a young musician to do?
It is really important. We are all different people and personalities, so this should be reflected in our music too. I think inspirations are important, but I don’t believe it’s good to try and sound like somebody else. Let’s celebrate uniqueness and not fitting into boxes. Because at the end of the day people connect with what’s most authentic to you. And it also makes the journey of making music so much more enjoyable as a creator.

Your latest single, Battleground takes us through your journey with mental health. Tell us a bit about the song.
I wrote Battleground about my struggles with mental health. I didn’t speak about it a lot, because I felt like no one would understand me and I would be a burden to people. However, after I got regular therapy, through Help Musicians and BAPAM, I realised the importance of opening up, because there are other people who are going through similar situations. I am so grateful to be able to express my emotions through music and I want to raise awareness that struggles with mental health are not always visible. We need to make an effort to be kind to each other, because we never know what someone might be going through. I also want people to know that there’s always someone to talk to and someone who will listen, including services like Samaritans and Help Musicians, who have 24/7 helplines. And my DM’s are always open.

Has mental health always been something that you have struggled with? How does music help you with it?
I’ve always been an overthinker and a very sensitive person, like most creatives. Music has always been my way of expressing myself. Even when I started first writing songs as a child my lyrics were often about my emotions. I first experienced depression in my teenage years. It’s always there with me but now I know how to deal with it and find coping mechanisms that can help. Music is still my safe space, but if you’re writing by yourself, it can also be quite lonely at times. So now therapy, and talking openly with people, is a regular part of my life, and it’s helped so much.

Was composing Battleground a cathartic experience for you?
Absolutely. The song was one of those that I didn’t really think about but it just happened, like a release. I was thinking about making it more positive and putting a spin on it, because I want to share hopeful songs. But I decided to leave it as it was, because I think it’s important for people to understand that this is what life can feel like for people who are struggling. Even if it can feel uncomfortable to listen to, I think it’s important to raise awareness.

Initially, you never addressed your struggles with mental health. What made you decide to seek help?
It’s important for me to share that struggles with mental health are so often caused by the way we live, including the structures and the pressures of society, rather than just a chemical imbalance. The number of people struggling with their mental health has increased, and that just shows that the way we live is increasingly unhealthy. Rather than looking at mental health as an individual battle that one person is fighting, it’s important to understand that we can collectively help each other if we share our experiences. We can make each other feel supported, understood and inspired, because even though all our paths are so different, we’re sharing the experience of living right here right now. That’s why I think therapy and also support groups can be so incredibly helpful.

How did your mental health impact your work as a musician?
It can affect your ability to focus and to feel inspired.

Why did you choose to work with Help Musicians?
I’ve known Help Musicians for a while and always admired their work. Having an organisation that musicians can contact and feel supported by is extremely valuable, and everyone in the team deeply cares about musicians.

How has Help Musicians helped you?
Help Musicians have first supported me financially during the Covid-19 pandemic, when all income through live shows was lost. Most importantly Help Musicians, together with BAPAM, helped me with therapy when I needed it most, which has been a saving grace for me, and I am still with the same therapist today.

Can you talk a little bit about your contribution to their videos about Depression & Anxiety on their new ‘Explore’ website. Why did you feel this was important?
Help Musicians let me know about the Music Minds Matter platform, and I immediately thought it was a great idea. Sharing videos of experts and other individuals is a great way to make people feel less lonely. That’s why it was important for me to contribute to their service and give back.

What are some things you do to help your mental health?
Going for walks in nature, listening to podcasts, reading books, making music, and finding a good balance between socializing and taking my time to wind down and relax.

What advice would you offer others struggling with mental health?
Don’t try and solve it all by yourself, a different perspective can help so much. Talk to people, and seek help with the organisations around, like Help Musicians and Samaritans.

What is your motto in life?
Be kind and listen to your gut instinct.

Where can our readers find you and your music?
www.levinamusic.com
Instagram: levinamusic

Levina - Creating a Safe Space with Music