Interview by Kris Peters
Depression and mental health are becoming an increasingly prevelant condition, especially in the modern age where sometimes just living can become a struggle.
They are real problems with no definitive answer. Problems that could affect any one of us at any time.
As much as money always helps in any situation, perhaps more importantly in these cases the vital factor is more awareness.
Awareness that it can and does happen. Awareness that it is not your fault or something you should go through alone and awareness of the fact that sometimes it's okay to not be okay and the most important first step to helping yourself is communication and putting your troubles out there for the world to see, hear and help.
One way to do this is by staging events - of any nature - but when music is your life and passion the default mechanism generally switches to live events. And, as we all know, musicians do it better than most.
On September 16 the Mansfield Tavern in Brisbane will host Rock Beats Depression, featuring an eclectic assortment of local and interstate bands uniting for one common cause. Brisbane metal warriors Dreamkillers head the bill, with Black Whisky, Goatzilla, Gutterfire, Tailor Made Rejects, Krave and more coming together for a common cause.
The day will raise not only awareness, but also funding for The Black Dog Institute, Beyond Blue and Headspace with tickets under $50 from Oztix.
Each week HEAVY will be speaking with bands on the lineup about what being a part of Rock Beats Depression Means to them.
Today we start things off chatting to Brisbane heavy/sludge/doom experimental outfit HIPPO and frontman Loki.
"Mental health awareness and helping is something that's pretty close to our heart, in the band and outside of it," he began. "The tattoo studio that I own does a lot of mental health stuff that helps people as well. As soon as I saw them advertising for the gig earlier on in the year I sent them an email I said I would love to be a part of that. It's definitely something we're all about and the struggles in life."
Listen on to hear Loki discuss mor about Rock Beats Depression, the other bands on the line-up, what it means to him personally and professionally to contribute, personal brushes with both mental health and depression, a bit of history about HIPPO and what they plan to unleash on the day and more.