Cadaveria
What role has the music for you during the dark times and the journey to overcome the troubling times?
People often write to me to thank me because my music helped them to overcome difficult times. Every time I read these things I am moved and I give even more importance to what I do. During my illness, I listened a lot to the sound of nature and silence. That, too, is music. I know for a fact that music that vibrates on the same frequency as your soul can help you heal. The chants of the indigenous tribes are cure. Music acts directly on our cells. The sound of the drum matches the beating of our heart. There can be no life without music.
What besides music helps and fuels you to go on when you feel down?
It helps me a lot to focus on breathing, to breathe deeply. Breath is life. Nature gives me energy, because trees and meadows have the same color as the heart chakra: green. To immerse myself in the ocean purifies and relieves me. Walking also helps me a lot. It is like a meditation.
What is something that you find worth fighting for?
Our right to be free and happy. The right to be different, not homologated. And also the right of animals to live free. Cows, chickens and pigs were not born to feed us. This is an invention of man. Wake up!
What message or words of encouragement would you give to someone who may be suffering or dealing with something?
You are not alone. There are millions of people suffering in the world, but this same world pushes us to show only the best image of ourselves. So you think you’re the only loser in pain. Not so, you are not alone. Love yourself and heal yourself. You can.
Julie Rodesch // My Own Ghost
What helps and fuels you to go on when you feel down? What is something that you find worth fighting for?
For me, what fuels me on a daily basis is my family, my friends, my pets, and naturally, music. I think that I am in the very lucky position that I am very close to my family that supports me no matter what. Knowing that there’s someone there for me and there’s someone out there that depends on me keeps me going. This does not mean, that I don‘t have dark days. For myself, I have found out that it helps to get through a bad day easier if I try to think of something positive, something that I look forward to that on that day while getting up. Naturally this exercise is easier on some days than others. Also, letting go of the past, past mistakes and not dwelling on the negative have been quite the game changers for myself. But honestly, that‘s something I still struggle with, even after years of practice.
What role had the music during the dark times and the journey to overcome the troubling times?
Music keeps me grounded, gives me strength and makes me feel fulfilled. For years it‘s been by my side and it makes me feel strong and confident. A very bad day turns into a very good one if I write a song or rehearse with the band. When I am really down, angry, scared, I write, I try to put my feelings into words; into a song and very often this helps me to gain objectivity and to feel a lot calmer and balanced. For some out there I think that sport has the same impact, well for myself it‘s music. Writing songs, spending my energy and getting rid of pent-up feelings by singing (really loud and often also horribly) just makes me feel a whole lot better.
What message or words of encouragement would you give to someone who may be suffering or dealing with something?
I think that mental health is still not thematized enough. Its invisibility and the fact that it can affect everybody makes it so dangerous. Very often, people feel ashamed to openly talk about their struggles and that should not be the case. If you or someone you know struggles with mental health, please do seek help. You do not have to overcome everything by yourself and it does not mean that you are weak or lack strength if you ask for help. On the contrary, I think it takes a lot of courage and strength to do so.
Lindsay Schoolcraft // Antiqva, solo
What role has the music had for you during the dark times and the journey to overcome the troubling times?
The music brings a lot of hope and purpose to the table in times even when you don’t believe that for yourself. Music conveys so much more than words can express. It definitely has an unexplainable level of magical healing to it during the dark times.
What besides music helps and fuels you to go on when you feel down?
Self-care. Making sure I am eating right, spelling right, getting in some form of exercise, and allowing myself to feel my emotions when needed. There should never be any guilt in taking down days or some time off to just rest and do nothing.
What is something that you find worth fighting for?
Your dreams, goals, and aspirations. Which should also be protected at all costs from those who often doubt or try to talk us out of it. I find that people who don’t believe it is possible for them will also try to convince you the same. Set a boundary and don’t even consider other’s limitations they’ve put on themselves.
What message or words of encouragement would you give to someone who may be suffering or dealing with something?
You are not alone in what you are going through. There are many positive and informative resources out there that can help you take the steps and acquire the skills to be able to live a life with lessened suffering. You are worth it and you deserve to build a life for yourself filled with more joy and happiness wherever possible.
Lisa Wallenberg // Emetropia
What helps and fuels you to go on when you feel down? What is something that you find worth fighting for?
Nowadays the number one reason I have for carrying on is my daughter – I remember when I visited the doctor about my mental health after giving birth and she asked me about thoughts of suicide. I answered, rather angrily, that that wasn’t an option anymore since I had a child now. I felt like I had kind of robbed myself of that always being an option ”just in case”, even though I hadn’t had any serious thoughts about actually doing it since I was a teen.
But even before having her I would regularly struggle with depression, anxiety and terrible self-confidence. Two things have helped me. One is allowing myself to be sad and fairly unproductive for a while. You need to be kind to yourself and sometimes simply managing to shower or cook instant noodles for dinner is a good enough fight for the day. The other is to remember that, while things may not have turned out exactly like I dreamt of when I was younger and the fact that I haven’t always made the best choices, I have still had a mostly great life so far and that the good stuff doesn’t have to end for any reason.
And speaking of things not turning out as planned, I have to give a shout out to the Youtuber “Ecofriend Lia’ ‘who helped me with my way of thinking tremendously with one single sentence: “Declutter your dreams!”. It helped me figure out what I want, and well, declutter all the old dreams that I don’t actually have any longer yet have held on to. I think this is important for anyone really; what do you want in life and why? Because of money, status, expectations or because you genuinely want it?
What role had music during the dark times and the journey to overcome the troubling times?
Usually when I’m down I get really self-conscious about my singing abilities and feel like I should just quit music altogether. Then I try to remember why I do music; how great I feel after a good gig, the satisfaction after finishing some really good lyrics or the fact that people seem to really enjoy my voice(!).
I had a bad case of post-partum depression last year. I was so close to quitting Emetropia because I was just overwhelmed by the mere thought of doing any kind of band-related activity, no matter how small. But I managed to convince myself that I would really regret quitting and it worked; I’m still here and again, enjoying it! Of course, having support and understanding from the guys was super important as well. I would never be in a band where mental health isn’t taken seriously.
What message or words of encouragement would you give to someone who may be suffering or dealing with something?
Be kind to yourself and let things take time. Reflect on what is really important in life and don’t think your life is over because some plans might not work out; different can still be just as good! Don’t ever think “it’s too late” or “I can’t!” about anything you might want to do. Don’t listen to idiots who tell you to just “cheer up” or that you should avoid antidepressants and just take a walk in the woods instead(or something like that). Seek professional help, whether it be seeing a therapist, taking meds or both. And finally, there’s absolutely no shame whatsoever in having depression, anxiety, panic attacks or the likes and you are neither weak nor alone for suffering from it.
Click here for more from the World Mental Health Day 2021 series and don’t forget to check out our Instagram.
Metal Goddesses 