"This sort of pressure has always made me feel like I have to constantly be showing that I'm taking steps forward and presenting that next big achievement."
(Source: Supplied)
Port Macquarie-based, country-pop singer-songwriter Chris Rose has opened up about his insecurities and vulnerabilities in a new, candid Instagram video.
"There's an unwritten law in the music world, and across many competitive careers [that] we must always be super positive, full of confidence and ready, always to take the stage," he says, with a backdrop of music posters behind him.
He continues, "This sort of pressure has always made me feel like I have to constantly be showing that I'm taking steps forward and presenting that next big achievement. I've been thinking about this sort of thing a lot lately, and this fear of falling behind or being forgotten has really stopped me from showing my true self, from sharing my insecurities, my worries and that vulnerable side that makes up a part of who I am.
"I feel like a lot of people pursuing their dreams and passions are really sensitive people. If we slow down or take a break, the music industry generally starts to view us as, 'oh, we're not working hard enough, or we might be giving up, or maybe we're not cut out for making it.' This sort of culture keeps us on an anxious loop, and it's a big part of the reason why mental health conditions are so common amongst musos and artists.
Rose recognises that as an artist himself, many of his peers feel like they can never rest. He reminds himself, "great art takes time. Not to mention, cost a lot of money. It's so important to live life to the fullest, slow down and enjoy the simple things whilst pursuing your dreams."
Rose ends the video by stating, "I'd love to open up more of this conversation so we can see this old school way of thinking, start the change in the music industry, so we can all connect, support each other and open up on a different level. And most importantly, have some fun! Feel free to get in touch; I'd love to hear your thoughts. Chat again soon!"
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In a The Music feature that explored the rise of digital burnout, FKA Twigs, who once strayed from social media, has been noted as having almost changed her persona entirely, going from that of a nearly reclusive, genre-defying enigma to that of an ever-present social media fixture to appease her record label.
“All record labels ask for are TikToks, and I got told off today for not making enough effort,” the artist shared in a since-deleted video. Needless to say, it’s clear that much like the increasing pressures any worker would feel in their day-to-day job, the need to be constantly engaging and marketing yourself on social media is beginning to lead to increased burnout in the digital age for creatives.
Digital burnout and the pressure to constantly be "on" and positive in an industry that often doesn't support artists is becoming too much.