Lzzy Hale, the frontwoman of Halestorm, delved into the connection between her music and mental health views in an interview with American Songwriter. This came on the heels of the release of the band’s new duet ‘Terrible Things’ with country artist Ashley McBryde.
Originally featured in the group’s 2022 album, ‘Back From The Dead,’ the track heavily centers on the mental challenges experienced by individuals. Hale openly discussed the song’s topic and how it intertwined with her personal experiences multiple times before. Now, she’s taking another stance against the stigma often attached to mental health discussions.
Explaining her perspective on the matter, the singer said:
“It’s very important that we break the stigma and talk about it. I grew up in a culture where if you say you need help out loud or start with a therapist, that meant that you were crazy and you were viewed as damaged or broken. That is not true. I view asking for help and seeking out that help as a form of bravery and ownership of the things that plague you.”
She also shared the life-changing power of embracing one’s troubles as follows:
“My brother and I are the first in our family to break this cycle, and because we have this amazing platform that we’ve built, we can pass the hope along. I’ve used writing my whole life to deal with my dark and sinister sides, and it’s so beautiful to discover that those black spots in your life do not define you; they exist. Through therapy, I’ve learned to acknowledge and respect them instead of pushing them down or denying them, which in turn comes through in the music.”
McBryde’s decision to pair with Halestorm for the duet was significantly influenced by the reality and relatability of the song’s message, as well. In fact, she revealed her connection with the track’s message in a recent text to Rolling Stone.
The country singer wrote:
“When I got a call about singing on a Halestorm track, I immediately said, ‘Are you f–king with me?’ When I heard it was ‘Terrible Things,’ it was an even stronger yes. The subject matter resonates with me so strongly. The way Halestorm capped it off with ‘look at me and you’ll see, I’m not these terrible things’ floored me. It’s recognizing that we have our heads in our a– a lot of the time, but we have the ability to not be that way and not be part of the problem. It takes effort, but we can do it.”
The new music video for ‘Terrible Things’ paints a picture of the trauma held by a teenage runaway and ends with a promotion of the Runaway & Homeless Youth And Relationship Violence Toolkit, serving as a crucial resource for teens in need.
