HUNGER PREMIERE: Lukey Storey drops new track and talks about mental health
DJ turned model, turned rapper, Lukey Storey doesn’t shy away from confronting his demons in EP Touched A Nerve. Exclusively talking to HUNGER he’s unapologetically real on highlighting the mental health epidemic in the creative industry.
Being introduced to the music scene at an early age, Storey knows the industry inside out. Credited as the youngest DJ to have ever played on BBC Radio 1xtra, Storey performed as Professor Green’s DJ for many years – playing at the biggest clubs across the capital and Europe. After time modelling, Storey returned to his musical roots, surprising everyone with the move with his aptly named debut album, I’m as Shocked as You Are, released last year.
Throughout his career Storey has constantly struggled with his mental health, suffering from ADHD, bipolar and drug addiction. Discussing mental health in the music industry was largely unheard of until 2015, when pioneering dubstep producer and DJ, Benga, revealed his early retirement was due to a diagnosis of schizophrenia and bi-polar; “brought on by drugs” and “result of excessive touring”. Mental health has since started to be taken more seriously in the industry, but Avicii’s suicide last year is a shockingly tragic reminder that there is still a long way to go.
Being part of these ruthless industries have shaped Storey to who he is now, he has dedicated his music to tackling these issues and spreading awareness of the detrimental potential working in the creative industry can have to your mental health.
The UK hip hop artist’s music is playfully dark, featuring gritty beats behind Storey’s tongue-n-cheek lyrics and elevated vocals from backing singers.
Scroll down to see what Storey had to say to HUNGER and listen to the premiere of Touched A Nerve.
How did you cope with mental health issues while working in the creative industry? And any advice for anyone currently in a similar position
The creative industry has been a sanctuary for my mental health issues. There’s a lot of room for mental health issues in the creative industry because it’s full of mad people anyway. I don’t think I’d be able to hold down a normal job, and I’ve been very blessed to not have to work in an office. I think the plight of the creative is insane in the first place because it is not vital to our existence. It doesn’t provide food, shelter, warmth, medicine or vitamins but somehow life would be dull without us. My advice would be to people in the creative field with mental health issues is to find support outside of the creative industry. The creative industry doesn’t care about your mental health, but it will sell your art off the back of it. So, I would advise to attend the right Support Groups, google your specific problem and there will be somewhere you can go. Try therapy! Have a place to share your problems. And try and describe what it’s like in your head to somebody you trust, somebody who is willing to be as honest with themselves as you are. Honesty and real connection with another human being who understands is a lifeline. Don’t be scared to be vulnerable because freedom is on the other side of that fear.
How has rapping about this helped you? And how were you able to reach the point of being comfortable speaking about it?
Rapping has given my mental illness a home. I wasn’t afforded the luxury of worrying what people thought about it. The sheer relief of being able to express my feelings in that form was a life saver. I also think people don’t always take my lyrics literally, but most of them are. The first line on my first single was “I don’t know what I can do with this head, that keeps me up at night keeps me in my bed, I’ve got suicidal ideation”. I’ve actually been there and in that mental headspace, it’s really not nice.
How have you incorporated this subject matter into your upcoming EP?
I’ve incorporated all of my issues into ‘Heartwork’. It deals with love, obsession, addiction and heartbreak. I’m trying to be the rap Adele! You could call it Heartbreak Rap I guess. Except Adele doesn’t sing about drugs. I do, and How could I not? as drugs have been such a big part of my story. In 2017 I went through a life-changing heartbreak experience. It changed me and it inspired almost all of my beginnings as a writer. So, thank you to that girl. She knows who she is and I’m glad because it means she is likely to never come back.
The one thing I’d like to say is I really live all the things I write about. This stuff is no joke for me, there are no gimmicks. And I write for the people who have felt or feel the same. Hopefully, those people will feel less alone. And for those who haven’t got a voice, I’m saying it for you. I know I’m not the only one who experiences life as intensely as I do. Rap saved my life, no question.
What can we expect from your EP?
You can expect from this EP a whole lot of feelings. My need for love, my love and hate relationship with drugs, complications with family members and my sarcastic take on life. You can expect big production, I have to thank Cores, Ghosttown, Len, Aye Pee & Owen Cutts for all their contributions on production. They are the reason I sound the way I do. Cores especially has become a true friend during the recording and production process. A lot of deep conversations happened, so much so that most of our sessions were just talking for 6 hours. Only in the last hour did we actually make any music. I also need to thank Courtney Mc for the visual artwork, best art I’ve ever had for a project and I’d love to be able to see what she sees. She is a special artist.
