Give yourself time. Know the feeling will pass because all feelings are temporary.
Nia Wyn is an inspiring young woman – using her own mental health experiences to help others. Growing up in a small town in North Wales, Nia found comfort in old soul and blues records. Her latest release ‘Turnstiles’ was produced by Paul Weller. We caught up with the socially conscious storyteller to discuss her work, music and how she stays well.
What are you listening to, reading and watching at the moment?
I’ve been digging up 1960s and 70s Aretha Franklin releases. Early Nas. Trojan compilations too, and the new Internet album. I haven’t found time to read for quite a while now. I’ve been watching a lot of UK crime dramas lately, including Unforgotten. Plus Matt Groening’s new show Disenchantment.
What has been your biggest life challenge so far and what did you do to overcome it?
Giving up alcohol. I’ve been four years sober. I had to draw on the support of my loved ones, throw myself into music and take my time. One of the best decisions I ever made.
What have you learned about yourself over the past five or so years?
That I need to give myself a break now and again as I’m way too hard on myself – still working on it.
What would constitute a ‘perfect’ day for you?
Spending the daytime with my loved ones, including my two cats Bobo and Homer, and then finishing the night off with a banging show with my band.
For what in your life do you feel most grateful?
That I’m still alive, and for the love and compassion I receive from those closest to me.
Could you tell us more about your work within mental health?
At the moment I work a couple days a week in a voluntary-sector mental health service in South London. I use my lived experience of mental illness to support others, and co-run a peer support project there. It’s rewarding and pays the bills to do music.
How have your personal experiences helped you develop empathy towards mental illness?
I think we are experts by experience. The best placed people to understand people experiencing mental illness are the ones who have been there themselves and can support someone by validating them and being there for them. It’s not about saying, “I know exactly how you feel” because that’s not true, no one knows exactly how you feel. But my experiences help me to relate and know what it’s like to be stigmatised in society.
Complete this sentence: “Ace mental health for me means…”
Having time to be creative, feeling grounded, clear-headed and having good awareness of what I need in that moment.
What do you eat to stay healthy?
Try to get a good range of different vegetables, fish, meat. Most healthy days I’ll have a balanced diet with reasonable portions…
Do you have a daily routine of exercise or do you make it up as you go along?
I used to be really slack with this – when I was a kid I was a proper little footballer, playing games every week. I had a long period of not exercising at all but as of late I’m pushing myself to go two or three times a week – half cardio, half strength work. I do what I feel like on the day as long as I go, because it’s not just about the affect on my body, it’s more about my mental wellbeing.
What three songs lift your spirits?
Marvin Gaye – How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You
Princess Nokia – GOAT
Buddy – Hey Up There
What advice do you offer to friends when they are feeling overwhelmed?
To give yourself time – and to know it’s okay to feel that way, and that the feeling will pass because all feelings are temporary.
Finally, what was it like working with Paul Weller? What did you learn from his approach?
It was the dopest. He is a real dude, proper down to earth and wise as hell. I learnt a lot from working with him, and we talk fairly often – he gives me a lot of tips and I’ve been sending him more material I’ve been writing. The biggest thing I take away from working with him is to not be afraid to try something new, push boundaries and be comfortable shapeshifting genres – if it sounds good it sounds good.