Quite rightly, mental health is now being discussed much more openly in society but we’re still a long way from it being something which isn’t held at arm’s length, viewed as a mixture of suspicion and fear. Jay Thackery has emerged from times few of us could possibly imagine – substance abuse compounded existing mental health conditions led to numerous suicide attempts and two occasions when he was declared clinically dead. In terms of a musical rebirth, Jay’s is rather more literal than most.
We must point out at this point that Jay is now both clean and making huge progress to battle against the monster of mental health issues. His music has provided the stable outlet to give him both the confidence and freedom to express himself. Combining elements of rock and folk, a la Frank Turner, what’s most striking is his voice, ironically the thing he has struggled for so long to be heard. Achingly pure, it’s impossible to ignore, slicing through his nifty fingerwork on the guitar to spin around your head for long after listening. There’s a fragility which speaks volumes, one which can only come through bitter experience. Tragically, some of his lyrics come from lost friends, those who could so easily have been Jay.
Jay’s EP, Rehab Diaries, contains five tracks which will stay with you for a long time.
