Photo credit: Felix Mackenzie-Barrow
Daudi’s story explores a musician’s experience of living with bipolar, psychosis and depression.
We are honoured to share this inspirational discussion with British-Ugandan singer-songwriter Daudi Matsiko.
Daudi shares his story with George Levers, Music Support’s Head of Service Development & Delivery, from his first experience with depression at University to psychosis and an eventual bipolar diagnosis. He talks about the impact of therapy, music and how a strong family and friends support network has helped him to navigate his journey ‘creating a sense of safety where someone doesn’t feel shame.’
You can watch the full interview on our Youtube channel below.
*Please note that this interview is intended for viewers aged 18 and over and contains references to suicide and psychosis that some may find distressing.*
Further information and support
Bipolar is a severe mental illness characterised by extreme mood swings and changes in energy levels. Someone with Bipolar can have long or short periods of stability but can then go ‘low’ (into deep depression) or ‘high’ (experiencing hypomania, mania or psychosis).
According to Bipolar UK, 1 in 50 people in the UK have Bipolar and of those who do, 56% don’t have a diagnosis.
For further information and support surrounding Bipolar, depression and psychosis we recommend the following organisations:
- Bipolar UK – providing peer support services to empower people affected by bipolar to live well.
- Hearing Voices Network – for people who hear voices, see visions or have other unusual percpetions
- Mind – Empowering people to understand their mental health and the choices available to help them
If you are impacted by any of the themes discussed in this interview or are concerned for a loved one, you can contact Music Support on our confidential Helpline, Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm on 0800 030 6789. You can also email us on helpline@musicsupport.org. Find out more about our Helpline and Support Services here.
About Daudi
Photo credit: Charles Butterworth
About George
George leads the delivery and development of Music Support’s frontline services supporting our beneficiaries. She has extensive experience working in music and live events, leading brand and artist partnerships at Live Nation and creative entertainment agency FRUKT. Understanding the complexities of mental health and addiction challenges has been a passion of hers for many years, having struggled with her own issues in her late teens – early 20s.
George is currently undertaking her first year of training, Advanced Diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling.
The Music Support team would like to say a HUGE thank you to Daudi for taking the time to share his inspirational story with us.
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After%20releasing%20two%20independent%20EPs,%20'A%20Brief%20Introduction%20to%20Failure'%20and%20'The%20Lingering%20Effects%20of%20Disconnection',%20he%20signed%20to%20Naim%20Records%20and%20has%20toured%20with%20GoGo%20Penguin,%20Keaton%20Henson,%20Portico%20Quartet%20whilst%20also%20being%20a%20successful%20graduate%20of%20the%20Red%20Bull%20Music%20Academy%20in%20Montreal.%20He%20released%20his%20latest%20single%20'I%20am%20Grateful%20for%20My%20Friends'%20in%20October%202023%20and%20January%202024%20will%20see%20the%20release%20of%20his%20much%20anticipated%20debut%20album%20'The%20King%20of%20Misery'%20(available%20for%20pre-order%20a%20href=https://hellodaudi.bandcamp.com/album/the-king-of-misery%20target=_blank%20rel=noopenerhere/a). You%20can%20see%20Daudi%20play%20live%20at%20his%20headline%20show%20in%20Brighton%20at%20ALPHABET%20on%2014th%20December.%20Purchase%20tickets%20a%20href=https://www.seetickets.com/event/daudi-matsiko/a-l-p-h-a-b-e-t/2794086%20target=_blank%20rel=noopenerhere/a. Follow%20Daudi%20a%20style=font-family:%20var(%20--e-global-typography-text-font-family%20),%20Sans-serif;%20font-weight:%20var(%20--e-global-typography-text-font-weight%20);%20background-color:%20#ffffff;%20href=https://www.instagram.com/daudi/%20target=_blank%20rel=noopeneron%20Instagram/a. img%20width=750%20height=1125%20src=https://www.musicsupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Daudi8-768x1152.jpg%20alt=%20loading=lazy%20srcset=https://www.musicsupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Daudi8-768x1152.jpg%20768w,%20https://www.musicsupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Daudi8-200x300.jpg%20200w,%20https://www.musicsupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Daudi8-682x1024.jpg%20682w,%20https://www.musicsupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Daudi8.jpg%20853w%20sizes=(max-width:%20750px)%20100vw,%20750px%20/pPhoto%20credit:%20a%20href=https://www.instagram.com/chlb.photo/%20target=_blank%20rel=noopenerCharles%20Butterworth/a/ph3About%20George /h3pGeorge%20leads%20the%20delivery%20and%20development%20of%20Music%20Support’s%20frontline%20services%20supporting%20our%20beneficiaries.%20She%20has%20extensive%20experience%20working%20in%20music%20and%20live%20events,%20leading%20brand%20and%20artist%20partnerships%20at%20Live%20Nation%20and%20creative%20entertainment%20agency%20FRUKT.%20Understanding%20the%20complexities%20of%20mental%20health%20and%20addiction%20challenges%20has%20been%20a%20passion%20of%20hers%20for%20many%20years,%20having%20struggled%20with%20her%20own%20issues%20in%20her%20late%20teens%20–%20early%2020s./ppGeorge%20is%20currently%20undertaking%20her%20first%20year%20of%20training,%20Advanced%20Diploma%20in%20Humanistic%20Integrative%20Counselling./pimg%20width=750%20height=1000%20src=https://www.musicsupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/George_photo.jpeg%20alt=%20loading=lazy%20srcset=https://www.musicsupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/George_photo.jpeg%20768w,%20https://www.musicsupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/George_photo-225x300.jpeg%20225w%20sizes=(max-width:%20750px)%20100vw,%20750px%20/h3The%20Music%20Support%20team%20would%20like%20to%20say%20a%20HUGE%20thank%20you%20to%20Daudi%20for%20taking%20the%20time%20to%20share%20his%20inspirational%20story%20with%20us. /h3img%20width=750%20height=1121%20src=https://www.musicsupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Daudi3-768x1148.jpg%20alt=%20loading=lazy%20srcset=https://www.musicsupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Daudi3-768x1148.jpg%20768w,%20https://www.musicsupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Daudi3-201x300.jpg%20201w,%20https://www.musicsupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Daudi3-685x1024.jpg%20685w,%20https://www.musicsupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Daudi3.jpg%20856w%20sizes=(max-width:%20750px)%20100vw,%20750px%20/){kind=link}