Starting from the frustration and disbelief that we are still so far behind in our attitudes towards pregnant women and new mothers in the UK, rising alternative pop-rock artist Fi McCluskey has just released a single that won’t leave you indifferent: “Die Young.” The artist, one of the UK’s most captivating new singer-songwriters, shines a spotlight on postnatal depression in this track, which is accompanied by a stunning music video directed by David Hughes. It addresses a reality that is far more common than we realize, lacks adequate support, and remains insufficiently discussed in today’s society.
Using music as a vehicle to spark important conversations, Fi McCluskey is determined to make her new single, “Die Young,” a tool to challenge the UK’s outdated ideologies and rewire societal thinking. “These conversations need to happen. We need to destigmatize. More than anything, we need humanity,” she says, reflecting on the mix of emotions she’s channeled into something tangible. We speak with her to analyze this concerning issue both in the UK and globally, discuss her latest release and the role of social media in shaping the perception of art, and learn more about her upcoming projects.
Fi, first of all, congratulations on your latest single, Die Young. The song, released about three weeks ago, has certainly made an impact. How are you feeling now that some time has passed since its release?
Overall, I'm feeling a sense of pride! The track's message, shining a light on the realities of having children and how extremely common post-natal depression is, is incredibly important and I'm thrilled to see it resonating and opening the floor to necessary conversations.
This single, which is accompanied by a music video directed by David Hughes, tackles one of the most overlooked topics in today’s society: postnatal depression. It’s something that isn’t talked about enough. What was the starting point for this story you wanted to tell through your music?
The story that I wanted to tell through my music was the product of frustration and disbelief that we are still so behind in our way of thinking towards pregnant women and new mothers in the UK. Post-natal depression is extremely common yet the realities of having children are still so unspoken about. There is help out there, however, this help is not accessible to all. Thanks to the Tories bringing the NHS to its knees, resources are at breaking point.
Add to this the narrative of the British stiff-upper-lip of “Well we just had to get on with it, you’ll figure it out” leaves the majority of new mothers feeling left out in the cold. We are making leaps and bounds in tackling mental health issues in vast areas, however, for some reason, this subject seems to be left behind. Having been the main source of support for several loved ones going through this anxious time, I simply feel that enough is enough. My aim with this track is to shine a light on this subject and to finally elicit a change in the landscape. As an artist, music is my vehicle to initiate these conversations.
Add to this the narrative of the British stiff-upper-lip of “Well we just had to get on with it, you’ll figure it out” leaves the majority of new mothers feeling left out in the cold. We are making leaps and bounds in tackling mental health issues in vast areas, however, for some reason, this subject seems to be left behind. Having been the main source of support for several loved ones going through this anxious time, I simply feel that enough is enough. My aim with this track is to shine a light on this subject and to finally elicit a change in the landscape. As an artist, music is my vehicle to initiate these conversations.
Die Young stands as an uncompromising sound of solidarity, opening the floor to necessary conversations about women’s mental health, especially postnatal depression. As you mentioned on social media recently, the song calls for creating spaces where people can openly express the realities of having children. Do you feel that, even if slowly, changes are being made, and we are moving in the right direction?
No, unfortunately, I don't. Not where the realities of having children and post-natal depression are concerned. I feel with the normalization of hyper-individualism and the very inhumane narrative of ‘it was her choice to have the baby’; new mothers, whilst at their most vulnerable, find themselves in a very isolating, hostile environment. Once you throw in what I call ‘The Hallmark Film’ effect, the general collective consciousness does not show even a basic level of warmth or empathy towards new Mothers. It’s simply not ingrained in us. I want to rewire the UK’s programming and get rid of these dated ideologies. These conversations need to happen. We need to destigmatize. What we need, more than anything else is humanity
This is about structural change that goes beyond individual cases, stemming from how women are perceived in society, the distorted image of motherhood, and the lack of women in power and decision-making roles. Who would you like “Die Young’s” message to reach?
Wouldn’t it be nice if society was set up to support women and women's health, both physical and mental? Yes. Is it? No. We still have a very long way to go in the UK. I feel men in general don’t have the same level of empathy that women have because the majority of men have not experienced how it feels to experience true vulnerability. I, as a musician, have taken the mixed bag of emotions that I feel towards this social-structural problem and turned them into something tangible.
Every element of the track is designed to evoke a certain emotion, from the bass to the tempo. This is the medium that I use to express myself; my recipe that I want everyone to digest. I hope my music, my message, not only reaches women who need to know that we have their back and that we want change but also that it resonates with the masses and instils the importance of moving ‘the times’ forward. We were all birthed by a mother and this process should not be taken for granted.
Every element of the track is designed to evoke a certain emotion, from the bass to the tempo. This is the medium that I use to express myself; my recipe that I want everyone to digest. I hope my music, my message, not only reaches women who need to know that we have their back and that we want change but also that it resonates with the masses and instils the importance of moving ‘the times’ forward. We were all birthed by a mother and this process should not be taken for granted.
“This project is incredibly close to my heart, and it means so much to know that it’s resonating,” you shared with your audience a couple of weeks ago. Could you tell us more about the stages of the creative process for this song and how you achieved the final result that we can now listen to?
The stages of the creative processes behind Die Young had been brewing for some time. I have experienced on several occasions the stark realities of post-natal depression, helping loved ones through this anxious time, simply because outside help was few and far between. I wanted to create a song that resembled the conversations I have had repeatedly. “You are not alone, we are here for you,” is the message. Working with Johan Hugo, we were immediately on the same page - heavy bass, repetitive phrases, and building harmonies, all come together to create a primal feeling of encouragement. Taking inspiration from bands such as Massive Attack and The Cocteau Twins, this emotive piece came together with love. It is extremely important that you click when collaborating with any fellow creative on a project, respecting what each person brings to the table, that’s when the magic happens.
In the music video for Die Young, you sit naked, rotating, covered in tattoo-style chalk body drawings of eyes, women, hands, feet, and profound words. Did you have a clear idea of what you wanted to represent through the visual piece? How did the dialogue with David unfold until you arrived at the final concept?
I met and bonded with David at a soirée in central London, we are both very down-to-earth people and, let’s just say, this wasn’t a particularly down-to-earth soiree. Whilst discussing my work with David, Die Young struck a chord with him. He is the kind of person that puts his money where his mouth is. Then, through my manager, we met to discuss ideas. I had a clear picture of what I wanted to represent and the idea flourished and grew very organically between us. David came back with a storyboard that instantly got me excited. He likes to push boundaries, as do I.
The body art in the video is amazing. Could you tell us who created it?
James Davison is a dear friend of mine and an incredible talent. We have known each other for years frequenting the same watering hole The Glory, which was a queer venue in East London. James hosts a life drawing workshop called Sketchsesh, where various performers and DJs from the East London, underground, creative queer scene, pose for participants. James holds the Sketchsesh workshop at The Divine, the successor of The Glory, and collaborates with the likes of Selfridges and other renowned fashion brands. I have always been a fan of James’s work and knew he was the right person for the project so I was beyond thrilled when he accepted.
We wanted to spin dated ideologies on their heads so, using my body as a canvas, we spoke about memories – childlike, naive drawings in different textures and tones, layered with warrior-esque painted phrases. James experimented with various materials ranging from oils and pastels to glitter and charcoal. The idea was to integrate, otherwise innocent images, and etch them onto my body to depict them in a different context, changing the viewer's perception.
We wanted to spin dated ideologies on their heads so, using my body as a canvas, we spoke about memories – childlike, naive drawings in different textures and tones, layered with warrior-esque painted phrases. James experimented with various materials ranging from oils and pastels to glitter and charcoal. The idea was to integrate, otherwise innocent images, and etch them onto my body to depict them in a different context, changing the viewer's perception.
I noticed you shared some behind-the-scenes footage of the body makeup process on your Instagram, giving viewers a closer look at how the piece came together. Do you think it’s important for the public to see all the work that goes into artistic creations? Do you feel the process behind the scenes is shown enough?
I feel the magic of art risks being lost to people. This recently found obsession with social media, showing every corner of our lives, with zero respect for privacy, is narcissistic pornography. From what we had for breakfast to what time we take a crap, who cares? In my opinion, this dumbs down art. Artists are getting strong-armed into this behaviour and I feel we should push back on this and reclaim some of our mystery. One can contextualize their work, however, this need to show every part of the process is not necessary, artists don't need to prove themselves in this way. It's called blood, sweat, and tears for a reason so let’s just leave it there.
And what can you tell us about your upcoming releases and projects?
The Hannah Holland remix of Die Young will be dropping in the coming weeks. My next single Scream will be out in January, accompanied by a video by the talented Josh Quinton, as well as releasing my forthcoming album in the new year.
If you could send a message to the world, what would it be?
It’s really not that hard. Just don’t be an arsehole. Let’s all take our heads out of our own, and look out for each other.
