My new single 'For You' drops on 2nd February 2024. I wrote this song for someone close to me who suffers from an eating disorder. In 2019, when I was just 14, I released a song called 'Crutches' for the same person. Crutches has been my most successful selling single yet, with over 62,000 streams. Writing music/lyrics is the way I express myself. It's a way of me processing my thoughts and feelings and writing Crutches and For You, was a way of conveying a message of support that I hope might help people who struggle with eating disorders and perhaps other mental health issues often associated with eating disorders such as anxiety, low self esteem and self doubt.
So many people face challenges in their lives and sometimes they need that extra bit of strength to take that first step on the road to recovery. I am hoping that the lyrics in this song resonate with people who are struggling, and that perhaps it gives them the courage to reach out and get the help and support they need. The beginning of 2024 seemed the right time to launch this song as the new year can often be a time for a fresh start and a new beginning. I wanted to really make a difference, not only in terms of For You connecting in some way with people who are really struggling to find a way forward, but also at a practical level. When I shared my plans with the person I wrote the song for, to link-up with an eating disorders charity, we both came up with Beat as the charity to partner with. We felt that Beat was the most prolific eating disorders charity in the UK, and teaming up with them would enable the music and the streaming royalties to benefit as many people as possible. To that end, I intend to share 50% of the royalties from For You with Beat to support their work.
Eating disorders affect so many people in so many different ways. I have seen the fear and anxiety attached to breaking habits, and the loss of hope when nothing seems to work. I have noticed the loneliness when it feels like no-one understands and the self isolation for fear of being judged. An eating disorder takes hold of your life and has a way of controlling every aspect of it. It controls you, those you love, the things you do, how you feel and even how others feel about you. If For You can in any way make a difference to just one person to find the courage, inspiration, motivation or determination they need to take that first step on the road to recovery, it will have achieved what I wanted it to.
Please stream or download the track (see pre-save link below) and share this blog, and in doing so know, that you are raising the profile of eating disorders and if the lyrics in the song can help someone, or the donation of streaming royalties help Beat help someone, you have made a difference.