Idols Aren’t Invincible.
I always felt weird about getting emotional when artists pass away and admittedly I still do. Often times, these are people I never knew or met, yet somehow it feels like it was a family member or close friend. I think this has a lot to do with the fact that artists share intimate details of their lives with strangers who may or may not connect with the work, which is an admirable act in itself.
Music plays a lot of roles in our everyday lives. Some of it is overlooked but it’s important to recognize that for many, music provides a sense of validation for certain emotions. It lets you know there’s someone out there that feels the same way, even if it’s a one-way conversation. If you’re fortunate enough to see artists’ live, you know that it also provides an unspoken bond between a crowd of strangers.
It also does this weird thing where it attaches itself to moments in your life. Good or bad, everyone has songs or albums that remain embedded in the background of a specific memory.
I could still tell you where I was when a friend of mine stumbled upon Mac Miller’s video for ‘Kool-Aid & Frozen Pizza.’ (I was smoking weed in my friends' garage if you’re really curious)
For myself and many of my friends, his mixtape ‘K.I.D.S.’ provided a soundtrack to our high-school years, which makes a lot of sense looking back. The project still feels like being a teenager did: laid-back with little to worry about.
The interesting thing about Mac was that his music grew up with us. As the years went by, his music grew into itself, much like you learn to do as you approach your 20’s. It blossomed into an experimental mess and somehow remained cohesive and relatable. He seemingly proved that after going through everything he spoke about, whether it was heartbreak, depression, anxiety or substance abuse, there was still a way to make it to the finish line.
But as you’ve probably heard and seen by now, Mac Miller passed away yesterday at the age of 26.
It’s a weird, unnerving feeling knowing that someone that shared similar struggles to your own wasn’t able to escape. Fighting mental illness often feels like fighting Hydra. As soon as you cut off one head, two grow back. Even worse, mental illness, like Hydra, has an “immortal head,” that can only be defeated by burning it. But the reality remains that some people don’t ever defeat Hydra.
As the story goes, Hydra was only defeated once Hercules called upon Lolaus for help. So with that, I’ll end this like so many others have these past few days. Check in on your friends and family.
Life isn’t easy or simple but picking up the phone is. Learn to listen without judgment and empathize with what you can’t relate to.
Thank you and Rest in Paradise Mac Miller.
