X-Factor star Lucy Spraggan has revealed that she suffered a mental breakdown following her success on the hit reality TV show.
The singer, whose debut album went straight into the top 10 in 2013, found herself struggling to cope with the pressures of fame.
During an interview with Darren Cleary on RTÉ 2XM, the singer said:
“I had a top 10 album in 2013. It was great and then out of nowhere I had a complete breakdown, I just lost myself. I didn’t know anything about me anymore. I was probably quite mentally ill. I was put on prozac and xanax and just told everything was ok, when I knew it wasn’t. I needed to find out what I wanted and that was to write music and go on tour, that was what made me happy again.”
Struggling to deal with her mental health, the 23-year old used her music to show others trying to break through depression that there is hope:
“I didn’t write for a year, in my whole life that had never happened. Since I could pick up a pen I was writing and being creative but for a whole year after that first album I didn’t write a single song, I couldn’t do anything.
“Then I wrote a song called ‘uninspired’ which is about being on the X-Factor, its on my new album. I was at a horrendous low. I was depressed but I want other people who feel like that to know you can come out of it. This album is about being defiant, staying above the water and getting back to being happy.”
Two years later, Lucy decided to take her fate into her own hands, turning down a record deal from Columbia and setting out on her own.
Her own label CTRL meant the X-Factor star could do just that – taking control of releasing her own music:
“I got the option for a new album with Columbia, which is the biggest record label in the World and don’t get me wrong it was an honour to be on that roster and I enjoyed being there. I had a great experience, but I wanted to start my own label and take full control of my career.
“Now the only person whose expectations I need to achieve are mine and there’s no pressure and it’s really nice.”
