Billboard chart topping artist, Jethro “aLonestar” Sheeran is producing the soundtrack for the biopic film “Van Gogh”. Jethro has collaborated with musicians such as Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Macy Gray, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Wu-Tang, Shatta Wale, Akon, DaBaby, Young Thug, Future, Trippie Redd, and Pusha T. Jethro’s Album, “Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica.”
The album features Reggae legend, Bob Marley’s sons, Damian and Stephen Marley and hit number #1 on the Billboard Charts. Jethro has also produced and written several hit songs with his cousin Ed Sheeran.
We did an in-depth interview with Jethro Sheeran and he shared with us some uplifting and healing words for those who are dealing with depression and mental health struggles.
Q. What are the similarities and the connection you feel with Vincent Van Gogh?
A. “Vincent Van Gogh is a huge inspiration to me. The similarities I feel with Van Gogh, are those of being a struggling artist myself, obsessed with my art and struggling to be accepted, giving up everything for my art and fiercely pursuing it. My art is not an option. It’s a must. Music is my air, my therapy, my oxygen. My art is a part of me. It’s who I am. I live and breathe music.
Q. What is your mission in life?
A. My mission in life is to help people. I hope my music will heal and uplift people, be listened to and appreciated. I hope to have a voice which one day makes a change in the world for the better. Music is about the spirit. It speaks just like Van Gogh’s paintings, making you feel a certain way.
Back in the days, I had a woman who was in my top ten friends list. She had lost 2 of her military sons in the Iraq war and she was completely devastated and suicidal. I had a song on my myspace called “Catalyst” a global themed song full of hope for the world. This was one of my first releases online and on CD.
This lady was in so much despair she wrote to me that she made a rope to commit suicide and she wanted to end her life. Without her sons, she felt helpless. Whilst she was setting up this awful scenario to commit suicide, she had my song “Catalyst” playing over and over again.
She messaged me saying that she was crying uncontrollably, but after finding a little bit of peace in my music, she told me she pulled the rope down and cried and did not commit suicide. She is alive still today.
Q. What did that experience teach you?
A. To me that showed me the power of a song, of music and art. I swore to myself, I will never stop making music ever and I will try to help as many people as possible who are suffering. I will try to and be a voice for those people, speaking out and also sharing my own fears, anxiety, despair and insecurity.
Q. How does it make you feel to bear your soul via music?
A. I feel so naked when people hear my songs, they hear my inner most, deepest, darkest secrets.
I need to write as it’s my air, my therapy. Once the words are written and they are out of me I feel a sense of peace and a hope someone else can relate.
Going through this everlasting struggle it seemed it would never get better. I felt truly alone, my mental health was getting worse, social anxiety and feelings of suicide. I felt at times, when I went to bed, I wish I’d never wake up.
Q. How did you get through it?
A. The anxiety was crippling but now I’m older and more mature. I use tools to help me through these times. I feel that if my music is enough for me and it helps me feel better and get so much fulfillment out if it, then I’m very lucky. I’m full of gratitude.
I only wish Van Gogh could have gotten over his pain and not pulled the trigger and got through what he was going through. The essence of life is change. These bad, dark feelings don’t last forever.
I’ve always managed to overcome them, but I understand when it’s too much, bad thoughts transpire and it can result in so much pain and despair that you want to end it all.
Q. How are things now?
A. I’m glad to be happy today and my work now is to help other people who feel depressed, have anxiety and are suicidal. I try to send a message through my music to say it’s going to be okay. Nothing is so bad it can’t be changed and there is always light at the end of the tunnel. We need to push this message out and reach people that think there is no way out. God Loves us. God cares. Let’s share this message.
Jethro aLonestar Sheeran
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Photos courtesy of Jethro Sheeran
