This week has been a big one for L.A.-based pop singer/songwriter Lauv. On April 2, the 24-year-old posted a long, heartfelt note on social media about his personal struggles with mental health, detailing his journey to get help and encouraging others to do the same.
The note also revealed his decision to release his forthcoming debut album, ~how i'm feeling~, which he'll unveil song by song. The singer also announced plans to tour this year. The ~how i'm feeling~ tour will kick off in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 5.
Lauv's headlining tour will have nine stops across the U.S., closing out the domestic leg with two nights in Los Angeles on Oct. 19–20. On Oct. 25, he'll jump over to Berlin for seven European shows, followed by five stops in Australia and New Zealand, tying things up in Perth on Nov. 26.
In his aforementioned social media note, he shared how much anxiety he was feeling around his debut album after he finished his 2018 initial project, I met you when I was 18., which he refers to as a "playlist." He discussed how challenging his emotions had become and how finally seeking professional help allowed him to move past them.
"[I felt] how lucky I am to be given the opportunity to use my voice and express myself and connect on a large scale. Something I hadn't felt in a LONG time…I was truly alive again," he wrote.
He continued: "I recognized and still recognize now that my mental health is an ongoing process…And that's okay because I know what it feels like to be out of it, and I know it's more than possible to get out. And that's the most important thing. Over the past couple months, the feeling of ‘oh f*** maybe I'm not gonna be able to make this album' switched to 'holy sh** I'm more excited than ever about this music & the message & the possibilities.'"
He ended the message encouraging anyone who needs help, or knows someone who needs helps, to reach out, including link for resources on his website.
"The biggest thing I learned from the past year was to not be afraid to face yourself head on. To not be afraid of your mind. To work with yourself and not against. To open the conversation more. To not be ashamed or afraid of help," Lauv said.
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Complete dates and ticket info for the ~how i'm feeling~ tour can be found here; the pre-sale begins April 8.
