Indie Folk’s Von Bieker knows Mental Health Breakdowns all too well in new single “Broken Down”
Edmonton, Alberta-based indie folk artist Von Bieker draws from a powerhouse of influences, from the guitar-driven groove of Bahamas to the spiritual depth of Bruce Cockburn – from the breaking-point passion of Glen Hansard to the quirky joy of the Talking Heads.
His recent singles have brought explosive growth, with “So I Did” reaching number 1 on the weekly chart at Your Life The Mixtape and “We Don’t Even Fight Anymore” surpassing 10,000 Spotify streams in its first month.
Now, he has unveiled the new single, “Broken Down.”
Von Bieker knows mental health breakdowns all too well – from his own struggles with anxiety and OCD to being raised by a mother who was often hospitalized for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and a moving target of other mental illnesses.
As Von Bieker watched friends and family struggling during Covid lockdowns, he wished he could be by their side. “Broken Down” collects the words he wished he could share over coffee – a sort of prayer or blessing for the struggling. Sit out the hustle, he says. Rest. Hush. Care for yourself. But words alone feel powerless in the face of a mounting mental health crisis. Online tools meant to bring us together are not enough at best and fracturing at their worst. The lack of real, physical presence leads Von Bieker to Broken Down’s mounting frustration as he yells “It’s not easy watching you break!” His hope is that “Broken Down,” and the entire album DUMB HOPE may bring some healing to a broken world.