Marcus King remains realistic when it comes to navigating his sobriety

Marcus King will be the first to tell you that it's easier to talk about his mental health and sobriety struggles in hindsight. But the Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and guitarist still remains authentic and remains steadfastly open about his journey through all the zigs and zags.

“It never occurred to me not to talk about it openly, because whatever I'm going through, my audience will experience it in one way or another because it's conveyed through the music,” says the artist, who suffers from addiction problems , fears and feelings of hopelessness date back to his early teenage years growing up in Greenville, SC.

“The only thing that makes it easier for me to get through it is the thought that maybe I can make it easier for someone else. So it's always been a part of me to let other people know that it's not unusual and that it can't hurt.”

King is currently touring his album mood swings, the Rick Rubin-produced collection of soul-baring tracks that illuminate and relive some of his darkest moments. Given that more than 48.7 million Americans struggle with substance use, he brought along the organization 1 Million Strong, which provides sober music spaces and resources to assist with addiction recovery.

As National Recovery Month concludes in September, he says he is grateful for the support that continues to grow among fans, his team and the artist community.

“I have felt nothing but support on this journey, especially because I don’t think anyone wants me to go the other way,” he says. “That's a weird way to put it, but I think people really care. Sometimes you feel like other people you work with are more worried about their investment, but at the moment I can say that I don't feel that way about anyone on my team. I feel really supported and grateful.”

King's openness and vulnerability place him in line with a number of current male musicians: Noah Kahan. These include Brent Smith of Jelly Roll and Shinedown, who have achieved both commercial and critical success while shedding new light on traditional definitions of masculinity through their music and public discourse.

“The feedback I received was entirely positive. I think artists as a whole are more empathetic and generally more susceptible to these mental health issues, and I felt like it was time we talked about it more openly. We’re all kind of real with it and it brings us all together in that way,” he says.

“I definitely feel like it's a good time for male artists to express their opinions and I'm really happy to be part of this movement because growing up in the South, people weren't so open about it spoken. There was more of that machismo attitude that everyone had. My grandfather had a heart attack in his 40s, and I think it was because we repressed things so much, didn't express our opinions, and weren't open about our feelings, so much so that it took a physical toll on our bodies.

“It's really nice to see these really big, tough guys being vulnerable and open and not afraid of what those around them might think. Because they feel it too, and it might just give someone else more confidence to be more open about their problems and their mental inadequacies or whatever. It makes me feel like there is hope.”

As such, King is passionate about creating a more supportive music industry for the sober community who live and work in traditionally alcohol-exposed environments and may feel excluded. He recently launched the Curfew Fellowship Fund to raise money for causes such as mental health and addiction. The organization's name is inspired by singer/songwriter Matt Reynolds, a friend of King's nicknamed “Curfew” who died by suicide in 2017.

King's own recovery is “still a challenge” given “these really bad days,” he says.

“It's like everything in life: sometimes what seems to be the easiest path turns out to be the most complicated… and sometimes the more difficult path is actually the easier one. I realized that my drinking was really just about putting a bandage over a much deeper wound, and once I realized that and started making real efforts to fix the larger problem, I really started to take action heal. And in doing so, I became a better partner, a better bandleader, and a better artist to my fans so they could hear me as honestly as possible. Of course, it’s easier to be open and honest when you talk about something in the past tense.”

Being close to his inner circle – including his wife Briley Hussey when she's able, his band and his crew – is what keeps King on tour when he's on the road.

“I like being with people I love, people I know and trust. Just quality time with those I love is what gets me through the day the most. In addition, exercise and a certain amount of routine are important to me. And a healthy diet. It just comes down to what’s important.”

How can the community and industry provide better support?

“I think it’s really just about getting out there and supporting live music. This is literally the platform that I use to process a lot of these emotions and it's my way of expressing myself,” says King. “Supporting live music and live musicians is the greatest thing you can do. And that also affects the music industry. Just give people what is true and give artists who speak truth an opportunity and platform to do so. This is the biggest way they can support.”

King is preparing to deliver new music early next year, the Marcus King Band's first record since 2018. “We've been in the studio and plan to have new music out for everyone as early as the first or second quarter of 2025. I'm really looking forward to sharing it with everyone. “It really feels like a return to my roots and just an opportunity to express my opinion even further.”

Mind Reading (formerly Hollywood & Mind) is a recurring column featuring interviews with musicians, actors, athletes, creatives and other cultural influencers who promote conversations and actions around mental health and break stigma.