Band need funds for mental health issues awareness album

Vocalist Davey Anscombe from Davey & the Midnight Sinners has written a number of songs over the past year, while suffering with bipolar disorder, anxiety, insomnia, paranoia and depression.

The Leigh Park musician said the concept album Mind Over Matter, Matter Over Mind, reflects the highs and lows he experiences and that other members of the band have mental health issues.

The group need funds to produce the album.

Davey, 29, said: '˜The songs are an eclectic mix of pop, country and funk.

'˜Three of our band members, including myself, suffer from mental health issues and so do other musicians we work with.

'˜The aim is to help raise awareness about mental health within the music community. Many musicians have mental health issues and that is why they write music.

'˜The songs were written by me during my highs and my lows over five years.'

The band need £1,000 in funding through donations and sponsorships with local businesses '“ in exchange for advertising '“ to cover the costs of producing the album.

It will be recorded at Mayfield Studios and launched at the Square Tower in Portsmouth.

Davey has worked with artists such as Billy Bragg and Hampshire-born Frank Turner on the album. He added: '˜The music industry has lost many artists to mental health issues.

'˜Performing together as a band has helped each and every one of us, were a family.'

The band is also made up of guitarist Simon Torrance from Havant, plus drummer Jon Garnham and bassist Rob Knight.

Simon said: '˜The guys have an army of disorders but this hasn't prevented them doing what is good for them. The issues they face are hard but they are phenomenal and have battled the demons that have haunted them. This project is worth backing.'

Visit crowdfunder.co.uk/mindovermatteralbum.