Hanging out backstage at the Hard Rock Artist Lounge ahead of her performance at Audacy’s We Can Survive 2024, Tate McRae caught up with Bru, to reminisce about the last time she was on the We Can Survive lineup, talk about touring, open up about mental health, and more.

We Can Survive continues Audacy’s mission to support mental health via I’m Listening and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) -- because talk has the power to save lives. Tate opened up about what she does to maintain her mental health in such a demanding and unpredictable industry.

“I mean, obviously I have an outlet which is writing. If I didn't have writing, I would not be in the position I am today. Music is definitely the thing that I reach to whenever I'm hitting like my lowest points,” McRae revealed. “But then I also just think having a good support system, your family, your friends, making sure you trust them and they fill you up is really important.”

Acknowledging that there still might be some lingering stigma that “talking about your emotions is like a sensitive or annoying thing to do,” Tate stressed the importance of “being open with yourself and honest, and honest with your friends too,”

“Have conversations, none of it's embarrassing,” she said, insisting that the idea of not wanting to share in order to feel cool in front of your friends, “that's so overrated.”

Echoing the aim of Audacy’s I’m Listening initiative to share valuable resources for those who need to connect, heal, and share their own stories, Tate encouraged those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. "I feel like just being honest with each other and being your authentic selves is the only time that you're gonna feel actually fulfilled in a friendship. Then you actually can see what your friends are going through, otherwise… you don't really know your friends and you don't really know yourself.”

Words by Maia Kedem Interview by Bru

New Kids On The Block (Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Jordan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood) joined Audacy host Mike Adam backstage in the Hard Rock Artist Lounge at New Jersey’s Prudential Center to help us celebrate our 11th year of We Can Survive.

Touching on the recent news that singer Chappell Roan had canceled her tour in order to focus on her mental health, Jordan Knight says “It's kind of tough, even for me. You wanna be a celebrity, but you want your privacy. You want both things and it's really hard to do that. I guess maybe it's more like an inner thing to not let things get to you more-so than try to find total privacy while also trying to be a celebrity. It's very difficult.”

Joey adds, “Clearly she's incredibly articulate with her feelings and where she is in her career and how it happened so fast, and it's lovely that someone could just say that. We came from an era where, if you said you weren't 100% grateful for everything you had, people would look at you like you're crazy. So, it is nice that I think it's part of the evolution of humans and artists to say, ‘This is wonderful, but this is what I need’ -- and that's what she's saying. I think we do that in our own way, maybe more quietly and because we've been in the game for so long, but it's not easy.”

“As far as advice, you can't really give advice,” he continues. “I mean, you can't even give advice to your own kids. I had a great dad, right? It goes in one ear and goes out the other. You gotta learn on your own. Hopefully, you have enough people around you that can cushion some of the blows that you go through. But it's an interesting world to grow up in.”

The biggest misconception specifically when it comes to mental health, Donny says, “is that asking questions or asking for help is a weakness.” On the contrary, “It's a strength,” he believes. “It takes vulnerability which takes strength. Imagine telling even your closest friend your deepest darkest secret, it's hard, and a lot of us will pass up that opportunity time and time again.”

“We have to learn in time. Hopefully that asking for help, asking questions, is a strength. It takes vulnerability, and in that regard, we can just try to encourage everyone. One of the reasons we're here is to encourage everyone to ‘don't be afraid,’ you know. Even us… we grew up in the music business, we became really successful as teenagers, and suddenly everyone in our life thought we had all the answers -- and we were children. It made it hard for us to say, ‘Damn, I'm struggling right now.’ Everyone's like, ‘Hey man, what do I do?’”

“It's a journey for everyone,” he says, “but asking for help, however vulnerable anyone feels doing it, hopefully you can find the strength to do it because it's a beautiful thing and there are people out there willing to help -- but they can't read our minds.”

Audacy's I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988. Find a full list of additional resources here.

Words by Joe Cingrana Interview by Mike Adam

Hanging out backstage in the Hard Rock Artist Lounge ahead of his performance at Audacy’s We Can Survive 2024, Khalid chatted with Bru about his new music, feeling accomplished, as well as the importance of kindness, friendship, mental health, and more.

With We Can Survive continuing Audacy’s mission to support mental health via I’m Listening and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) -- the conversation made its way to the importance of kindness, friendship, and prioritizing mental health.

As a kind hearted soul himself, Khalid finds that kindness in collaboration is really important. “Luckily I've only met kind people who have wanted to work with me and collaborate and they give me so much love and respect and I give them the same mutually.”

“I think that's the best part of this industry… meeting other people and knowing that you're not alone going through this process. So I really value friendship… it’s just really important to me,” Khalid added.

When it comes to maintaining his mental health, it’s those friendships, and kindness towards himself that Khalid finds as helpful tools. “I really gotta give my thanks to my core friend group… I’ve kept the same friends since I've started my career and they've been able to see me in different stages of my life. So really valuing the importance of the relationships that I have around me. And also like I said, giving myself grace and taking myself less seriously and always having fun with life. This is the only life we got.”

Words by Maia Kedem Interview by Bru