Rizzle Kicks have reunited for a powerful, unfiltered conversation regarding the intersection of fame and mental health in the latest episode of Mind’s Behind The Song series. Released today, the interview sees Harley Alexander-Sule and Jordan Stephens, both 34, reflecting on their ascent to stardom and the "cycles" of drug abuse and anxiety that followed. Looking back at their early twenties, Harley noted that "the music industry wasn’t set up back then for artists who had problems with their mental health."
Harley further reflected on the lack of institutional care during their peak success, stating, "It’s not their fault that it happened, but should have been their responsibility for a 22, 23-year-old boy who is going through a lot at that time to be supportive… there was never that support." This lack of a safety net became apparent as the pressure mounted following their breakout success.
The duo discussed the immense strain surrounding their second album, Roaring 20s, and the subsequent attempt to record a third. Jordan admitted, "Ultimately what happened was we were put under pressure in the second album and then in pursuit of the third album we both fell into difficult cycles." He candidly revealed the personal toll this took, adding, "I fell into quite a lot of drug misuse, drug abuse."
Jordan also recalled a pivotal moment when Harley disappeared before a performance due to a panic attack. Despite the professional tension at the time, Jordan supported him over the phone and ran to find him. "We weren’t even that close at the time," Jordan said, "but I still ran to find him. Looking back, it shows how much we needed support we never got."
The series, funded by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, aims to tackle the stigma and "misunderstanding about mental health problems." This honest dialogue arrives ahead of the duo’s highly anticipated headline show at Alexandra Palace later this year. By "lifting the lid on the personal stories behind the music," Rizzle Kicks hope to inspire others to speak openly about their own struggles.
