Since 1 in 3 families are touched by drugs and alcohol abuse today, it’s a no brainer that the voices behind some of our favorite songs have been, too. Since the lineup for Coachella 2016 was announced last week, we started reminiscing about some of our favorite inspirational recovery songs and the artists behind them. Whether they themselves have struggled with alcohol or drug dependency or it was someone they loved, celebrities are not exempt from the throes of substance abuse. Here are some of our favorites acts, songs, and stories.
Coachella Acts Touched by Drugs and Alcohol Abuse
Ellie Goulding
When you are a slave to your drug of choice, anything could happen and for songstress and performer, Ellie Goulding, yoga is her drug of choice. “I get the biggest high when I do yoga. People don’t realize that there’s such an incredible drug in life that doesn’t involve any substances,” she said. The chart topper realized through a run of CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) that her father leaving her when she was five was the main source for a series of bad relationship choices and panic attacks that lead her to seek treatment. She admitted that she was a “goth” teen that experimented with drugs and alcohol and that she could have definitely been destined for a path of addiction. Instead she finds balance and peace through yoga and practices respecting her body regularly.
Can’t Wait to Hear Her Play: Anything Could Happen
Calvin Harris
Legendary EDM god, Calvin Harris, has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music industry from Rihanna to Kylie Minogue. However, what you might not know is that he has also been sober from drugs and alcohol since 2009 after a series of “embarrassing incidents” pushed him into a life of sobriety. Anyone who can maintain a life in the spotlight without reaching for the bottle or developing a drug dependency just in order to cope is pretty impressive and inspirational if you ask us.
Can’t Wait to Hear Him Play: Feel So Close
Miike Snow
Miike Snow (pronounced maik sno) front man, Andrew Wyatt, shared that he was on drugs through his 20’s. “My 20’s were an utter shit-show. Getting on drugs, getting off them, not knowing anything about who I was or what I had to offer, or owning my own purpose. I had the chance to work with many great people and do a lot of great things and I wasn’t ready. That having been said, I did get off the drugs and eventually figured out the other parts, which is of course ongoing – so the seeds of my current state were sown in my 20’s, for sure.” The popular song, Animal, is debatably about addiction and how a lot of people end of feeling dissatisfied in life.
Can’t Wait to Hear Them Play: Genghis Khan
Sia
The edgy artist is synonymously known for her struggle with drugs and alcohol abuse as she is for her buzz-worthy lyrics and the music videos that accompany them. She opened up in an interview with OK Magazine that she was a pill-popper and that she became dependent on prescription drugs like Xanax and OxyContin after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She shared that it wasn’t uncommon for her to drink or use just to get through performances and with the death of her then boyfriend, she had planned to take her own life. A friend called and stopped her plans just in time and Sia decided to head to a drugs and alcohol treatment recovery center. She never looked back.
Can’t Wait to Hear Her Play: Elastic Heart
Sufjan Stevens
While he hasn’t dealt with an alcohol or drug dependency himself, Sufjan Stevens has a heartbreaking past involving his mother and stepfather, the subject and namesake of his newest album. His mother, Carrie, suffered from depression, schizophrenia, and alcoholism and abandoned Sufjan and his siblings when he was just a one year old. They saw their mother sparingly all their lives until her death. Sufjan’s most recent album, titled Carrie & Lowell, is his personal story told through music and he says it is “something that was necessary for me to do in the wake of my mother’s death.”
Can’t Wait to Hear Him Play: Carrie and Lowell
Are you heading to Coachella this year? What are some of your favorite recovery songs? We are always looking for new inspirational songs to add to our playlists. Share with us in the comments below or reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
If you or someone you love is struggling with drugs and alcohol abuse, long-term recovery is possible. Call us today at (855) 203-7930, where the compassionate addiction specialists at The Discovery House are standing by to help you find lasting sobriety.