Maryland bred musician MNERVA( aka Matt Wagner) is ready to see change surrounding the stigma of mental health, starting with the release of his new single “Stuck” on April 30th via all digital platforms. The song is the first of many musical projects for MNERVA in 2021, including his upcoming debut EP later this year. Inspired by musical influences in the rock, hip hop, and pop genres, MNERVA co-wrote the song with fellow musician Kory Shore, who also served as the track’s producer. The writing process for “Stuck” soon became an outlet for MNERVA’s frustrations while in an all time creative low during the quarantine created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Samples of news reports start the song followed by the melodic beats and emotional lyrics that mirror the dejected feelings many experienced during this time.
MNERVA opens up about his personal mental health struggles revealing he began quarantine by moving home but kept in high spirits before ultimately hitting a creative slump. “I hit the ground running and was the most productive I had been in years. But within two months, I had lost all of my momentum and found myself reliving the same day over and over again. Before I knew it, I stopped responding to my friends, became reclusive, and couldn’t even recognize the person I had become. I had never felt like more of a loser in my life.”
Realizing his mental health was taking a toll, MNERVA took solace in the familiar act of creating. “Writing this song was actually my first step to escaping the negative feedback loop and I started therapy soon afterward to finally get my life back on track. I really hope that people can relate to this song and I want them to know that there’s no shame in feeling trapped. What matters is how you take steps to keep pushing forward.”
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