Myles Smith “tried to press control, alt, delete on life” when he was 18, before getting emergency therapy.
The singer makes the startling admission — using a computer term which means to “end all” — in a new podcast, in which he bravely talks about his depression and how he is now learning to deal with it.
Myles Smith has revealed he ‘tried to press control, alt, delete on life’ at 18 before seeking emergency therapy for depression Credit: Reuters
Myles eventually sought help from a new therapist during Covid, when he was living alone in Nottingham after graduating, and a long way from his family Credit: Splash
Thinking back to his teenage years, explains: “I had crazy trust issues, my anxiety was terrible.
“I would go out and I’d just be shaking violently because of the idea of people looking at me and thinking things about me. got really bad.
“Eighteen 18 was probably the scariest time of my life because I tried to press control, alt, delete on life — to say it in the easiest way.
“That was the first time I went to therapy. I went to an emergency therapist. But I didn’t really deal with anything. I just learned how not to be that bad.”
Myles eventually sought help from a new therapist during Covid, when he was living alone in Nottingham after graduating, and a long way from his family.
But when he hit the big time in 2024 with Stargazing, as well as a subsequent Brit Award, he found himself struggling again.
Of his breakout hit, he tells the And The Writer Is . . . podcast: “I remember not long after it peaked, I had this massive empty feeling, and it was like, ‘Huh, what’s next and how do I do that again?’ The prospect was daunting.
“It’s been one of the most exciting and brutal parts of my life. And I’m only now enjoying it again.
How to get help
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org , 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org , 116 123
“But I think I was smiling through a lot of last year and the last two years.
“I got scanned because my brain started doing weird stuff — I was sleep-deprived and burnt out. Learning balance has been difficult.”
There are plenty of music biz horror stories and I’d hate to see anyone else become a victim of it.
So I’m glad one of my favourite hit-making Brits is looking after himself.
Highs and Mighty
Alexandra Burke performing at the Mighty Hoopla in Brockwell Park, London on Sunday Credit: Luke Dyson
Belinda Carlisle performs with Jake Shears from Scissor Sisters at the festival Credit: Corinne Cumming
Jake also appeared with Kelly Osbourne Credit: Sarah Louise Bennett
Scissor Sisters wheeled out the big guns, including Sir Ian McKellen, who performed Invisible Light Credit: Maja Smiejkowska
There were thrills, frills and a few surprises for the crowds at Mighty Hoopla.
slipped into a black leather outfit with chaps for day two of the festival in South London on Sunday.
wore a top with fake pierced nipples, while hosted her crowd-pleasing Kerry-oke show.
Headliners Scissor Sisters wheeled out the big guns. Belinda Carlisle sang on Take Your Mama, and Sir Ian McKellen performed Invisible Light.
sang one of frontman Jake Shears’ favourites – her 2005 hit One Word – for the first time in almost two decades.
Kerry Katona hosted her crowd-pleasing Kerry-oke show Credit: Instagram/kerrykatona7
Perrie Edwards wore a top with fake pierced nipples Credit: Luke Dyson
Macca’s Lane on track
is on course to secure his eighth solo No1 album on Friday with The Boys Of Dungeon Lane.
Sir Paul McCartney is on course to secure his eighth solo No1 album on Friday with The Boys Of Dungeon Lane Credit: Mary McCartney
The feat would see him pass and to get to No14 on the all-time list of artists with the most chart-topping albums ever.
Paul is up against Scottish duo Boards Of Canada this week, who are currently at No2 with Inferno.
Unheard Kylie tunes in Stock
Kylie Minogue fans could finally hear unreleased Eighties and Nineties tracks, with producer Mike Stock revealing unheard songs are still locked away in a vault Credit: Getty – Contributor
Producer Mike, above, helped turn Kylie Minogue from a Neighbours star into a pop sensation with smash hits including I Should Be So Lucky and Especially For You
fans might want to start a petition – as there is a treasure trove of unreleased Eighties and Nineties tracks gathering dust in a vault.
Mike Stock, one third of hitmaking trio Stock Aitken Waterman, is still sitting on unheard songs recorded during the her pop golden years.
Producer Mike helped transform Kylie from a actress into a chart superstar with hits including I Should Be So Lucky, Hand On Your Heart and Especially For You with .
But not everything made the cut. Mike said: “With Kylie, and Jason, there is some unfinished work. Stuff that we either didn’t get time to conclude, or we thought we’ll just shelve that one for the time being because we’ve got a better idea over here.
“They are either stored on tape machines or on one of several dictaphones.”
Needless to say, devotees of Kylie, right, will be desperate to know what’s hiding on those tapes. And Mike hasn’t ruled out working with her again either.
He said: “If Kylie ever wanted to do a retrospective, classic Kylie type of album with me, I’d say yes.”
Shaznay: All Saints like Billie
Shaznay Lewis has compared All Saints to Billie Eilish, saying their moody, understated image was real rather than a gimmick Credit: Getty
were dubbed the cool alternative to the – and reckons their modern-day equivalent is .
Shaznay said the moody image wasn’t a gimmick, just who they were.
She explained: “I see a lot of us in Billie Eilish, the way she’s quite reserved and very nonchalant. That’s us. We weren’t shiny naturally. We were street girls in the Nineties.”
Shaznay also revealed All Saints almost never happened after passed on the group because their R&B sound didn’t fit the pop landscape dominated by the Spice Girls.
She said on the Hit That Perfect Beat – The London Records Story podcast everything changed when London Records boss Tracy Bennett heard future smash Never Ever on a demo tape, and demanded the girls bring Shaznay into the fold.
Shaznay added: “If he hadn’t said, ‘Go and get her’, I wouldn’t be sat here today.”
has formally announ- ced her new album Music, Fashion, .
The record, which is out July 24, will be the follow-up to her 2024 No1 hit album Brat.
She shared the news on and told fans: “11 songs, 30 minutes, 5 seconds.”
First Lulu album in a decade
Let The Girl Sing Out will be released on September 4, marking Lulu’s first full-length record since 2015 Credit: Handout
Lulu has announced her first studio album in more than a decade.
She said her 16th album Let The Girl Sing Out will be released on September 4, marking her first full-length record since 2015.
The announcement came as Lulu headlined at the Royal Albert Hall last night, in support of her Mental Health Trust, with special guests including , , and Delta Goodrem.
The album was made at Metrophonic Studios in Surrey and features songs written by Lulu, her brother Billy Lawrie, plus hitmakers Mark Taylor and Paul Barry.
With a Eurovision win, Bond theme and countless hits Lulu has a lot to live up to.
Celine’s 10 extra dates
Celine Dion has extended her Paris residency by ten dates due to huge demand, taking the run to 26 shows at Paris La Défense Arena through to 2027 Credit: Handout
has extended her Paris residency by ten dates after the staggering demand from fans.
The French-Canadian superstar will now play a total of 26 shows at Paris La Défense Arena, with the shows stretching from this autumn through to spring 2027.
Celine announced the extension on Instagram, telling fans: “New dates just added, get ready for Paris 2027.”
The residency will mark her first full-length concerts in almost six years, after she stepped away from touring following health concerns and her diagnosis with stiff person syndrome in 2022.
Boat hols swimphony for Zara
Zara Larsson has taken a break from her European tour for a girls’ trip, sharing snaps from a sun-soaked boat getaway Credit: instagram/zaralarsson
The pictures included one of her swimming underwater with fish Credit: instagram/zaralarsson
has splashed out on a girls’ trip after squeezing a break on her European tour.
The Symphony singer posted a string of snaps from a boat in a secret, sun-soaked location.
The pictures included one of her underwater with fish.
It comes ahead of her next concert in Norway on Friday. Zara will then head to Heaton Park in Manchester this month for two back-to-back gigs.
She talked recently about the affect of the tour and said: “Sometimes I forget that to go hard, you have to rest hard.
“It’s not as glamorous as people might think.”
I’m glad to see she’s slotted in some time to enjoy the sun.”
Rockin’ Turin
Rockin’1000 have staged a historic gig at Juventus’ Allianz Stadium in Turin Credit: Alamy
Rockin’1000 took over the Allianz Stadium in Turin, becoming the first music act to stage a concert on the famous pitch.
What started as a wild attempt to grab the attention of has gone global.
Musicians travelled from every corner of the world to be part of what proudly calls itself the biggest rock band on Earth.
The band, made up of 1,000 mostly amateurs, is the idea of Fabio Zaffagnini, who had been trying to get to Turin for decades.
He told me: “They’d never come, so I had this idea of asking 1,000 people to play one of their songs.
“The video went viral. After a couple of months, they came to my place and gave this amazing concert.
“We proclaimed ourselves the biggest rock band on Earth because at least in terms of numbers, we can say that we are.”
The giant group is made up of drummers, guitarists, singers, bassists and brass musicians of all abilities, united in a once- in-a-lifetime musical spectacle.
The huge band’s members included Oli Downton, who travelled from Yeovil in to play on drums.
Rockin’1000 will bring its sound to Manchester’s AO Arena on October 10, and tickets are on sale now.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
