Quinn XCII
His name is Mikael Temrowski, but we don’t know him by that; to us, he is Quinn XCII (ninety-two, not “ex-see-eye-eye” as he reminds us on his Tik Tok and Twitter). His reggae-esque, smooth-like-butter songs, like “Straightjacket” and “Another Day in Paradise,” leave listeners feeling like they are laying on the beach with a cold beverage in hand, and his relatable and candid social media presence is sure to give you a good laugh.
However, his music isn’t just about relaxing days with our toes in the sand. Many of his lyrics dive into his life experiences, including his experiences with mental health. His second studio album, From Michigan With Love, depicts his ongoing struggles with anxiety and depression. After receiving many messages from fans explaining how his music helped them get through difficult times, Temrowski was inspired to share his own struggles. In an interview with Westworld, he explains that “the whole project theme is mental health… I think I wanted to show that not only has it followed me, and it’s something I can’t just shake overnight, but this stuff -- anxiety, depression, whatever you call it -- I deal with it just like a lot of my fans do.” The album hits on a lot of different topics in the mental health realm. The erratic beats of the song “Sad Still” mimic Temrowski’s experiences with anxiety, “Tough” touches on the importance of vulnerability, and “Right Where You Should Be” encourages us that we are enough, we are worthy, and we will be okay. This album reminds us that mental health comes in many shapes and sizes, and affects us in all facets of our life.
While he started this album with the intention of impacting the lives of others, he realized throughout the process that the songwriting was helping him process his own emotions and gain more clarity about his experiences. He remarks, “the record helped me talk about stuff I thought I never would… it’s like every day, I would leave the studio, and it would feel like little weights were pulled off of my shoulders.” With the younger generations taking more time to open up about mental health and its implications, Temrowski felt it was time to “[move] forward as an artist… to impact people’s lives with this project and not only talk about [depression] but encourage listeners to seek help if they haven’t yet.” He has since gone on to release two more albums after From Michigan With Love, named A Letter to My Younger Self and Change of Scenery II. The theme of mental health can also be found in these albums, with songs like “A Letter to my Younger Self” and “Feel Something”. As a huge fan of his work, I think everyone can find a Quinn XCII song they relate to, and I strongly encourage you to take the time to listen to what he has to say.
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