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depression, but I have to admit that I do now! You have been very open about your personal
struggles. How is this pandemic affecting you and what are you doing to cope?

KH: At the start when COVID-19 attacked us from all sides I made a very public post on my Facebook
page stating that I was depressed again. It had been a long time since those old habits tempted me so
bad. I took a few days away from social media and I thought a lot about what I had previously come
through and it shocked me back into reality. Perhaps because I have suffered depression most of my
life, I had a reference, a reminder of what could lie ahead because it made me sit up and fight the

thoughts. I knew if I were to give in to the thoughts in my
head, that I may never make it out again. I think the biggest
thing with people during COVID-19 is the isolation. I
realized after making that public statement that I am now
actually ok with being alone but that is something that took
me many years to work on. Someone who hasn't really
suffered depression until lockdown will go into shock really.
It is trauma after all! With life shutting down and everyone

cocooned away from the rest of the world is a shock to the
system, especially when humans are such social creatures.
That need for human contact, a touch, conversation,
laughter, just taken from us as if we had done something
wrong. I suspect mental health is on a downward spiral and
I fear the numbers will increase tenfold coming out of this
pandemic. I just hope governments pay attention and work
to have something in place. It has been a tough fight for
anyone working to highlight Mental Health Awareness, and now it's ten steps back. Add to that,

people losing their livelihoods in the blink of an eye, I dread to think what's to come. My only hope is
that people now realize more than ever that it's ok to talk openly about how they're feeling. It is
sometimes the difference between life and death.

LL: What can your fans look forward to from you?

KH: Of course, we are still promoting ‘Memories Of’ and a return of the touring show will hit the road
from October here in France and then 2021 will see us take it to Greece, Switzerland, with more to be

announced so it's looking great for the Etta show. We've also started on my next original album which
will be released next year which I'm excited for as I haven't released any originals in a few years. I
also have my BBC Radio show ‘Kaz Hawkins Got The Blues’ which is running now for 10 weeks which
was recorded here in my home in France with the wonders of technology. All in all, I'm looking
forward to coming out of this pandemic and getting back touring in 2021 …. and seeing the fans. I
miss them dearly.

~ Lawrence Lebo

Lawrence Lebo is an award winning, critically acclaimed Blues recording artist living in Los Angeles,
CA, USA. She can be found on the web at www.lawrencelebo.com CLICK HERE FOR MORE.

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