FEATURE:
How to Be Human
Why Next Year Needs to Be One Where the Industry Prioritises the Mental Health of Its Artists
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MAYBE there is something appropriate…
when we consider the title of Cat Burns’s latest album, How to Be Human. One of our finest artists, the album received some wonderful reviews. I will come to one of them soon enough. Burns was due to tour the album soon. However, due to an intense build-up and promotional period, coupled with how much of herself Cat Burns gave to the album, she has had to make the decision to step back for now and reschedule the tour dates. NME explain more in their recent article:
“The singer, who has also found a new wave of fans by starring on the latest season of Celebrity Traitors, shared on social media that she made the difficult decision to postpone her upcoming ‘How To Be Human’ tour dates following an “intense” period.
The dates were set to kick off on November 10 at the O2 Academy in Glasgow, and continue with shows in Manchester, Brighton, Wolverhampton, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Bristol throughout the month, before ending with a slot at the Brixton O2 Academy in London on November 30. They all come in support of her new album of the same name.
Beginning her update, Burns said: “This album and tour mean the world to me. It’s been a massive journey getting ready to share ‘How To Be Human’ with you. I can’t believe it’s nearly here!! But unfortunately the build-up has been a lot more intense than any of us expected, so myself and my team have made the difficult decision to move the How To Be Human Tour to April 2026.”
The singer added that all tickets will remain valid for the rescheduled dates in April, but added that Wolverhampton has been unable to be rebooked, so a new gig in Birmingham will be taking its place.
“Touring is incredibly demanding mentally and physically, and I want to make sure I’m taking care of my wellbeing so I’m in the right headspace to give you the show you deserve. When I step on stage, I really want to feel my best and give you a night that feels worth every moment of waiting,” she added.
Also on Instagram Stories, Cat confirmed that the scheduled shows at record stores will be going ahead as planned, and thanked fans for their “patience, kindness, and understanding through this”.
“These decisions are never easy and I don’t take your support for granted,” she concluded. “I can’t wait to see you soon and make these shows everything they should be.”
Burns’ new album ‘How To Be Human’ arrived today (Friday October 31), and marked the follow-up to her 2024 Mercury Prize shortlisted record ‘Early Twenties’.
Sharing another post celebrating the release, Burns said: “I left a very big piece of me on this project, going through grief and heartbreak at the same time really re wired my brain chemistry, and I noticed when people try and give uplifting messages about getting through the hard times they never really go into detail about how they got to the end of the tunnel or even what the tunnel looked like, so I REALLY wanted to do that with this album and document the trenches of processing your emotions.”
She continued: “It’s very honest and it’s very vulnerable (perhaps too vulnerable with the voice memos of me crying) but I truly believe art should cost us something so the fact that I’m so nervous putting this out means it’s gonna hopefully resonate with you all.
“I could only have written such a personal project with my nearest and dearest writers who just always make our sessions such a safe space, it’s literally like therapy for me and I’m so grateful to you all for helping me bring this album to life”.
A few things struck me when reading that article. I think many artists want to make albums as personal as possible. So that they are honest and stand out. So it is distinct and feels real. This year has seen so many artists put everything they have inside them into albums. That in itself much be extremely demanding. It is incredible that they have the strength and courage to do this. They then share this with the public. After an album like that has been written and is ready to be released, there is that demand from the industry to promote and make sure people know about it. There is still this emphasis on content and remaining engaged. A promotional build-up that is so intense. Given how hard it is for artists to stand out and to make a career at a time when there are so many other artists and they can only make money from touring and merchandise, there is this emphasis on getting an album out and as many people as possible knowing about it. Having to be across multiple social media platforms and posting teasers videos, photos, reels, stories and so much to ensure that fans are engaged and there is this constant impression and interaction, artists also have to engage in interviews and do live dates even before they announce big tours. That alone can be enough to drain an artist. Venues have limited availability and I think there is this desire for artists to tour new albums as soon as they can. Not leave too much of a gap unless any momentum drops. It may not be true for all artists, though one feels that there cannot be too long a wait between album release and touring. Between the release of an album and that first date, there are interviews that are still being conducted. There is promotion of the tour – right after the album promotion – and artists having to prepare themselves to go on the road.
If artists have to tour internationally, then it adds a whole new layer of pressure. However, even if someone like Cat Burns is touring the U.K., there is the drain of travel together with the gig itself. Moving between towns and cities and having to reveal so much of herself every night, you do wonder how any artists can manage to do it! Burns still is doing record store dates and these smaller gigs. The task of having to step from that promotional treadmill after being lost in an album from so long and then holding crowds in huge venues in your hand, together with all the social media engagement, it is a challenging balancing act. Artists want to give everything to albums and their fans. This often means that they do not have enough left to give to themselves. So much of their emotional and physical goes into the recording that it can be overwhelming. Cat Burns’s decision to take care of her wellbeing is commendable. She could have toured now and burned out, which would have damaged her career and it would have been a big physical and psychological sacrifice. Of course, we do not know the exact circumstances of why Cat Burns needs to reschedule dates, though it is a familiar story. So many artists making the same decision. It makes me wonder about the industry and whether too much is expected. Mental health care is available for artists but, as so many artists are treating songwriting like therapy and being so naked, there does need to be intervention and checks at the writing and recording stage.
There is this wonderful book that “is written directly for the music industry and aims to help musicians and those working in live music to identify, process and manage the physical and psychological difficulties that can occur on the road or as a result of touring. Inside, you’ll find guidance on mental and physical health issues, relationship challenges, preparing for performance, media training and much more”. It is important that artists on the road are taken care of. That demand for them to perform is something that is natural, though few can realise the effort and reality of being on the road and everything that is required to perform a string of gigs and be on top form every date. Do we look before that and how artists are treated before touring? They can change tour dates, though it is a last resort for most. We do not really talk enough about the demands on artists when it comes to promoting albums. How writing an album can be as straining and demanding as touring. I think next year should be one where mental health is one of the top priorities for the music industry. They are already doing a lot in terms of providing support and addressing the issues, though you feel there is still too much demand on artists. What they have to do to stand out, or promote and album and then take it all tour. Put all of this together and it can be devastating and take its toll. Cat Burns will be back fully on the road soon enough but, with a terrific album out there, I wanted to finish with a review of it:
“Cat Burns’ storytelling lyricism is at the forefront of her latest album, ‘How To Be Human’, a tale of loss, heartbreak and love. Despite showing incredible prowess in deceit on BBC’s The Celebrity Traitors, her sophomore album is a truthful insight into recent moments of pain and healing since her ‘Early Twenties’.
In this vulnerable outpouring, Cat shared wanting to “document the trenches of processing your emotions” in this album. The opening track, ‘Come Home’, is introduced by a voicenote from her grandad; “thank you, Catrina, god bless you, love you lots”. Accompanied by melodic piano and strings, her grandad’s passing in 2024 serves as the topic of the ballads. One of the few tracks that balances her first-hand account with another voice, an imagined call “from God”. Setting the tone for the album, there is a pride in which Burns writes about his life; “To hold a family together / You braved the British weather / worked mornings, nights, wherever”. ‘Come Home’ introduces us to an artist who is simultaneously grieving, healing, and coming to peace.
‘Can Time Move Faster’ investigates the popular idiom of “time is a great healer”- an unglamourised reality check of post-breakup healing. The voice of Cat, “I don’t know how I’m going to get through this”, is answered in the later track ‘Today’, where we meet someone able to absorb the joy surrounding them; “I’m not the same / thank god I’ve changed”.
‘I Hope It’s Me’ is a duality between wanting the best for someone, “There’s a whole world for you to see”, and hoping they come back to you; “In the end / When you love again / I hope it’s me”. Burns’ balladic writing is at her very best; this song yearns for a lifetime’s love, even if paths change along the journey, a theme returned to in ‘I Love You, But’.
A carefully sculpted tracklist meets a turning point in track five, but by ‘Gemini’, the mood is lifted and the possibilities are endless. Flirtatious ‘GIRLS!’ follows, released back in January, a sapphic anthem that gives way to ‘There’s Just Something About Her’. Talking to girls becomes having a crush on one, by ‘Lavender’, previously heartbroken Cat Burns is firmly in love, skipping through lavender fields in the visualiser.
The final single to be released from the album, ‘Please Don’t Hate Me’, provides closure to the story told throughout ‘How To Be Human’. No longer lonely, Burns is joined by a choir of harmonious voices, as, instead of waiting for the ex in ‘I Hope It’s Me’, she is loving “somebody new”. ‘I Wish You Well’ has a beat impossible not to dance along with, a final gesture to previous lovers before giving way to the penultimate ballad from the album, ‘When I’m With You’. A giddy love song about a newfound, post-healing connection: “I think I’m worrying less / I’m getting close to my best”.
Moving away from romance and grief, the title and final track, ‘How To Be Human’, sheds light on Cat Burns’ experience with neurodivergence. Often speaking out about the impact of her autism and ADHD, most recently on national television, the track unpacks the reality of learning to mask and survive in a world tailored to neurotypical people, “Am I hiding it well / I wonder if they can tell / that I’m not like them”.
Sophomore album, ‘How To Be Human’ opens Cat Burns’ diary to her ever-growing audience, with a lightly acoustic sonic atmosphere which leaves no space to hide for her introspective lyricism. Cat offers listeners sixteen tracks of catharsis for anyone who has experienced loss, and proof that it really does get better”.
It is a shame Cat Burns has had to move tour dates back, though she needs to take care of her wellbeing and ensure that she is able to fulfil the dates and be at her best. It made me think, not only about what artists are expected to do when it comes to promoting an album, but how much writing and recording such a personal and revealing album can be. And the way artists then have to tour it and how much extra weight and fatigue that adds. How the mental health and wellbeing of artists is a paramount priority. Organisations like Music Minds Matter support the mental health of everyone working in music. Their incredible work and similar bodies needs to be highlighted. I do worry about artists and how hard it is for them. In terms of support and focusing on their collective wellbeing, we all hope that this is a major focus…
IN 2026.