Christian Foley’s Happy Hour, released last week, has already attracted attention for its unusual inspiration, something that will surprise many who know Mr Foley from his exuberant, energetic and often amusing live rap performances.
‘It stems from having my own mental-health issues a while ago which was a novel experience for me, not having the vocabulary to talk about it or understand it. I realised that loads of boys and men have similar problems,’ he said.
To explore those feelings, he asked everyone he came into contact with what it was that made them happy.
‘I began compiling their thoughts into a musical project; an album that deals with all aspects of happiness. It’s not a pursuit of happiness itself, it’s the pursuit of the pursuit of happiness – the chase for it,’ he explained.
The album may be called Happy Hour and last for exactly 60 minutes, but the publicity warns listeners not to be so literal when it comes to expecting something which is happy in the normal sense.
‘Happiness is such a universal subject, but what I found when I asked people is that most people aren’t happy and they see happiness as something which is almost impossible to obtain. So it’s a really interesting question. My background working outside Jersey is to do with mental-health services, particularly with children, so it’s all tied into that.’
The album, which includes some of those children’s voices, is instead intended to make the listener think and to explore issues around mental wellbeing that might ordinarily be overlooked or thought too difficult to examine publicly.
‘In my friendship group people would think I would be the least likely to suffer from mental-health problems, so, by me doing projects like this, I hope it will be helpful to others, because I have a voice and a platform.
‘If I’m honest about my vulnerabilities it will open up a conversation for other people.
‘It’s not an easy thing to do. I’m having to put myself out there and be personal but then I think you’ve got to lead by example and be honest and do these things. If I’m not opening up, then it’s just hypocritical,’ he said.
Although a regular visitor to festivals and events in the Island, Mr Foley has been based in England for a number of years but he is working with ArtHouse Jersey to introduce the Happy Hour project locally. He has previously undertaken educational initiatives here, including creating poetry with inmates at La Moye Prison.
He said he was conscious of criticisms of mental-health provision in the Island in the past and hopes that, in the year of lockdown when pressure may be even greater on the vulnerable, the project will have a liberating effect because of the capacity that art has to help individuals find their own voice.
‘If I didn’t do music or writing, I wouldn’t be able to function because it allows you to talk, to have self-expression. People who don’t feel they are able to express themselves are far more predisposed to be isolated and sad and alone. Art is like a medicine in my opinion,’ he said.
ArtHouse Jersey’s director, Tom Dingle, described Happy Hour as a ‘stellar piece of work’ and said the organisations was delighted to be able to support Mr Foley.
Mr Dingle added: ‘His use of the spoken word to reach young people is powerful and incredibly effective. Of course, now is a frustrating time for so many artists who are creating music. Without the possibility of sharing their work live, initiatives like ArtHouse Jersey Presents – our digital platform with live-streaming sessions – are so important to help get the work of artists out to audiences.’
An extract from Happy Hour is available on the ArtHouse Jersey website but Mr Foley is also planning to bring a show based on the project to Jersey when coronavirus restrictions allow.
