Keeping the conversation open and honest within their songwriting has given Twenty One Pilots a way to move the discussion around mental health forward.

Known for their intricate disguises and hidden worlds, Twenty One Pilots' Tyler Joseph admits, "When I first started writing music, I didn't think anyone would hear it." He tells us during our recent Audacy Check In while looking back on the duo's 12+ year career, "There was [an] honesty just naturally there that is hard to recreate because now I know that if we write a song, people are going to hear it. Because people resonated with it early on, the honesty," he admits, "I realized that honesty was really important. So, we started writing songs honestly -- hopefully, that's at least how they were perceived and accepted.”

“I do think that we now live in a time of music where culturally it's way more common -- in a good way -- for people to be writing about mental health and about their own personal struggles, and what they're going through. That seems to be a part of our overall musical culture more than it was when we first started doing it,” Joseph adds.

“Because of that, I feel less inclined to articulate what a song is specifically because I think we all know, we're all familiar with the terminology of depression, and what it could mean, and how it could impact someone we know," Tyler says. "As a culture, we're more aware of diagnosing it personally, or with someone we know. I do feel like there's a bit of, we're all speaking the same language now as we release music. I feel comfort in that, knowing that we're now in a culture that feels way more accepting of that conversation.”

Audacy's I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988. Find a full list of additional resources here.

Words by Joe Cingrana Interview by Brad Steiner