Bravo Le Roux opens up about his struggle with depression and near-exit from the music scene
Bravo Le Roux has opened up about his turbulent journey through depression, a struggle that brought him perilously close to abandoning the music industry altogether.
Image: Shoot Your Shot
South African hip hop artist Bravo Le Roux, whose real name is Sinesipho Peter, has opened up about his turbulent journey through depression, a struggle that brought him perilously close to abandoning the music industry altogether.
Speaking candidly on Okay Swisher's 'Swisher Show' podcast, Le Roux shared how he confronted profound challenges that nearly extinguished his passion for music.
Le Roux, a musical star from Khayelitsha, Cape Town, described a crucial moment in his career - the opportunity to open for acclaimed rapper Nasty C's Ivyson Tour in Cape Town. This chance should have filled him with excitement and joy.
Instead, he faced a grim reality behind the scenes. 'At the time, I told myself I'm not doing music anymore. Like I'm done with this thing,' Le Roux confessed.
His battle was not just with performance anxiety; it stemmed from deep-seated emotional turmoil linked to his health struggles and an overwhelming sense of disappointment about not living up to familial expectations.
Just before this opportunity, Le Roux had been recovering from severe health issues, including depression and meningitis, specifically brain TB.
Witnessing his peers embrace conventional life paths while navigating the demanding pursuit of a music career left Le Roux feeling despondent due to relentless pressure.
'I believed not listening to my parents was one of the reasons I was depressed,' he revealed. 'I wanted this art thing to work so badly… and I can see at home that it hurts them. So it just messed with me heavily.'
In a moment of despair, he started to inform friends of his decision to quit music, feeling as though he had hit a wall with nothing left to give.
However, fate took a different turn when he received an unexpected call inviting him to perform at Nasty C's event. The irony was not lost on him: 'I said, 'I'm just gonna do that and I'm out.''
Following the show, emotions surged as he anticipated a further chance to connect with Nasty C during a session at Red Bull Studios. But after faltering attempts to reach out to the organising team, the weight of lost opportunities led to a realisation.
'By the end of the night, I was like, 'Yo, I've burnt all the bridges, and this is the only thing I have - so I might just as well make it work.''
While he has yet to meet Nasty C in person, this chaotic episode became a blessing in disguise, serving as a defining turning point that steered him back on track.
Laughing about it now, he said, 'I still haven't met Nasty C yet, but I'm winning, at least.'
Le Roux has carved out a niche in the competitive music landscape, collaborating with several local artists, including Phantom Steeze and YoungstaCPT.
His partnership with YoungstaCPT on the track 'Yabo?!' has not only enriched his artistic depth but has also fostered mutual respect grounded in their shared dedication to craft.
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