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Stories

Moments that have shaped my journey as a musician

Stories

+1

A Love Letter To My Depression

Jan 7, 2026

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11 min read

A Love Letter To My Depression

The friend who I never asked for, but don't want to leave completely...

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

+2

Why You Don’t Need to Be Perfect

Nov 28, 2025

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11 min read

Why You Don’t Need to Be Perfect

And honestly? Being perfect is overrated.

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

+1

16 months after my first suicidal thought, this message reminded me I still had a reason to live.

Oct 15, 2025

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12 min read

16 months after my first suicidal thought, this message reminded me I still had a reason to live.

And it helped me fall in love with music and life again.

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

+2

Dreams Aren’t Meant to Keep You Awake

Oct 8, 2025

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9 min read

Dreams Aren’t Meant to Keep You Awake

If your dreams keep you up at night, it’s not a sign to give up. It’s a sign you deserve support. I'm here to give it to you.

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

+1

A Quiet Street, A Guitar, and Me

Sep 17, 2025

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9 min read

A Quiet Street, A Guitar, and Me

But even the darkness and silence couldn’t hide what I was searching for.

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

Sometimes you just need a cry. And Eva Cassidy makes me cry... time after time

Sep 3, 2025

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8 min read

Sometimes you just need a cry. And Eva Cassidy makes me cry... time after time

When a voice feels like a hug you didn’t know you needed

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

A World Where Musicians Are Thriving (But the Coffee Tastes Like Shit)

Jul 22, 2025

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7 min read

A World Where Musicians Are Thriving (But the Coffee Tastes Like Shit)

Welcome to the multi-verse...for musicians

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

+2

The panic attack that nearly ended my music career

Jul 15, 2025

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7 min read

The panic attack that nearly ended my music career

If burnout, pressure, or anxiety have stolen your joy for music, this one is for you.

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

The night I made grown men cry

Jun 24, 2025

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8 min read

The night I made grown men cry

And why it changed the way I teach, perform, and talk about mental health.

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

+2

If Ed Sheeran can ask for help, so can you. It’s okay to not be okay.

May 13, 2025

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10 min read

If Ed Sheeran can ask for help, so can you. It’s okay to not be okay.

Because behind every great musician is a mental health story we never hear. Until now.

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

When Success Feels Like Free-Falling

Feb 19, 2025

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17 min read

When Success Feels Like Free-Falling

A story about fear, Frozen songs, and finding your voice at 100km/h

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

+2

How to stop doubting yourself and start embracing your success

Jan 29, 2025

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9 min read

How to stop doubting yourself and start embracing your success

Why Imposter Syndrome Is a Sign You’re on the Right Track

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

+2

How to Find Hope in a Broken Music Industry

Jan 15, 2025

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8 min read

How to Find Hope in a Broken Music Industry

Two moments that reminded me why music still matters

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

+3

Why Being a Musician Is Like Cooking Rice

Jan 8, 2025

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6 min read

Why Being a Musician Is Like Cooking Rice

Just like rice, there’s more than one way to cook up a fulfilling music career

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

+1

The Book That Changed My Purpose as a Musician

Dec 11, 2024

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7 min read

The Book That Changed My Purpose as a Musician

I thought I knew what success looked like — until this book showed me a different path.

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

+2

Why Criticism Is the Best Thing That Can Happen to You

Dec 4, 2024

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7 min read

Why Criticism Is the Best Thing That Can Happen to You

What Tommy Emmanuel Taught Me About Staying True to Myself

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

+2

200 Subscribers: A Milestone That Means More Than Numbers

Nov 27, 2024

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6 min read

200 Subscribers: A Milestone That Means More Than Numbers

How Your Support is Helping Break the Silence Around Mental Health in Music

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

+2

What are you willing to sacrifice to be a musician?

Nov 20, 2024

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6 min read

What are you willing to sacrifice to be a musician?

Success shouldn’t cost you everything

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

+2

How To Find Balance In A World Of Pressure

Nov 13, 2024

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7 min read

How To Find Balance In A World Of Pressure

A Musician’s Journey from Burnout to Balance

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

+1

The Loneliness Paradox: Why We’re More Connected Yet Feel More Alone

Nov 7, 2024

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5 min read

The Loneliness Paradox: Why We’re More Connected Yet Feel More Alone

How One Night Changed My Perspective on Purpose and Connection

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

+4

The Day I Walked Away from My Music Dream

Oct 17, 2024

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6 min read

The Day I Walked Away from My Music Dream

And why it is okay to not live up to your potential

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

Sometimes all you need is a reminder

Oct 9, 2024

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7 min read

Sometimes all you need is a reminder

And all it took was seeing a friend play guitar.

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

What If Your Superpower is Right in Front of You?

Oct 2, 2024

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7 min read

What If Your Superpower is Right in Front of You?

How One Chance Encounter with a Homeless Man Transformed My Life and Music

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

+1

My Journey from Burnout to Breakthrough

Sep 25, 2024

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10 min read

My Journey from Burnout to Breakthrough

And the One Lesson Every Musician Needs to Hear

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang

Stories

+1

How I Learnt To Be Okay With Not Being Okay

Sep 11, 2024

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9 min read

How I Learnt To Be Okay With Not Being Okay

Lessons I Learned After My First Panic Attack

Brian Zhang
Brian Zhang
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The Mental Musician

The Mental Musician

I write about my journey with depression as a musician to challenge the mental health stigma and help fellow musicians build resilience in today’s music industry.


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