Programmed _ Interview With Joseph McGeechan

Some excellent musicians mentioned there. You’ve mentioned you having Bipolar 2, could you maybe mention some albums or songs that you would come back to on a regular basis that you find therapeutic. Also, it sounds like you find making music to be highly cathartic, would you mind discussing this a bit more?

With my bi polar 2, the most therapeutic albums for me are Unknown Pleasures from Joy Division, The Fragile from Nine Inch Nails, Mezzanine from Massive Attack and Rid Of Me from Pj Harvey. I don’t mind talking about it at all, a lot of people don’t realise I have it. It’s like having two personalities. But I think having the outlet of music and also the poetry that I write has been great for me, on the days it’s at its worst. The songs I often come back to are Somewhat Damaged, The Wretched and Dead Souls.

I think it’s great that you can talk about it so openly Joe, as it affects nearly 1 in 100 people in the UK and it’s a shame that there still is a lot of stigma attached to it in modern society. It’s well known that people with bipolar are often highly creative, so in a way do you think it’s a blessing? Also, are there any common themes that would emerge from both your poetry and music?

I think it really contributes to the mood of the music. My poetry is pretty much in the same vein as my music also. I think for the new live set, I will use excerpts of my poetry with the music. For me, the biggest issue with bi polar is the ignorance towards it. It’s not like a simple depression. There is a high need for isolation with bi polar 2 as well as many other issues that affect me in social situations. As there is no hypomania like with bi polar 1, I think this is really captured in my music and my poetry. When I am in episodes, I find it hard to interact with people. Often I prefer to speak with the music and poetry. I think the whole creative side from me would not have the sound it does if I didn’t have my bi polar, so it’s like a gift and a curse at the same time. But I do agree that there is too much stigma attached to it also.