Fans of pop duo Parekh & Singh were in for some disappointment when the Kolkata artistes cancelled their India tour last week. And when Nischay Parekh put up a post admitting that his decade of playing live music has come with anxiety, stress, and now depression, citing that the logistical challenges have pushed him over the edge, he was showered with nothing but hope and consideration from fans.

The development finds resonance in a recent Swedish survey, which revealed that 73 per of independent artistes have suffered from mental illness and a third from panic attacks. A fact that comes as no surprise considering the uncertainty that comes with the job - figuring out what music you like and want to create, and if the audience will reciprocate, while also making sure what you compose helps you earn a living. As Jivraj Singh, the other half of Parekh & Singh puts it, "It's exciting because of the freedom of following your dreams of living your life as a musician, but it comes at a cost."