AUSTIN, Texas — The Hi, How Are You Project returned to Austin City Limits to provide a safe space for artists to talk about their mental health through a series of interviews. For three years, they’ve hosted honest conversations with a wide range of artists to remove the stigma around mental health.

Artists at the festival discussed the challenges of touring and cultural perspectives on mental health. Some said journaling and meditation play a huge part in decompressing from the fast-paced environment of the music industry.

This year’s interviews feature Ray Benson, Ben Kweller, Poolside, Kevin Kaarl, Ivan Cornejo, Grace Sorenson, Mt. Joy and many more. Artists said music is therapy to them and having that creative outlet plays a crucial role in their life.

The family of Daniel Johnston, a local musician and visual artist, helped create the HHAYP in 2018. They encouraged people to check in on each other by asking a simple question: “Hi, how are you?” The question lived immortalized throughout Johnston’s career in West Campus on what used to be the wall of a record store. Johnston entered the store one day and offered to paint a mural for records in return, and Jeremiah the Innocent frog was born.

Johnston dealt with mental health issues throughout his life. Doctors diagnosed him with bipolar disorder and as a manic-depressive. He coped with his condition by creating songs about his romantic challenges and drawing cartoons of superheroes he invented.

Johnston’s art and music resonated with Kurt Cobain, Tom Waits and the city of Austin. Local MLS club, Austin F.C., honors the musician with his song “True Love Will Find You in the End” as part of their hymnal during matches.