Toronto Indie Pop Artist Victoria Staff Shares Honest and Poignant Mental Health Struggles on New Single "Better"

Born and raised in Toronto, Victoria Staff was always an “anxious child.” The string that connected much of her young life was using music to communicate with family, friends, teachers, and even therapists. Over time, this coping mechanism developed into a passion for music that would lead to her career as an indie-pop artist. 

Her debut EP, Records & Honesty, was released in 2023, under the guidance of Canadian music producer Dan Hosh. The heavy undertones of her music are offset by her light-hearted personality on stage, on social media, and amongst her peers. Staff continues to use the written word to communicate with her audience. Her new music continues to focus on story-telling and connecting with her fans.

Staff has always tried to be really honest about her struggle with mental health and the moody new single, “Better,” is one of those moments. 

Listen to “Better” HERE. 

When I wrote this song, I was really struggling and I was mad about it. I had worked so hard and so long to be in a “better place,” but it really felt in vain. “Am I not better?” it really means, “I thought I was better than this, I feel like I should be better than this.  – Victoria Staff

Deep breath in the bathroom, someone asking,

“Are you coming out soon?”

“I write music for me and I put it out for other people. If I stopped releasing music, it’s not that I’ve stopped writing. I’ll always write music because I need it in my life,” – I’ve probably said this 100 times to 100 people. But this song is the definition of that sentiment. I wrote this song in near tears because I felt so heavy under the pressure of “needing to get better.” And I don’t think that I’m alone in that. I think lots of people will be able to relate to that feeling. – Victoria Staff

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