A rapper's last song will be released five years after his suicide in a bid to give support to other men with mental health issues.
Calum Barnes, aka Lumo, took his own life, aged 21, after suffering depression. His death shocked the Scots music community and led to many tributes as well as a BBC documentary.
Bandmates in rap crew Deadsoundz have since discovered the last track Calum wrote and recorded before he died. Profits from the release of the single, The Lion, will be donated to the Men Matter Scotland charity.
Bandmate Andy “SubKonsious” Jamieson said the track will be released on January 14, on the 10th anniversary of the band’s first single.
He added: “Calum is remembered and loved by all of us in the Scottish hip hop community. We struggle to deal with his loss but know how committed he was to helping other people with depression and he would have wanted us to bring this track to the public.
“The Lion was written after Calum converted to Islam and that was something he took strength from. The lyrics are charged with feeling that the world was moving the wrong way. You can feel the power in his words.
“We’re hoping to spread the message that help is out there and that people, young men especially, can talk to others who know what they are going through and who can help.”
Since Lumo’s death, band members have written tracks to raise awareness of suicide and fellow member Subz became a support worker for young people affected by mental health issues.
Lumo died after a lads’ night playing video games. Five days later his body was recovered from the River Clyde.
The decision to release Lumo’s material was made by Deadsoundz crew – SubKonsious, Andrew “Mvcc” Malcolmson, Stephen “Symba” Trainer and Ryan “Q-Riot” McLean. The single will be available at - deadsoundz.bandcamp.com
● If you need someone to talk to, contact Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space at www.breathingspace.scot or 0800 83 85 87
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