Key Takeaways

• Emotional safety is central to Yungblud’s message — his art encourages fans to express their feelings without shame.
• By sharing his personal mental health struggles, he normalizes vulnerability and imperfection.
• His concerts serve as safe spaces where fans can connect authentically and support one another.
• Yungblud’s kindness and openness redefine what rebellion looks like — one rooted in empathy and acceptance.

Few artists today embody emotional honesty and connection quite like British musician, Dominic Harrison, otherwise known as Yungblud. I had the pleasure of witnessing his extraordinary talent, passion and stage presence this past August at a small venue in San Diego. Not only does he exude star quality but the connection his fans, whom he refers to his “family,” was something I’ve never experienced.

Much of Dom’s music and who he is as a person, are a beacon for anyone grappling with mental health challenges, identity, and belonging — a space where fans can be raw, real, and unapologetically themselves. He has built an international community rooted in honesty, empathy, and belonging. His mission is clear: to make it safe to feel.

“I want people to leave my shows feeling like they can be completely themselves,” Yungblud told NME in a 2024 interview. “We’re all a bit messy, and that’s beautiful.”

The Power of Emotional Safety in His Message

For Yungblud, emotional safety means giving permission to feel every emotion — even the uncomfortable ones. His songs speak directly to those who have ever felt unlovable, unseen, or misunderstood.

One of my favorite songs, “Breakdown” suggests kindness, connection and self-compassion:

Don’t forget to put your feet in the grass
Tell your mum that you love her, say that you cleaned up your act
Give money to the homeless man, help him buy a bar
When you’re buying your morning coffee, ask them how they are

God save the Sunday morning, pray for me on the Saturday night
Talk polite, don’t start fights, don’t tell lies
That’s for the people with oblivious short sight
One day we’ll meet, man, and I’ll say, “Alright”

See the world is pretty big, man, but don’t feel small in it
Sometimes you lose a number, but I swear you’re still callin’ it
I promise you it’ll be alright in the end
Fuck the depression, it’s all in your head

Stay with your friends and walk up the hill at quarter to six in the morning
Take in the air while everyone else is still snoring
Express yourself with your friends, they’ll save your life, you know
Everything’s about connection, you don’t have to be alone

Yungblud also addresses other meaningful human experiences, often lifted from his own life. The track “Zombie,” (just nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Song), is about watching his grandmother be lost to alcoholism. The music video is also a love letter to frontline nurses, portraying the emotional and physical exhaustion associated with some of their most challenging work experiences.

Creating Emotional Safety With His Fans

Concerts, for Yungblud, are more than performances — they’re collective therapy. He often stops mid-show to tell fans they’re loved, accepted, and free to cry or scream. “This isn’t my show — it’s our show!”

This inclusive energy transforms venues into emotionally safe spaces, where judgment evaporates and shared emotion becomes a unifying force. Fans who once felt isolated now find connection — not just with him, but with one another. I witnessed this firsthand amongst the small crowd at The Observatory in North Park, San Diego a few months back.

It’s this authenticity that has earned him a reputation as “a safe space in human form.” His community, affectionately known as the Black Hearts Club, thrives on empathy, not perfection. It’s a symbol of unity and acceptance.

Kindness as a Form of Rebellion

Though his appearance and sound are unapologetically punk, Yungblud’s rebellion is emotional, not destructive. He’s loud about love, outspoken about mental health, and relentless in promoting kindness as strength.

“The world is so much bigger than me,” he said recently. “I want to remind people that it’s okay to fall apart sometimes — what matters is helping each other put the pieces back together.”

Through songs like “Medication” and “Hope for the Underrated Youth,” he dismantles stigma and builds compassion. His message: vulnerability is courage, and emotional safety begins when we show up — for ourselves and for others — without shame.

A Culture Shift Rooted in Safety and Belonging

His impact reaches far beyond the charts. He’s fostering a cultural movement around emotional safety — showing that being real is revolutionary. Fans who once feared judgment now find freedom in community, connection, and mutual care.

When he screams, “You are not broken!” on stage, he’s not just performing — he’s building a sanctuary for millions learning to love themselves. In that moment, every person in the crowd knows: they are safe, they are seen, and they are enough.

Thank You, Yungblud, A Personal Message

I somehow stumbled upon you on social media early this year, 2025. Admittedly, I was a little amused at myself as I morphed into some kind of mid-50’s Yungblud “fan girl.” But it wasn’t about attraction in a “be still my heart” kind of way. I could see you were real. You were kind. You were using your rapidly growing platform for good, maybe not even realizing the full impact you were having as you continued to make peace with your own demons.

I loved the heart of your music which helped me through some of my own challenges this past year. I dropped my son off to college in San Diego, officially becoming an “empty nester,” this moment in parallel to other difficult personal transitions. It must have been meant to be that the second stop on your U.S. tour happened to be in San Diego at this moment, allowing me to attend your show, my first solo concert at the age of 56.

You are a rock star, no question. But it was the fan engagement and the actual people that showed up at that venue that touched my heart the most. I thought there was no doubt that I’d be the oldest person there, the old lady “fan girl.” (My friends had no idea who you were and probably thought I was nuts. But nonetheless, I sent a number of them some of your music ahead of time to share my enthusiasm.)

Your show was even more than I expected. The most surprising was that the crowd was a cross section of all ages, from the 8-year-old boy in front of me with a “Yungblud” headband with his mom, of course hordes of twenty-somethings, but also men and women in their 30’s, 40’s and yes, my age and older! I got it. You were emotional onstage, wept at the death of your friend and mentor Ozzy Osbourne as you sang “Changes,” crowd surfed, and loved on people in the audience. Afterward, as I walked to my car, fans were lined up at your tour bus waiting for personal greetings, as apparently you always do that after your shows (I learned later). You look your fans in their eyes, listen to them, connect with them and even offer hugs. My only regret is not getting in line to have the opportunity to thank you for the role you’ve played in my own emotional journey. I was getting up very early to drive back to Mill Valley, just over the Golden Gate from San Francisco. I could have slept later…lol…oh well. I still got to experience you in this small venue, something I’m pretty sure will never happen for anyone again, with your three Grammy nominations yesterday. Congratulations, well deserved. 🙂 

We need someone like you in this world now. I’m looking forward to watching your rise and use of your platform to continue to bring down the house with your voice and presence but most importantly to continue to spread your messages of belonging, acceptance of all, self-love and love for others.

My hope for you, coming from a therapist by profession (and mom); with as much energy, passion and care you push outward, please take care of yourself too. Have your self-care routine down to a science to avoid burnout. It’s ok to stop giving to take care of you, as needed. ❤️ 

FAQ

Q: What does Yungblud mean by emotional safety?
A: Yungblud uses the concept to describe a space — whether online, in music, or live shows — where people feel secure expressing their emotions, free from judgment or fear.

Q: How has Yungblud helped fans with their mental health?
A: Through candid discussions about anxiety, identity, and loneliness, he helps fans see they’re not alone — inspiring them to seek help and practice self-kindness.

Q: Why do fans feel such a strong connection to him?
A: His authenticity and accessibility foster emotional trust. He listens, validates, and mirrors his fans’ experiences, creating a shared sense of belonging.

Q: What’s the main takeaway from Yungblud’s message?
A: That emotional safety — being seen, heard, and accepted — is essential for healing and connection, and it starts by showing up as your true self.