Weyes Blood reveals her home was damaged during Los Angeles wildfires: “I am saddled with survivors guilt”
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(Credit: Press)
American singer-songwriter Weyes Blood took to Instagram to relay her experience of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, which killed 29 people and left thousands others displaced.
Weyes Blood, real name Natalie Mering, discussed the impact of the fires on her neighbours and on her own mental health in the personal post. “I am very blessed that my entire house didn’t burn down, most of my neighbors did,” she said.
Mering added: “I am blessed that I just rent. I am left saddled with this feeling of gratitude to have my stuff (albeit smoke damaged) but also I am saddled with survivors guilt and a whole lot of uncertainty about the habitability of the structures left behind.”
The musician’s uncertainty is not misguided, as the Cal Fire Agency reported that 10,491 structures were damaged in the fires. Weyes Blood noted that, “I know it’s been a month but just like my story, there’s still so much to be done.”
In response to the wildfires, WeyesBlood has released a limited-edition t-shirt in aid of the American Red Cross, which she has called “a love letter to my beautiful, irrevocably changed neighborhood of Altadena.” The singer also provided followers with the option to donate directly to impacted families through relevant GoFundMe links in her bio.
“We can make a difference and bring a shred of hope to those who are still in need,” wrote Blood. She is not alone in this attempt. The music community has come together to respond to the devastation left by the fires. Musicians such as Joni Mitchell, Billie Eilish and the surviving members of Nirvana came together on January 30th to hold FireAid, a benefit concert which has raised over an estimated $100 million for the cause.
A charity compilation, Good Music to Lift Los Angeles, was available on Bandcamp for 24 hours on February 7th. The album included new material, covers, live performances and demos from beloved names like MJ Lenderman, Blondshell, Death Cab for Cutie, and almost 90 other musicians. All proceeds will be donated to the local community through the California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund and the LA Food Bank.
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