“OK (Anxiety Anthem)” by Mabel

As can be ascertained from reading the title, Mabel’s “OK (Anxiety Anthem)” is based on a considerable degree of anxiety the singer is going through. Indeed from the onset of the song we can see that this feeling sometimes prevents her from getting out of bed and facing the day. Moreover she has had many a sleepless night, shedding tears while being alone in her bedroom. But the world is not aware of her internal angst as she masks it by intentionally appearing joyous to outsiders.

However, Mabel has come to the realization that handling the situation in this fashion is not ideal. Thus the title of this song is based on the idea of it being “okay not to be okay”. That is to say that the primary sentiment Mabel is expressing is basically tantamount to letting listeners know that they should not be ashamed if they are suffering from depression. And also she understands that, despite using her own personal story to illustrate this point, there are countless other people going through a similar experience.

So basically, the singer is telling the addressee to let their pent-up emotions freely flow. But simultaneously, she is suggesting that they adopt an optimistic disposition concerning the matter. And she believes that by doing such, at the end of day everything indeed is going to turn out “okay”. In other words, despite being a regular victim of depression, Mabel more or less recognizes it as a temporary state. Thus individuals who are going through it like herself are advised not to get overwhelmed by the situation but rather to confront it directly and understand that it will eventually pass.

Mabel’s Comments on this song

According to Mabel, this track proved to be the hardest she ever had to write. It is based on her real life struggles with anxiety. Here are Mabel’s words about the meaning of “OK (Anxiety Anthem)”:

Writing and Production of “OK (Anxiety Anthem)

Mabel co-wrote “OK (Anxiety Anthem)” with additional input from MNEK alongside Maria Hazell. The former also produced the track along with Koz.

Date of Release

Mabel released this song through Polydor Records. It was released as one of the songs from her maiden album (High Expectations) on 2 August 2019.

Did Mabel release “OK (Anxiety Anthem)” as a single?

No. High Expectations had only two singles. They are: “Don’t Call Me Up” and “Mad Love“.