Conor Oberst is speaking publicly about a difficult stretch in his life and says a near-death experience changed his outlook, according to Stereogum. The Bright Eyes frontman recently discussed the period in an interview on the New York Times Popcast.
In the conversation, Oberst said he was “really close to the edge” and described realizing he needed to make changes. He said there was nothing positive about that moment and that continuing the same path could have led to a very different outcome.
Earlier this year, Oberst told the Los Angeles Times that he had made lifestyle changes and was doing much better. He said he was not claiming to be sober, but that he had given up “the worst of it” and was trying to move forward without dwelling on the past.
Bright Eyes are set to head back out on tour this fall. The full Popcast interview also touched on other topics, including protest songs in the Trump years and whether Oberst sees himself as a former child star, according to Stereogum.
