French DJ and music producer Petit Biscuit – aka Mehdi Benjelloun – has cancelled his forthcoming tour dates in Australia and Indonesia, citing declining mental health.
“The next few words are tough to write but they need to be said: I won’t be able to go ahead with my tour in Australia and Indonesia,” he wrote on Instagram in a candid post shared yesterday (16 September).
Benjelloun apologised to fans who bought tickets, those who were looking forward to the shows, and the local partners “who worked to make this happen.” He then opened up about his mental health, which he said has been declining “over the past few years.”
He explained, “The highs are harder to enjoy, and the lows have become increasingly difficult to manage. I know how lucky I am to live off my music, and I don’t take that for granted, but the panic attacks haven’t stopped.
“If anything, they’ve gotten worse. My body feels constantly on edge, in a way I never expected to feel.”
Benjelloun added that, after discussing what he’s going through with his loved ones, “I’ve come to realize I need to listen to what my mind and body are telling me.
“As much as I was looking forward to being back in Australia, long-haul touring isn’t something I can take on right now,” he concluded. “Thank you for understanding, and for sticking with me through this.”
In the comments, Benjelloun thanked fans for their support and said he’s trying to take the time to reply to everyone individually.
“I read every message I receive and it warms my heart so much,” he wrote. “There’s nothing more comforting than having people around you, a family, friends, and a caring, supportive community. Take care of yourself.”
The tour was set to begin in Brisbane this week (18 September) and included additional dates in Byron Bay, Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Hunter Valley, Sydney, Wollongong, and Perth. The shows would have marked Petit Biscuit’s first Australian headline run in seven years.
Last month, the live music favourite launched a competition to find local DJs to open the shows.
Discussing the initiative with The Music in a recent interview, Petit Biscuit said, “This is the very first time I’m doing this kind of contest.
“I was lucky to get discovered very early with my music, but I know that’s rare, so I’m always thinking about ways to give strength to emerging artists, whether through collabs or opening slots.”
He added, “I’d love to push that even further: build real bridges between talented people and an audience. I’ve been putting music out independently for a long time through my label, Écurie. Today, releases on Écurie are exclusively mine, but I’ve had this idea for years to open it up to other kinds of releases: singles, EPs. I’m currently figuring out the best setup to offer artists.”
