Musician who had "quarter-life crisis" and quit pub job for gap year ready to release first single

A pub worker who quit to go on a gap year amid a "quarter-life crisis" says it's the best decision he ever made. Fynn Birch, 25, poured his last pint in October - and hasn't looked back.

He decided that working 50-hour weeks as an assistant manager - meaning he couldn't see friends or family - wasn't cutting it. So he left and is now pursuing his passion, music - with his debut single set to be released in March.

Fynn, from Cheadle, said: “I was having a quarter-life crisis. I enjoyed working at the pub, but I just never got to see friends and family. I was never excited for the weekend.

"I didn’t notice my low mood until I stepped back and saw the situation I was in. It was becoming a part of me – and I didn’t want it to be. My new single is partly inspired by that.

“My family were very supportive about my gap year – I think they were happy to see I was happy! I feel so much better about myself now. It’s the best decision I ever made. I couldn’t wait to get writing and playing gigs again.”

After years of busking and being in bands that never quite stuck together, Fynn decided to give his passion for music one last shot. But, despite all his success, Fynn warns that taking a later life gap year can be tough financially – and recommended others to always have a plan.

Fynn added: “I have been able to apply to some companies that are giving grants to musicians starting out and I was busking all over Christmas for extra cash. The only people that have cash on them now though are elderly ladies, but they seem to only like to hear songs like Hallelujah and not my own!

“I would recommend people have a bit of a game plan before you start pursing what you want so you don’t end up wasting your time. It’s really hard for people to get by in the current environment – so make sure you have a bit of a plan.

“I would say try not to get overwhelmed too. There can be a lot of things thrown at you but just try to research as much as possible and there are always people out there than can help you. Take it slow and don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t go quite the way you expected.”

Fynn’s single, I’ll Eat it Later, is released on March 1 on all major streaming services.