Eurovision star Mae Muller has spoken candidly about feeling “miserable” in music and says she is now considering quitting the industry altogether, just two years after representing the UK on one of the world’s biggest stages.
The singer, who was chosen to represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, has reflected on a difficult period in her career that began with high expectations following the strong performance of Sam Ryder in 2022, when he finished second with his hit Space Man. Ryder’s result marked one of the UK’s best Eurovision showings in years, raising hopes that Muller could continue the momentum the following year.
At the 2023 contest in Liverpool, Mae Muller took to the stage with her entry I Wrote A Song. Because the UK is part of the “Big Five” countries, she automatically qualified for the grand final without having to compete in the semi-finals. That meant her Eurovision journey took her straight to the main event, which also featured performances from previous entrants such as Sonia, alongside tributes to Liverpool’s musical legacy, including nods to The Beatles and Spice Girls star Melanie C.
Despite the spectacle and expectations surrounding the home contest, the result was a major disappointment. Mae Muller finished second-to-last in the final, placing 25th out of 26 countries, and scoring just 24 points.
Following Eurovision, she attempted to build on the exposure with new music. Six months later, she released her debut album Sorry I’m Late through Capitol Records, promoting it with appearances on shows such as The Graham Norton Show. However, the album only reached number 33 in the charts, and she later parted ways with her record label to pursue an independent career.
Her most recent release, a single titled Tell You That, came out in April, but despite continuing to release music, Muller has now admitted she is struggling with the reality of life in the industry.
Taking to TikTok, she spoke directly to fans in an emotional message about how she has been feeling.
She said: "I’m just gonna be vulnerable for a second because you guys are my close friends, this is literally my close friends.This music thing, I need you guys to tell me not to quit because why is it so hard."
She continued: “I feel like I’ve been doing it for so long now and I just feel like all the joy and fun has been sucked out and it’s kind of making me miserable.”
Muller went on to plead with fans not to let her walk away from music entirely, saying she still has a strong love for performing but is struggling with motivation and burnout.
She added: "I don’t know guys, I need you guys to remind me why I like doing this cos I absolutely love ya’ll, I love you, I love making music, I love performing, I love everything about it but I just feel like what it’s turned into, I don’t know if I have it in me guys."
She continued: "I do have it in me but I’m getting to the end of my tether and I don’t wanna be miserable, I wanna be happy. Tell me not to quit. I don’t wanna quit on you guys, but it’s testing my last nerve, I can’t."
@maemuller_ hard life 😔 #newmusic ♬ Knocked Up_am i too old to be here - Peacock
Her comments reflect a broader tension between early career success and the pressures that come with the modern music industry, particularly for artists who experience sudden mainstream exposure through major platforms like Eurovision.
Muller’s Eurovision experience was, in many ways, a high-profile introduction to a global audience. Performing in a home contest in Liverpool, she was part of a widely watched event that combined international competition with strong cultural significance for the UK, especially following Ukraine’s win in 2022 and the decision for the UK to host on their behalf. But despite the scale of the platform, the result proved disappointing both competitively and personally.
In the months that followed, her shift from a major label artist to an independent act signalled an attempt to regain creative control, but also highlighted the challenges of sustaining momentum after such a visible setback. Her admission that the process has left her feeling “miserable” points to the emotional strain that can follow high-profile competitions where expectations are intensified by media attention and public scrutiny.
