MIND, BODY, SOUL: Why Music Is A Remedy
MIND, BODY, SOUL: Why Music Is A Remedy
This month I really want to talk about music for its benefits, mentally and physically. I feel music is so much more than just an art form but it’s also a way of feeling better, cleansing your body, clearing your mind and replenishing your soul.
Even if you don’t make music yourself, every single person can relate to listening to music for its calming, uplifting and therapeutic qualities. You may not realise you’re doing it. But you do it. I know for sure that I have a designated ‘sad’ playlist for when I’m feeling down and it is in these small things we do, like making playlists, that the influence and power of music as a remedy is presented. Even when you are hyping yourself up, you have those particular songs that help influence confidence and that help evoke ‘feel good’ vibes.
The emotional associations we make with music and how it makes us feel is why music is the most prominent outlet of expression. Therefore, I asked dope singer, songwriter and dancer, Molly J, as well as, rapper and songwriter, Just Isaiah about why and how music is a remedy for them.
WHY MUSIC IS A REMEDY FOR JUST ISAIAH
1) WHEN DID YOU START DOING MUSIC AND WHY?
Around 15. I never saw anyone around me doing music. It wasn’t in my family. Obviously, it was on TV and I knew people that did it but seeing all that never inspired me. The inspiration for music came from a deeper place. I was at a stage in my life where I was questioning things and I just wrote down the answers in the form of music. Usually that’s therapeutic enough for other people, but for me it wasn’t enough. I had to share these gems and experiences because I knew there are people that need to hear them.
2) HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND?
I wouldn’t! There are so many layers to me and so many different sounds that can express those layers. Any genre, any sound – it can be jumpy or chill… as long as it reflects who I am and what I’m feeling at that moment. My latest project GITD has some elements of rap, afro-swing, and soul drill.
3) WHY AND HOW IS MUSIC A REMEDY FOR YOU AS AN ARTIST?
Music is like pictures – it takes you back to the feeling of a memory or time that you enjoyed. It’s a great escape but it’s an even greater empowerment. Music helps me slow down and make sense of the world around me – a fast-paced and evolving world. It helps me make sense of all my emotions: my pain, my joy, my love, and my hate. It helps me release the energy and thoughts that I hold in, so I can make something great from it. I don’t think there’s a greater gift I’ve been given than to be able to create. It has done a great deal for my mental health.
WHY MUSIC IS A REMEDY FOR MOLLY J
1) WHEN DID YOU START DOING MUSIC AND WHY?
I started doing music at the age of 7, which is no surprise because I grew up in a musical family; my sisters used to sing, and my brothers used to be part of a hip-hop group. A fun fact about me is that I started out as a classical pianist and the singing came a lot later. The reason why I started music is because of my rebellious past. I was bullied in school, and I had nowhere to fit in, I was very misunderstood. Music became my therapy, a way to escape the difficulties of life and create my own space. It helped me redefine who I am as a person, and I overcame a lot of hard times because of it.
2) HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND?
My sound is a melting pot of culture. I am a French girl, with Congolese origins, who is classically trained, developed her vocals in gospel and loves Latin music. My sound is a mixture of everything I listen to, but my sound is mainly distinguished by my vocal identity and the strong influence of Pop and R&B. In addition, I like to reinvent myself quite a lot so there will be pleasurable music for everyone.
3) WHY AND HOW IS MUSIC A REMEDY FOR YOU AS AN ARTIST?
In today’s society, we are overwhelmed by huge quantities of information that is mostly negative. From politics, to social media, it looks like the human brain is constantly influenced by negativity. Music is a place where there is connection, from the artist to the listener, to create joy and to think about something else for some time. It helps to create hope and emphasises the universal language that is love.
MUSIC AS A REMEDY PLAYLIST
This year has been a wild ride. We’ve had to get used to everything online, used to seeing fewer and fewer people and used to being on our own. It leaves a lot of time to ponder on life and for many of us, these lockdowns have been rough on our mental health. For others, a complete self-reinvention has taken place, and we are grateful towards any of the blessings we have obtained throughout this tough period.
That being said, here at I Am BeYOUtiful, we have taken the time to make a one off, special playlist on Spotify (other than our monthly one) full of music that will make you feel good. We have songs ranging from dealing with emotions, to self-confidence to ignoring the haters.
We would love to hear from you guys, what song got you through lockdown, what song you most resonate with on our IAB Feel Good 2020 Playlist and to hear your stories about how you feel creatively, or maybe you don't feel creative at all - just tag us in your story and tag it #IABMusicRemedy
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