There are many things which have helped me in difficult situations, many of which I’ve previously discussed in previous posts. There is however one influence which I haven’t really talked about and that’s music.
I’ve come to realise that music does have a huge effect on me and I’m sure it does on many others. You see on social media, people mentioning how a song and/or album by a particular artist has helped them through a difficult period in their life and I can honestly count myself as one them.
In my very first post, I mentioned how The Cure’s ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ and the message behind lead singer Robert Smith’s songwriting spoke to me. It stuck with me so much that I named the blog after it. Plus it’s a way of highlighting the negative attitudes towards mental health we’ve grown up with as we fight against this toxic stigma.
It’s easy to listen to a song and enjoy it, but when you focus on the lyrics and the theme of the song, that’s what stays with you. If you can relate to what’s being sung then a connection is instantly formed. There’s so many artists and songs that I’ve found that with and only until recently remembered how much music means to me, especially when in difficult situations.
In a study which was carried out in 2011 by McGill University in Montreal, Canada, they found that music releases a chemical in the brain that has a key role in setting good moods. Dopamine is known to produce a “feel good” state of emotion in response to certain stimulants and volunteers’ level of Dopamine was found to be 9% higher when listening to music they enjoyed.
So essentially they’re saying that if you enjoy the music, you’ll instantly feel happier. I find that is the case with a number of songs, especially if they remind me of a person or memory. For example, every time I hear ‘Dakota’ by Stereophonics it reminds me of my fiancée as it’s her favourite song. When we’ve seen the ‘Phonics play this song live, it was clear to see the joy on her face and that memory stays with me.
Once again it shows that music will display feelings of pleasure and contentment but will trigger happy memories which will of course be a positive psychological benefit. The song ‘You and I’ by Tom Walker will remind me of my friends’ first dance in their wedding and ‘Fat Lip’ by Sum 41 will stand out because me and my friends danced (or actually jumped around to it) in my engagement party.
Music can influence memory, thoughts and behaviour. I’ve always been a fan of rock music and plenty of times I’ve listened to heavy music to get me in the mood for something. Now that could be sport, going out or just heading off to work. Motivation is a huge factor, especially when combating mental health issues.
In school, I was bullied and one of the reasons was the type of music I listened to. I was labelled a “goth” just because I used to wear T shirts and hoodies of the band I followed. The treatment continued as I got older with the hairstyles I had and the clothes I wore. It didn’t deter me as a lot of my friends were into the same music as me and kept encouraging me to be myself.
We’re all not going to agree on everything but why physically and emotionally abuse someone over the music they like? If anything, the treatment I received made me more determined to be myself and listen to what I wanted to. Granted I was struggling but if I bowed to the pressure that I was put under, I wouldn’t be who I wanted to be and that is not a healthy way to live at all.
I’ve also found heavy music to be a massive stress relief. When I was growing up, especially when I was going through periods where I was being bullied or stressed with exams, I’d put on some Slipknot, Bring Me The Horizon or Linkin Park and just shout along to the lyrics. I’d feel calmer as a result and like many other avenues, music releases aggression.
Now there’s a few theories and belief that heavy music will cause aggression, for me that isn’t the case. A lot of the themes of songs from these bands have came from stressful and difficult situations. Look no further than Linkin Park. The lead singer Chester Bennington wrote frequently about his mental health issues in some of the band’s most famous songs.
‘Numb’ is a song which stood out to me at a very young age. I was only 12 when it came out but at the time I was being bullied and felt the emotion coming from Chester as he sang it. He was always very personal with his lyrics and they resonated with so many people including myself.
Essentially the song is based on depression being caused as a result of the pressures he was under. The song was written under a different context as it’s based on pressure from parents but I understood it as I was struggling with the effects that bullying had on me. Listening to music like this helped me and the older I got, the more I understood that no matter what background or social standing you have, we all have our struggles.
Sadly, Chester took his own life a few years ago after his well documented battles with his mental health took control. At that point, I was pretty much at my lowest points as I was drinking heavily on nights out and wasn’t sharing my problems with anyone. I also went through a point where I didn’t do things I enjoyed anymore like listening to music.
When I found out that Chester passed away, it hit me hard as he was definitely someone I admired whilst growing up and as a result started to listen to his music again. The lyrics stood out to me a lot more than before. The song ‘Leave Out All The Rest’ screamed out to me especially one particular line.
“I’m strong on the surface, not all the way through”
All the negative thoughts was replaced by this lyric. I found that it had helped me realise that I had to sort myself out. It once again highlighted to me that the most famous people have their struggles even though it appears they have it all. It was once again a way of showing how music can be therapeutic and in Chester’s case, songwriting and performing was his way of therapy.
So not only can music boost your mood but it can also inspire you to improve yourself and go on to greater things. My favourite song is ‘Times Like These’ by Foo Fighters and the chorus features a line which I use as a form of a mantra every single day.
“It’s Times Like These we learn to love again,Times Like These time and time again.”
If something knocks me back or if I have a bad day, I know that tomorrow is a new day and a fresh start. Those lyrics emphasises that belief and to start with a positive mindset.
The last few weeks on my Instagram page, I’ve been sharing images which feature certain song lyrics. During lockdown I discovered so many new bands via ‘Sappenin Podcast’ which features many rock bands but also touches in a many episodes on mental health. It was via this podcast where I discovered the Pop Punk band, State Champs.
I’d heard of them at that point but never checked out their music. Their interview on the podcast had my attention as they spoke about how mental health influences their songwriting. They’ve written about love, breakups, loneliness and how they’ve responded to these issues and have a huge fanbase who relate to the topics they cover in their music.
The band’s lead singer Derek DiScanio has said that the band does its best songwriting in an environment which is stress free. It gives them time to reflect on how they felt before and as a result gives them plenty of inspiration to write songs. This approach is perfectly highlighted in their song ‘Elevated’.
The band have said that the main message this song gives is that ”everyone has those worries in dark times, and goes through rough patches, but it’s up to us to stick together”. The song is about guitarist Tyler Szalkowski’s concerns that the band’s growing success was effecting is mental health. Things were changing and the fact more people were paying him and the band attention was overwhelming for him.
The song ‘Elevated’, was a response to those concerns, that if one member is struggling, the rest will be there to get them through it. This further emphasises that support is essential. If you open up and show that you’re concerned or struggling, those who truly care about you will be there. The story of the song continues with a line which really does stand out to me.
“I’m finally acquiring the state of mind,That everything is going to be alright”
The message of the song is loud and clear. Be honest about your concerns and those who love and support you will get you through the tough times. The band also admit that the writing process for this song brought them closer together because it was important to listen to Tyler’s problems and the results made their friendship and working relationship stronger. This further proves the point that music definitely has a strong influence on people.
Whether it’s metal, punk, pop, dance, hip hop or classical, music can help you in bad situations and effect your mood. It helps motivate us, aid relaxation and increase the efficiency of your brain processing. It’s so much more than a form of entertainment, it brings people together. The amount of conversations I have with my friends about music is endless. Whether it’s discussing a new album, sharing playlists or going to a concert together, it shows that connection is a massive aid towards a healthier wellbeing.
I’m lucky enough to know a few people in bands, some who’ve gone on to record their music and tour. The bond they have with their bandmates is a joy to see, especially the pure love of writing a song, having it on a public platform for all to hear and seeing so many other people pick up on it when they play live.
Music is therapeutic. It lifts us, it guides us and without it, god knows where we’d be. The older I get, the more I appreciate it and the meanings behind a lot of the stuff I listen to.
Whatever genre you listen to, if you find it helps you, carry on. It’s a shame at the moment we can’t go to concerts due to the pandemic but I’ve got so many to look forward to and can’t wait to have that feeling of joy and excitement. The type you can only get whilst in a crowd singing along to a song you love. The experience is incredible, especially looking around and seeing hundreds and thousands of people joining in.
It’s said that a powerful enough song can even change your life. Music can even teach what humanity cannot always do. How to be human, live, feel and love. I’d recommend to anyone that if things aren’t going right, and you don’t know what to do, just turn up some good music, and tune out for a few minutes before you attempt to figure everything out again.
Whether you’re in a band, play an instrument, sing or just like listening to a few songs, if it gets you through, keep doing what you’re doing. Be yourself and if it brings you closer to someone whether it’s friendship or even romance, reap the rewards because it’s endless.
I’m so grateful to anyone for reading this post. This is something which meant a lot for me to write and I was listening to a lot of music whilst writing it. It certainly brought back a lot of feelings and memories in a good way. Especially in a reflective point of view where in seeing how far I’ve come from schooldays and how music can still give me the massive boost I need now.
There’s a few links posted at the bottom of the post for some articles that I found helpful. If you ever want to chat about music, let me know. It’s not just rock music I like, I’m into so many genres and could talk about it all day long.
Thank you, take care, stay safe and until next time I guess I’ll just see you later!
https://www.verywellmind.com/surprising-psychological-benefits-of-music-4126866
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/your-stories/why-music-is-great-for-your-mental-health/
MIND OVER NOISE 