May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the U.S., and this year’s theme is “Where to Start”.
Mental Health America, the founding organization behind the initiative, describes this year’s theme as such: “For anyone struggling with the pressure of today’s world, feeling alone, or wondering if they can feel better, this is Where to Start.”
At Sofar, we believe live music is a great place to start when looking to improve your present-mindedness and overall mental well-being. Data shows that music can reduce stress, anxiety, and blood pressure, and improve mood, mental alertness, and memory. Music can also be used as therapy, healing trauma and helping people with anxiety and depression.
Sofar shows offer a moment of respite from our busy lives, where we can sit in the present, feel the power of music, and make connections with people around us. Here’s how:
Hearing new music for the first time keeps us in the present moment.
When you’re at a Sofar show, you’re usually hearing music that you’ve never heard before. So when the artists perform at the show, you’re experiencing every note and every lyric for the first time – living fully in the moment.
Not only that, but you’re also likely experiencing the venue for the first time. Sofars happen in unique spaces all over the world, from backyards to museums, meaning you’ll always have something new to take in. No two Sofars are alike, so you’ll always be in the present when you’re at a show.
Witnessing powerful performances is cathartic.
We’ve all listened to a song that just hits us square in the chest: a lyric about moving on from a past relationship, or an uplifting self-love power anthem. That’s the feeling of catharsis from the artist: they’re getting emotion out through their music. As an audience, we respond to that catharsis with empathy; we feel the emotion too, and we connect with those same feelings of pain, or comfort, or revelation.
Musicians are storytellers, who take complex feelings and turn them into beautiful melodies with messages that stand the test of time.
That’s why music-making and song-writing are so often used in therapy, because we’re getting a reward whenever we create a pleasing melody or process our emotions through song.
When we listen to music that’s familiar to us, we release dopamine as soon as we hear the first few notes. And when asked what parts of life bring people pleasure, music is consistently listed in the Top 5, alongside food, money, and art.
Experiencing live music fosters lasting connections with others.
At a Sofar, you get a chance to meet new people in a new setting, and the artists do too. Maybe you’re at a laid-back singer songwriter night, or maybe you’re at one of our higher energy shows, moving and grooving to the music with complete strangers. When you’re at a show, you’re sharing the experience with those around you. That’s why it feels good singing along to your favorite artist, surrounded by fellow fans of the same artist. You’re a part of a community, and when we move together in time, it’s shown to increase behaviors associated with love, community and care.
We’ve covered before how Sofar shows can help tackle loneliness; they can also foster a sense of connection between artists and audience members. Performers can be vulnerable, often sharing personal stories in the form of songs, and creating a space for empathy and compassion from the audience.
If you want to experience some mindful music, check out a Sofar show near you!
