Music and our mental health.

Music is a strange and unique “phenomenon” that has played some kind of role across all human cultures, spanning both time and geographical location. Nowadays, it’s common to think of music predominantly as a commodified form of entertainment, however this view of music is relatively new and has only been around for a few hundred years or so. The purpose of music in the lives of humans has instead long been to bring people and communities together, and often during times where words are just not quite enough to describe a particular experience.

Remnants of this use of music still exist; from using music to mark important occasions such as weddings and funerals, to the presence of music in promoting national pride or inciting spiritual experiences, to the ways in which young people connect intensely over different artists or genres... We use music to share innately human experiences in a way that feels more powerful and moving than pure conversation alone.

It’s also common for music to become pertinent during difficult times and you might even remember some songs that take you straight back to a certain event or phase in your life. As we find ourselves in the midst of a strange, isolating and unsettling time, remember that music is a health resource that is easily accessible to you now. It’s also nice to think that music has most probably provided not only you but the human beings that make up your ancestry some kind of solace and reassurance in the past too.

For me, I am something called a registered music therapist and I come from quite a musical lineage. In the past, music played a huge role in my life as it somehow helped me to understand both myself and my surroundings with greater clarity. Now, I spend more time talking with people about their music and focusing on supporting them to use music as a strong health resource in their lives. If you’re interested in the ways in which you might use music more consciously to support your mental health during these times, know that you can work individually with me via zoom and via this link HERE.

To provide you with a little musical solace this week, we’re excited to share with you a playlist created by Small FRY (pictured above) especially for the Shapes and Sounds community. The playlist features an all Asian Australian line-up which is so important for us to recognise. It is these artists who are essentially interpreting and presenting our shared experiences of being Asian Australian and by engaging in their art, we are reinforcing the importance of our stories.

Find the playlist HERE and read about Small FRY below:

Small FRY is an artist manager, with a focus on Asian-Australian and female musicians, specialising in electronic and pop music. She is managing a nest for Rainbow Chan, Yeo and Kult Kyss. She is also the co-founder of the collective Big Bao, which curates events and parties showcasing people of colour and womxn. 

Recently introduced to the Triple R grid, Small FRY presents the new radio show Mooncake which is a show that celebrates diverse sounds from Asia and all Asian diaspora from Tokyo to Taipei, Seoul to Saigon and local Asian-Australian artists. 

With the lack of representation and support for people of colour within the music industry and in mainstream media, throughout her career as a manager, DJ and radio presenter, a major focus for Small FRY has been to promote gender diversity and multiculturalism. As a woman of colour in the music community herself, contributing to the visibility and representation of people of colour, Asian-Australians and women is an important priority in her work. She aims to achieve this through all aspects of Small FRY, Big Bao and Mooncake, by creating platforms and providing opportunities for her community first. 

This soft and moody playlist curated for Shapes & Sounds is a 2-hour compilation highlighting amazing Asian-Australian artists. The playlist features ambient instrumentals, experimental pop and warm R&B from artists such as ZK king, Mo’Ju, Jennifer Loveless and many more. The intention of this playlist was to create a chill and calm listening experience, to discover new Asian-Australians musicians and also to revisit familiar favourites. This was compiled with a specific mood in mind from start to finish, so listening in order is preferred; no shuffling.

-

Tune to Mooncake Wednesdays at midnight on Triple R via FM, digital and on demand at rrr.org.au/explore/programs/mooncake

And connect with Small FRY online via @smallfryhq