At the A Better Normal live Zoom community discussion event on Friday, August 14th, 2020, we delved for the first time into how music heals. I interviewed singer and songwriter Nick Larson, of band Próxima Parada, based in San Luis Obispo, California about how the songwriting process can heal wounds, encourage healing, and inspire others to create transformational art. @Christine Cissy White facilitated the discussion.
>>Watch the replay by clicking here.<<
"When I read your lyrics, you say things that resonate with me.....that is why I like listening to your music....you sing what I feel," A Better Normal regular @Adriana van Altvorst shared in the chat, joining all the way from New Zealand. We got the chance to hear more about the meaning and intention behind songs Dusty Seats, about keeping room open in our minds and hearts for people we have loved or who have come into our lives in some way, and Paying for It, about the effects of the childhood adverse experience of alcoholism in the family.
@Sylvia Lemus "Music has always been a place for me to go and process my emotions. I love to listen to positive music." She shared that she thought she could help a family member struggling with mental health issues by writing them a song "that she can listen to whenever she has these moments." She shared, "I had never heard of anything like this and then this morning I was checking my emails and I saw this seminar and I thought, 'how timely, this is exactly what I want to do'. You've inspired me to pursue the idea that even if its coming from the heart of one person, that your desire to help that one person can impact many others so thank you so much."
Nick responded, "I feel that part of my work is as a missionary to give people permission to express themselves and make peace with others or support the healing of the people that matter to them...whether its a song or a poem. It's like Adriana was saying, 'We're all creative, it's just giving ourselves permission to let that come through'."
"The thing about music is that the more personal I get—the more I make it about my actual journey the more universal it becomes. That's wild because it's connecting us globally." When we write music or share art in any form about something personal to us, we have the potential to reach others who resonate with the experience. The universal healing came for those of us present on the call, from places all over the world, when Paying For It and Nick's explanation of the lyrics and intentions of the song gave us permission to "surrender to joy, surrender to peace." Even though live concerts have been canceled since March, we got to experience the transformational healing that can come from listening to music together in a sacred container, among like minded people wanting to bridge divides—seeing people and seeking to be seen.
@Michele Musgrove shared that music heals "across varying ages too! I work with preschoolers and have witnessed how music helps them to self regulate."
@Carey Sipp, who wrote about her own childhood adversity with parental alcoholism in her book The TurnAround Mom, shared "This is so beautiful, Nick! Grateful, strong, and perfect. It haunts me to this day. I am so afraid of getting sick and being a burden!" About song Paying For It.
A particularly powerful moment came when we realized Nick's mom, Dez, was on the call. "I'm choked up in a very good and positive way that you're getting acknowledgment as an artist and as a messenger." She shared that she was really into the feeling of the event: "The connection and the introspection. The whole feeling on a community and global level." This feels like a perfect summary of what we do at ACEs Connection and why: to help people feel connected on a community and global level and to help people heal and transform both their lives and communities. Together we are creating a trauma-informed society because we know that the knowledge of adverse childhood experiences science has the power to change peoples minds, hearts, and work, alleviating suffering.
This A Better Normal felt like a gift. Thank you Nick, for your beautiful music and helping us all our journeys through sharing yours with so much vulnerability, honesty, and love.
>>Watch the replay by clicking here.<<
Listen to Próxima Parada'a soulful and uplifting music in advance of this A Better Normal Episode:
Connect with Próxima Parada on Social Media:
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