“There were many months, many years that were super dark, super dark times. And I always like clung to music as something that could remind me that there were other people in the world like me, that felt the way I felt and wanted things to become the way I wanted them to become. And that was honestly what got me through the darkest moments of my life. I'm 32 and things just started working.” - Bartees Strange

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Today we’re releasing our next video in partnership with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and our “Song That Found Me At The Right Time” series. This one features singer songwriter Bartees Strange, who recently signed to the legendary 4AD label, performing the song “About Today” by the indie rock staples The National.

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“Today

You were far away

And I

Didn't ask you why

What could I say?

I was far away

You just walked away

And I just watched you”

“I was struck by the beauty of the song. I, of course, was just completely in love with the string arrangements. And when I dove deeper into looking at the lyrics, they were talking about some things that I've been thinking about deeply through the past probably two years and hit me harder than I kind of expected. The opening line of this song,  it's something that we've probably all heard before, which is that the only way out of this is through. It is the main lyric, which is something you might see on like a motivational poster or something, but re-contextualize into this deeper look at what faith and hope are. We think of these words attached to religion a lot of the time. And I think this isn't specifically talking about religious faith, religious hope. This is talking about a much broader hope and faith.” - Cassandra Jenkins

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Today we’re releasing our next video in partnership with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and our “Song That Found Me At The Right Time” series. This one features singer songwriter Cassandra Jenkins performing the song “Faith Consuming Hope” by the incredible Eartheater.

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Cassandra’s LP “An Overview on Phenomenal Nature” is one of our 2021 favorites and per Pitchfork “flows like an emotional breakthrough.” We couldn’t be more excited she made this gorgeous video with us and shared so openly about what has helped her cope, heal and deal over the last year.

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“The only way out of this is through

Flames are but dew

Upon my skin with youI've seen the phoenix rise

Out of our ashes

Born out

Born out of it

Born out

Born out of it”

“I think music helps us because it's the stamp of humanity as a queer person or any marginalized person. If within your own nuclear family, you're not seen for who you are, you can find someone who sees you in art.”  - Kat Cunning

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Today in honor of Pride we’re releasing our next video in partnership with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (@800273talk) and our “Song That Found Me At The Right Time” series. This one features queer, musician and actor Kat Cunning who was in "Trinkets" and the upcoming J Lo movie “Marry Me.” Kat talks about their own mental health journey, identity and finding strength in creativity and within artists communities. They perform the song “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie.

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“‘I Will Follow You Into the Dark’ by Death Cab for Cutie is important to me because it saw me through my initial bouts with my own mental life, which like most very young people came with hormones and heartbreak. It also has  lyrics in it that I think were bigger than me at the time that have really stood by me. I just know how much words can do.”

“Music was the one shot that made it over the wall that told me that even if you don't speak your truth, you can sing it. I know that music has saved my life again, again and again and again, throughout the years. And it's just a community that I find that a song oftentimes is more pure than that, you know, in the world around me. I find that that's what a lot of my favorite artists do. Pick me up whatever room I'm in and they just build entire worlds for me to, you know, look in that's what I hope to do for my listeners as well." - Adia Victoria

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Today we’re releasing our next video in partnership with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and our “Song That Found Me At The Right Time” series. This one features Adia Victoria performing the legendary song “On and On” by the great Erykah Badu.

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“I was looking for something that was bigger and deeper and felt more warm than the idea of a Christian God. And I dove into my imagination. And the first time I heard “on and on” it felt like Erykah Badu was waiting for me to be her there.”

"...the feeling that you're not alone is incredibly healing and incredibly empowering." - David Draiman of Disturbed

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As part of an ongoing series with National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, we’re sharing interviews with artists in an effort to reduce #stigma and encourage help-seeking for emotional crisis.♪ In this video, David Draiman, singer and frontman of Disturbed discusses the healing power of #music and #therapy, and why it's important to end the stigma surrounding #depression.

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Disturbed has been at the forefront of the mental health discussion in the metal and hard rock scene and popularized the phrase “A Reason to Fight” for those struggling with common human experiences such as anxiety, depression and addiction,  which are not often discussed with vulnerability especially in the hard rock world.  With their "Fighter of the Month" project, “Each month, we’ll choose a Fighter....to recognize....This is just a small way for us to show our appreciation to some of the amazing people out there."

"I've been hiking a lot and I've been trying to have more of a physical, but also mental, connection with the land that my ancestors have been stewarding since time immemorial. When I'm walking, I think about the generations that were far, far behind me and what they were doing and what they were thinking and were they singing a song? Sometimes I go out and I'll sing a song. Were they doing the same thing? That, to me, seems hopeful - like having that connection is hopeful. And  because there's so much going on with like TikTok, social media, and all of this stuff, you forget sometimes that you can just go out into the land and you can be in the water and be near the cedar trees and still have that connection to your ancestors, just being here and living and walking around and it's beautiful."  -  Black Belt Eagle Scout

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Today marks Mental Health Action Day which states:"In the wake of COVID-19, millions of people have uncovered new mental health conditions and millions more have had their existing challenges exacerbated. We must take action now to meet the needs of our communities and identify opportunities to build long-term resilience."

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Our contribution is in partnership with The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and draws attention to communities of color and specifically the Swinomish Tribal Community in which Black Belt Eagle Scout aka Katherine Paul was raised. Check out the video of KP covering the incredible Grouper tune, “Heavy Water / I'd Rather Be Sleeping”.

“I think one of the reasons why I love music as much as I do is it stops a lot of the noise that's in my brain. I had a unique experience in the fact that I am a black woman who had access to therapy from a really early age. And I'm incredibly grateful for that. Now that the conversation has opened up to have more awareness of everyone's mental health. I think it's incredibly important for black people to dive into that, especially considering the generational trauma that has been experienced in America is so deep” - Madison McFerrin

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Today we’re releasing the next video in our “Song That Found Me At The Right Time” series. We are thrilled for this one to be partnering with the The Loveland Foundation. Loveland brings opportunity and healing resources and initiatives to communities of color, including their Therapy Fund for Black women and girls.

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This video features Mexican Summer recording artist, Madison McFerrin performing the Radiohead song “Everything In It’s Right Place,” a song she says “...symbolizes  things are happening the way that they should happen, even when things don't feel like they're going your way. I do believe that things happen for a reason.”

"A lot of musicians, like myself, are sober and dealing with mental health. I think it's 85% of artists, or something, struggle with mental health. I have a link on my fridge for a suicide prevention hotline because you never know when people are going to need that. And people aren't really vocal about it, so that should be readily available at all times.“ -Alicia Bognanno of Bully ♪Today we’re releasing our next video in our “Song That Found Me At The Right Time” series. This one features singer Alicia Bognanno of the Sub Pop’s Bully performing the song “Dry” by PJ Harvey. We worked with this one in partnership with the American Association of Suicidology.  ♪"There was a point in time where I was just listening to that on repeat and I felt like it was the only thing that made me feel really good.."♪

“There’s mental illness in my family. When I was a kid it felt sorta isolating to not know that was normal and that everyone experienced things like that. I think hearing other people’s  stories and other peoples perspective about these matters helps people feel less alone and realize that their problems aren’t unique to them. And there are communities that exist that will understand where they’re coming from”  - Sean Solomon

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Today we release the next video from our partnership with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and our “Song That Found Me At The Right Time” series. This one features Sean Solomon of the Sub Pop band Moaning paying homage to “Angeles” by the great Elliott Smith.  Smith’s name comes up often when we ask people about life changing or important songs, but this is our first cover.

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“I can make you satisfied in everything you doAll your secret wishes could right now be coming trueAnd be forever with my poison arms around you”

“It’s pretty basic, we’ve all been in moments of existence where we feel there is no hope and I feel like music is this beautiful art form that is accessible and celebrated that people, even if they don’t know they need, they need.”  - Kate Davis

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We’re excited today to share Kate Davis’ take on Daniel Johnston’s "Too Young To Die" along with an intimate chat about the importance of music in her own identity and mental well-being and as a way to get through periods of grief and hopelessness.

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Kate’s musical talent and storytelling are both beautiful and raw and touch on many themes of mental health while not being overtly confessional.

“The spiral of depression is something I was unfortunate enough to suffer for around 6 months in my late teens. I recall one doctor telling me to ‘snap out of it’.  You know, just watch a couple of funny movies. She told me ‘it’s just in your head’. I remember leaving that place thinking THAT’S the worst place a pain can be.” - Jamie Lidell

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Today for World Mental Health Day, we release the third video from our partnership with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline featuring Jamie Lidell paying homage to “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) ” by the legendary Sly & the Family Stone.

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Lidell reached out to SoS about a collaboration after hearing about us through our mutual friend, SoS board member and musician Dana Wachs. As long time fans of Lidell we are extremely grateful to exclusively share his story.

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“The process of healing seems so much more possible once there’s an honesty and a feeling of understanding. I want to be a part of the healing however that might look. Music is my connection to another world and it’s definitely a force that has saved me and let me find happiness, so I’d love to try and put some healing sound out there.“

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The Lifeline has long shared that for every one person that dies by suicide, 280 people think seriously about it but go on to live. We want to share these untold stories. This series will focus on amplifying how artists have managed to cope and even thrive in the face of emotional crisis, with the goal of reducing stigma and encouraging help-seeking.

"It doesn’t make you a weak person for thinking about your darker times it actually makes you stronger by being vulnerable and open and sharing who you are with the people you care about." - Sharon Van Etten♪⁣Today we release the second video from our partnership  with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. With this series we aim to create a special collection of cover song and interview videos for National Suicide Prevention Month in September and beyond. ♪As long time fans of Sharon Van Etten, SoS is thrilled  to include her music and words in the debut of their Lifeline partnership through their “Song That Found Me At The Right Time” series. Sharon’s voice is hauntingly beautiful, and the idea of featuring her interpreting someone else’s song that helped her through tough moments in life highlights the SoS mission - that music and stories of hope in times of crisis are powerful and relatable. ♪The Lifeline has long shared that for every one person that dies by suicide, 280 people think seriously about it but go on to live. We want to share these untold stories. This series will focus on amplifying how artists have managed to cope and even thrive in the face of emotional crisis, with the goal of reducing stigma and encouraging help-seeking.

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“It’s important to know that [black women's] plight is real. We are not alone and it’s okay to have those feelings as a result of this plight. There are a lot of people in my family that are ashamed of our suffering and ashamed to talk about it and I think that’s hurting us. Killing us, actually.” - @keiyaa

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Today we release the first video of our partnership  with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. With this series we aim to create a special collection of cover song and interview videos for National Suicide Prevention Month in September and beyond.

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SoS and Lifeline initially connected with KeiyaA after hearing her 2020 album “Forever Ya Girl.” The record is the artists original spin on modern, experimental bedroom R&B, drawing from past influences but moving them progressively forward. The lyrical content especially inspired us to reach out to her. The LP candidly touches on topics of loss, desperation and ultimately liberation.

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The Lifeline has long shared that for every one person that dies by suicide, 280 people think seriously about it but go on to live. We want to share these untold stories. This series will focus on amplifying how artists have managed to cope and even thrive in the face of emotional crisis, with the goal of reducing stigma and encouraging help-seeking.

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about her mental health and plays a song in which her partner wrote lyrics that helped fight back.

Sasami talks about how music has helped her through the ups and downs.

Sounds of Saving, a 501c3 nonprofit fueling hope through music asks artists to tell the stories of how music and mental health care can save and improve lives.

In this video, Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio talks about the power of music and plays a song that helped him fight back.

Hello and Happy New Year!  Our first video of the 2019 is by the amazing Brooklyn based artist Vorhees.  Her debut album Tracks for Movement will be released tomorrow morning but for now you can take in her cover of Brian Eno’s classic “Golden Hours”.  A song that she loves to hear but that has helped her through many of life’s challenges.  Hear more about her joys and struggles in her own words below.  Please help us raise awareness about suicide, depression and addiction by sharing.

As you know, September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and in order to help raise awareness we are sharing the last of our three videos for the month. Shilpa Ray has been making beautifully melodic punk on the NYC scene for years.  She chose to cover a Velvet Underground tune.  Please help us raise awareness about suicide, depression and addiction by sharing.

Once again, September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and in order to help raise awareness we are sharing three new videos.  Today we release our newest by Denitia who we have been fans of since here days in denitia and sene.  Denitia chose to cover an amazing Patty Griffin song that reached her at a critical time.  Please help us raise awareness about suicide, depression and addiction by sharing.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and you can expect three new videos from the SoS crew.  The first one features L'rain who released one of our favorite albums from 2017.  L'rain is a Brooklyn based experimental band, who merges soulful vocals with odd musical loops that works perfectly.  The bands most recent LP was an ode to singer Taja Cheek's late mother, Lorraine.  She chose to cover an amazing Dirty Projectors song that reached her at a critical time.  Please help us raise awareness about suicide, depression and addiction by sharing.

Today is the official soft launch of Sounds of Saving!  Our first episode features the leader of the Brooklyn based band Prairie Empire, solo artist, and the star of Broadway's Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Brittain Ashford.   Check it out below and please help us fight suicide and depression by sharing the video and donating if you can.