Mental health

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“If you’re not reaching as deep as possible when you’re playing, you’re not fully being yourself. Finding your voice is not being afraid to let out exactly what you’re feeling”: Ariel Posen on telling the truth through music

By Alison Richter published 8 April 24

The Canadian virtuoso explains why the guitar is his safe space, and how he used it to tackle toxic people, broken relationships and forgiveness on latest album Reasons Why

“I watched a lot of people chase guitars and amps to try to find themselves, like, ‘No, it’s the next guitar. Maybe that will be the one.’ I didn’t do that”: How Joyann Parker discovered that tone is in the fingers – and music can change minds

By Alison Richter published 8 March 24

The Americana singer-songwriter has dealt with impostor syndrome, panic attacks, depression and the fear of change (even when it’s positive). Putting it all into her art has shown her she’s not alone, and she’s motivated to share the lesson far and wide

“Music saves many of us – yet we often lose the people who gave us that music to the very thing their music saves us from”: The tragedy that led Sully Erna to create the Scars Foundation

By Alison Richter published 27 February 24

The Godsmack leader’s first-ever song was about a friend who took his own life. He’s never recorded it, but he’s determined to share what he’s learned about the power of music and communication, with the aim of saving others

“I get to call out wrongdoing and injustice. I get to be really angry – ‘I can’t find the words, so here’s a guitar solo that explains it’”: How Emily Wolfe uses her music as therapy

By Alison Richter published 15 February 24

Bandmates helped the Epiphone signature artist through the pain of delivering the deeply personal songs from new album The Blowback – and she believes the ”tough but beautiful” experience will help others

“Dad showed me three chords and then he was like, ‘There’s a million songs in those three chords, so knock yourself out.’ He wanted me to find my own connection”: Tommy Prine shares how music helped him cope with the loss of his father

By Alison Richter published 5 October 23

The son of late country-folk legend John Prine never intended to be a singer-songwriter. But playing guitar and writing was instrumental in processing his grief. He shares the lessons his father taught him and how they set him up for a life in music

“As a kid, I had a hard time making friends. The guitar was a universal way to communicate where I didn’t have to worry about being cool”: For Nita Strauss, the guitar has been a lifelong ally in battling anxiety and addictions

By Alison Richter published 30 August 23

Playing guitar – and playing it live – can be hugely therapeutic. That’s certainly the case for Nita Strauss, who shares how her love for the instrument has helped her fight her demons

Duff McKagan: “I discovered my acoustic guitar as a refuge during Covid. It lessens the panic attacks”

By Alison Richter published 31 May 23

The Guns N’ Roses bassist and songwriter speaks candidly about how trading the bottle for playing acoustic has helped his panic attack and mental health struggles

7 ways playing guitar can benefit your mental health

By Alison Richter published 25 May 23

Guitar is more than a hobby – here are 7 ways it can help you deal with the challenges life throws at you

AWOLNATION's Aaron Bruno shares his guitar and emotional journey, and reveals why, for him, "music is mental health"

By Alison Richter published 23 November 22

The leader of the crossover rock act details his rocky road to success, how songwriting and guitar playing has helped him throughout his life – and how one of John Frusciante's Strats ended up on AWOLNATION's latest all-star covers album

Nothing More on the personal challenges that fed new album Spirits, and how 2014's Jenny moved the band into a position of mental health advocacy

By Alison Richter published 15 November 22

Written for vocalist Jonny Hawkins' sister, who suffers with bipolar disorder, Jenny saw considerable mainstream success, and even spawned mental health movements. Here, guitarist Mark Vollelunga and bassist Daniel Oliver reflect on how music can be "more than just frequencies"

Country music star Jimmie Allen talks mental health: “Music has always been my go-to, but there are times I can't get out of my head long enough to write”

By Alison Richter last updated 14 October 22

The self-taught guitarist and multi-instrumentalist discusses his struggle with bipolar depression, and shares advice for those suffering with mental health issues

Andy Timmons opens up on mental health: “The guitar and music have always been catharsis for me. I can't imagine life without them”

By Alison Richter published 26 September 22

The virtuoso shares his struggles with depression, alcohol and tinnitus – and how a lifelong love of guitar playing and music helped him through it all

Dave Weiner: “For a long time I had no desire to pick up a guitar. The guitar has always been my coping mechanism and now it seemed silly”

By Alison Richter last updated 24 August 22

The much-loved guitar educator and Steve Vai’s touring guitarist on confronting grief, and knowing when to seek help and mental health support when you need it most

JD Simo unpacks the legacy of Elvis Presley and reveals how he nailed Scotty Moore’s guitar tone for Baz Luhrmann’s new biopic

By Alison Richter published 23 June 22

As sole guitar player on Elvis, JD Simo left no stone unturned in search of the gear to bring rock ’n’ roll history to life, but as he explains, it was a gig he had been waiting his whole life for

Rob Balducci: “If you're struggling with mental health, try to harness some of the energy you have and focus it toward playing an instrument”

By Alison Richter published 26 April 22

The virtuoso on using the guitar as an outlet for grief, depression and anxiety on his sprawling new solo album, Transcendence

98% of female performers have suffered performance anxiety, according to global survey

By Matt Parker published 9 March 22

Research published on International Women’s Day reveals disparity between genders

How a pummeling Garth Brooks cover helped hard-rocking Oklahomans Fist of Five tackle social stigmas

By Alison Richter published 16 February 22

FoF discuss their recent resurgence, and confronting grief and mental health stigmas on their upcoming album, Sparrow Road

Brandy Zdan: “To me, this ended up being a guitar record, because of the range of emotions in the instrument. It's a vehicle for my grief and anger”

By Alison Richter published 15 December 21

The Canadian singer-songwriter channels her experience dealing with miscarriage, grief and postpartum depression on her new full-length, Falcon

Joel Crouse: "In a lot of ways, mental health is its own pandemic"

By Alison Richter published 10 December 21

The singer-songwriter and Ed Sheeran collaborator discusses his battles with mental health, damaging experiences within the music industry, and how those in need can seek help

Satellite Citi: "It’s hard to ignore all that's happened during these past two years. We've been absorbing everything, and it’s come out in our music"

By Alison Richter published 10 November 21

The hard-rocking wife-husband duo discuss facing fears with their latest album Fear Tactics, their acoustic-oriented approach to composition and addressing generational grief in their work