Drowned in Sound How Music Supports Mental Health with Ariana Alexander-Sefre (SPOKE)
What does it mean to “metabolize” emotion through music? Do wellness tools actually work better when paired with your favourite artist? Why does the music industry treat artists like products and not caregivers?
Drowned in Sound founder Sean Adams is joined by Ariana Alexander-Sefre, co-founder of the mental health app SPOKE, to talk about the future of therapy and how music can play a pivotal role in that. The conversation explores the science behind sound, the emotional toll on musicians, and why music should be taken seriously as a public health tool.
Spoke has worked with over 100 artists, training them in techniques like CBT and mindfulness to embed into lyrics and melodies - and the results are changing lives.
Episode chapters:
0:00 - 2:45 - Introduction
2:46 - 4:55 What would Ariana hope music to be like in 2050?
4:56 - 7:46 Using music to “metabolize” emotions
7:47 - 11:50 Who are SPOKE and who is Ariana Alexandre-Sefre
11:51 - 13:42 The relationship between music and mental health
13:43 - 20:28 Inside the SPOKE app - embedding music with culture with therapy
20:29 - 31:18 Why the music industry needs a fresh perspective on artist value
31:19 - 37:08 The science behind functional music and mindfulness
38:09 - 40:04 The real-world impact of therapy delivered through music
40:05 - 48:08 Can artists become a recognised part of healthcare?
48:09 - 54:13 - Closing thoughts from Sean
Mentioned in the episode:
Can Music Make You Sick? (Sally Anne Gross)
Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Cost of the Perfect Playlist (Liz Pelly)
Join the conversation: Drowned in Sound Community
Email: sean@drownedinsound.org