Trigger warning: This episode contains references to childhood sexual abuse, racism, self-harm, suicidal ideation, drug use and also contains some details of a traumatic incident involving fire. (See support links below.) In Part 2 of the Oasis and Mental Health mini series, I interview previous @OasisPodcast guest @Cynthializa, who is a stylist at Selfridges. In her previous interview with James from Oasis Pod (see Oasis Podcast, episode 47), Cynthia credits Oasis for her decision to quit her job as a teacher in Canada to study at the London College of Fashion and pursue her dream of being a stylist.  However, there's another part to that story which she didn't reveal at the time: a harrowing incident which had left her suicidal and dependent on drugs, until a chance conversation with Liam Gallagher backstage at a festival helped set her psychologically free and on a path to recovery. Frustratingly (for me at least), discussions on Oasis are typically framed around a white, British male focus, and this episode moves away from that entirely. We explore Cynthia's experiences of childhood sexual abuse and racism growing up in a mixed race family, and she explains how Oasis songs helped to soothe her from this in her teenage years. We then look at a traumatic incident that occurred in her early adult life which initially set her off on a destructive path of self-harm, low self-worth, drug abuse and suicidal feelings. Again, she describes how it was the music of Oasis, and in particular Noel Gallagher's resolve, that helped to soothe her in post traumatic stress and eventually overcome her drug dependency. Finally, she describes a chance conversation she had backstage at Roskilde festival with Liam Gallagher, whose words of wisdom in response to her pain helped shift her mindset about her self worth and cemented her decision to move to the UK and turn her life around completely.   To get in touch: Twitter @SoundAffectsPod Email soundaffectspodcast@gmail.com   Support Sound Affects Podcast: https://ko-fi.com/soundaffectspod   Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.   Follow Cynthia: @LizaStyle  Follow Oasis Podcast: @OasisPodcast   For help and support with any of the issues raised: The Women and Girls Network (for all women and girls affected by all forms of violence and abuse): https://www.wgn.org.uk/ Survivors UK, for survivors of male sexual abuse https://www.survivorsuk.org/ Support links for burns and scars: https://katiepiperfoundation.org.uk/support-links-burns/   For help with addiction and dependency: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/addiction-and-dependency/addiction-and-dependency-resources/   Samaritans: 116 123 or www.samaritans.org

Sound Affects: Music & Mental Health

Mini Series: Oasis and Mental Health – Part 2 with Cynthia Liza

I've collaborated with James from Oasis Podcast for a mini series over the next few weeks and months exploring the theme of Oasis and mental health. Why Oasis, why mental health? I have openly expressed my love for Oasis since starting this podcast, and it remains a running theme throughout as I get to grips with exactly what it is about the band that has such an effect on me and millions of others. Meanwhile, I'm a professional psychotherapist and interested in a clearer emotional understanding of we're impacted. Rather than exploring it alone, I collaborated with Oasis Podcast, the official audio guide to Oasis so we can document this properly.  This first episode of the mini series is our interview with Manchester comedian Rachel Fairburn, who explains why Oasis are the reason she's able to do what she does now.  Follow Rachel Fairburn on Twitter @RachelFairburn and her podcast All Killa No Filla @KillNoFillPod Follow James @OasisPodcast Follow Sound Affects Podcast @SoundAffectsPod Please subscribe, like, tweet us, leave us messages, or contact me at soundaffectspodcast@gmail.com We'll be back with much more

Mini Series: Oasis and Mental Health – Part 1 with Comedian Rachel Fairburn

With Father's Day on Sunday and male mental health awareness week this week, here are some clips of Alan McGee, Bez of Happy Mondays and Mark from Skunk Anansie talking to me about their relationships with their fathers and sons.    

Interlude: Music and Fatherhood – Male Mental Health Awareness Week

Welcome back to Sound Affects Podcast. This episode is split in two parts, exploring the impact of the pandemic on musicians, and the work that Tonic Music for Mental Health are doing to address this. Part 1 is an interview with patron of the charity, Barry Ashworth (Dub Pistols) about his own life, career and previous struggles with drug addiction. Part 2 is an interview with Tonic Music for Mental Health's co-ordinator, Jeordie Shenton, a PhD researcher exploring substance misuse among working musicians. For more info, visit tonicmusic.co.uk Barry's Flying Circus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/368598820938472 Barry's Flying Circus Instagram: @barrysflyingcircus Barry's Flying Circus Twitter @BarrysFlying Facebook: TonicMusicForMentalHealth Other support mentioned in this episode: Samaritans: 116 123 CALM: thecalmzone.net Mind: mind.org.uk My Black Dog: myblackdog.co HSA, support for survivors of Hillsborough: hsa–us.co.uk Follow Sound Affects Podcast: Twitter @SoundAffectsPod Contact soundaffectspodcast@gmail.com Buy me coffee/donate to Sound Affects at ko-fi.com/SoundAffectsPod

Episode 17: Barry Ashworth from Dub Pistols and Tonic Music for Mental Health (Part 1)

James McMahon was Features Editor of NME in the early 2000s, and the Editor of Kerrang 2011-2017. He now freelances, writing about music, gaming and mental health.  We discuss life at NME and Kerrang, the merits of music journalism as an endeavour, the chaotic lifestyle of journalism, what it means to be a music fan, and James's lifelong struggles with OCD which ultimately led him to leave Kerrang and re-evaluate his life.Photo Credit: Tom OxleyFor more on James and his projects: Website: https://www.jamesjammcmahon.com/ His OCD Chronicles, where he interviews peoples with OCD: www.itstheocdchronicles.com Indie Heaven, where he tracks down childhood indie heros: https://www.jamesjammcmahon.com/-indie-heaven For support with OCD: https://ocdaction.org.uk/ OCD Action helpline: 08453906232 To find a support group: https://www.ocduk.org/support-groups/ OCD Stories (stories and podcasts on OCD): https://theocdstories.com/ To find a therapist trained in working with OCD: https://www.ocduk.org/overcoming-ocd/accessing-ocd-treatment/accessing-ocd-treatment-privately/finding-a-private-therapist/ More info and advice:Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/about-ocd/ Mad Covid: https://madcovid.wordpress.com/72-2/ Order of episode: Intro, and explanation of OCD, intrusive thoughts and images: 0.00–19.30 Rage Against The Machine, Know Your Enemy: 0.21The Doors, Love Me Two Times: 2.33Nirvana, Polly: 5.55Morphine, Shame: 8.55NGHFB, Alone on the Rope: 11.20 Interview with James: 19.30–1.56.59 Morphine, Cure for Pain: 1.29.10 Interview with James ends: 1.56.59 Sub-Pop Sundays, You Amaze Me: 1.56.60 Outro, support and contact info: 1.57.56 Follow Sound Affects Podcast:Twitter @SoundAffectsPodFacebook @SoundAffectsPodInstagram sound_affects_podcast Email soundaffectspodcast@gmail.com Subscribe to Sound Affects on iTunes/Apple podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and all preferred platforms Support Sound Affects Podcast ko-fi.com/soundaffectspod

Episode 16: Music Journalism and OCD, with James McMahon

Jonathan Antoine was a finalist in 2012 Britain's Got Talent, and has since gone on to release 5 studio albums and a Christmas album Christmasland out now.  https://www.jonathanantoinemusic.com/ Twitter @jonantoine Christmasland album out now 5th Studio album Going the Distance also out now Follow Sound Affects Podcast: @SoundAffectsPod (Twitter and Facebook) sound_affects_podcast (Instagram) Email soundaffectspodcast@gmail.com

Episode 15: Jonathan Antoine (Britain's Got Talent)

Welcome back to Sound Affects podcast, after a long hiatus during which time we've been in a 6-month lockdown/post-lockdown pandemic. In this episode, I speak to Steve Lamacq, aka Lammo – BBC radio DJ for BBC 6 Music, former NME journalist and co-host of BBC Radio 1 Evening Session with Jo Whiley, founder of Deceptive Records (Elastica, Placebo, Idelwild), and author of Going Deaf for a Living. He famously interviewed Richey Edwards of Manic Street Preachers in the early 90s, resulting in one of the most iconic and sobering NME images of all time. I wanted to speak to Steve in more depth about this experience and other complex encounters that he documents in his book. IDLES, who we discuss in this episode, will be performing on Steve’s BBC Radio 6 show today, Monday 5th October. If you miss it, you can catch up for 30 days on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000n603 As ever, please leave comments below, reviews on iTunes/Apple Pod, or follow Sound Affects on Twitter/Facebook @SoundAffectsPod and Instagram @sound_affects_podcast. Email soundaffectspodcast@gmail.com. I love hearing from you! WARNING: This episode explores self-harm. Please see links below for support and help with self harm/injury: https://www.selfinjurysupport.org.uk/Pages/FAQs/Category/webchat-support https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/webchat/ https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/feelings-and-symptoms/self-harm/ https://www.talklife.co/ https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/self-harm/about-self-harm/ https://www.samaritans.org/https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/if-youre-worried-about-someone-else/if-someone-you-know-self-harming/?fbclid=IwAR0gxOCPHP76IaBk9xrpmUt_I41M2epBUcZuheGhhMAHSkGrt1X1sVUOO44   Link to Going Deaf for a Living by Steve Lamacq: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Going-Deaf-Living-Steve-Lamacq/dp/1787601277   Thank you for all of your support.

Episode 14: Steve Lamacq

In Part 2 of Episode 13 with Marianne Rizkallah, she talks more about music therapy, her role as Director of North London Music Therapy, plus I visit her in her home where I discover she is a member of Crouch End Festival Chorus, through which she toured with Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds in 2015. This leads us to a discussion about her experiences on that tour, and we explore the transcendental nature of music and how this affects us. Finally, we look at Marianne's work as a singing teacher, and her work with music therapy and autism. Follow Marianne and British Association for Music Therapy on Twitter:https://twitter.com/mariannecrMT https://twitter.com/musictherapyuk For music therapy sessions with Marianne, visit https://www.northlondonmusictherapy.com/ For more on Guildhall School of Music and Drama, visit https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/  

Episode 13 (Part 2): Marianne Rizkallah, Vice Chair of British Association for Music Therapy

In Part 1 of episode 13, I speak to music therapist Marianne Rizkallah about her role as vice chair of BAMT,  her work with the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, her journey into music therapy and how music therapy works, particularly with refugees and survivors of trafficking, war conflict and other traumatic and sexual abuse. She gives me a sample music therapy session to exemplify how it works, and discusses her various other roles as a choir member and cantor, exploring links between her own therapy and psychoanalysis with confession. Follow Marianne and British Association for Music Therapy on Twitter:https://twitter.com/mariannecrMT https://twitter.com/musictherapyuk For music therapy sessions with Marianne, visit https://www.northlondonmusictherapy.com/ For more on Guildhall School of Music and Drama, visit https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/  

Episode 13 (Part 1): Marianne Rizkallah, Vice Chair British Association for Music Therapy

When Jess Greenfield got a call to say she was joining Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, she was obviously delighted. She was also pregnant in a long-term relationship (now husband) with Gav Condor. Faced with the choice of motherhood or a successful career, Jess was confronted with a painful dilemma that many women find themselves in in their 30s. In a male-heavy music industry climate, this dilemma is magnified where the support structures for women to have children and maintain careers as touring musicians are not adequately in place. Jess and Gav explore what choice they eventually made, and the impact of it on their marriage and individual self-esteem. They also speak candidly about their relationship as the musical duo The Kondoors – the ups and downs they’ve faced and how their romantic, marital journey gets mapped onto that. Support and advice provided below. Music – The Kondoors, 'Forgiveness' The Kondoors https://www.thekondoors.com/about https://twitter.com/thekondoors?lang=en   Jess Greenfield on Twitter and Instagram https://twitter.com/greenfieldsings?lang=en https://www.instagram.com/greenfieldsings/?hl=en   Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds:  https://www.noelgallagher.com/   For support and advice, see below:   Help Musicians UK: https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/ The Music Industry Therapists and Coaches (Formerly the Music Industry Therapist Collective): http://musicindustrytherapists.com/ Tavistock Relationship counselling: https://www.tavistockrelationships.org/ Abortion support and advice for men and women: https://www.bpas.org/abortion-care/supporting-someone-having-an-abortion/ https://www.bpas.org/abortion-care/supporting-someone-having-an-abortion/partners/

Episode 12: Marriage and Music, with The Kondoors

Drummer Mark Richardson joined Skunk Anansie in 1995, re-uniting with the band in 2009 after a long stint in Feeder 2001-2009. He talks about his addiction struggles that led him to co-found the charity Music Support for anyone in industry experiencing emotional difficulties. We also discuss his experiences in Little Angels, Feeder and joining Skunk Anansie; race and gender; the generational trauma that led to his drug addiction; male identity, suicide and colleagues who took their own lives. Music Support: https://www.musicsupport.org/what-we-do Skunk Anansie: https://skunkanansie.com/ Follow Sound Affects on Twitter and Facebook: @soundaffectspod Follow Sound Affects on Instagram: sound_affects_podcast Subscribe to Sound Affects on Apple Podcasts and Spotify: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sound-affects-music-mental-health/id1331897982 https://open.spotify.com/show/2mOGoi0QeHiwwRoJuetOkC As ever, please leave a review on Apple Podcast, comment here, join me over on social media, or email soundaffectspodcast@gmail.com

Episode 11: Addiction, with Mark from Skunk Anansie

What is the definition of 'sane'? Bez would like to know. I interviewed Bez in Manchester this month amidst Happy Mondays' UK reunion tour. You can still get your tickets here: https://www.seetickets.com/tour/happy-mondays Please be aware, this is not an interview with an academic or professional so please don't expect that. It's an interview with Bez who has his own point of views about mental health. These are his views and you may or may not agree with them. I'm really fascinated by the way he thinks and this is an opportunity to understand how his mind works.  In this episode, we talk about: fatherhood, his childhood, what it was like for him being homeless and in prison, his relationship to drugs, the time he nearly died of MRSA, his thoughts about what it means to be sane, as well as how he feels about what people think of him. It's an alternative point of view and I was really curious to understand where he gets his views from. Please excuse the sound quality, I was recording in a cafe, the sound isn't perfect as there's a lot of background noise. I hope you enjoy this episode. Brace yourselves...

Episode 10: Melon twisting with Bez from Happy Mondays

James of Oasis Pod talks to me through his life story through music

Episode 9: Life Through Music, with James of Oasis Podcast

I speak to Kat and Rob from Fife band Pilgrims – after spending years feeling disillusioned with their music careers, the Scottish duo joined forces and found meaning in their work again by campaigning for their love of animals through song. In this candid interview, they share their histories with depression, loss and grief, and the power in music to heal and tell important stories. WARNING: This episode explores topics of grief and suicidal feelings – please use links below for support Follow Kat, Rob and Pilgrims on Facebook and Twitter: https://twitter.com/Pilgrims_UK https://www.facebook.com/pilgrimsUK/ Find their albums on: Wilderness: https://pilgrimsuk.bandcamp.com/album/wilderness Tundra: https://pilgrimsuk.bandcamp.com/album/tundra Helplines, Counselling and Support For grief, bereavement and loss:Cruse: https://www.cruse.org.uk/get-help/local-services For depression or suicidal feelings: Samaritans: 116 123 or https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus: https://papyrus-uk.org/ Maytree: https://www.maytree.org.uk/ CALM: https://www.thecalmzone.net/  Other useful helplines and avenues of support: Time to Change: https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/ Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/ Specific support for musicians: Help Musicians: https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/ Bapam: https://www.bapam.org.uk/ Music Support https://www.musicsupport.org/what-we-do To find a therapist visit: BACP: https://www.bacp.co.uk/search/Therapists UKCP: https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/find-a-therapist/ NHS Counselling: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/free-therapy-or-counselling/

Episode 8: Grief and Depression, with Pilgrims

In the early 2000s – post-Britpop – an influx of indie bands emerged, beginning with New York based The Strokes. This paved the way for the Hives, The Vines, The Soundtrack of our Lives, and then a host of British bands – the most popular of all of them, The Libertines, as fronted by Pete Doherty and Carl Barat. Around 2003/4, following Pete and Carl's falling out in relation to drug abuse, Pete formed side project Babyshambles, which took off in its own right. After a turbulent start with drummer Gemma leaving the band, Adam Ficek – previously a musician in the band The White Sport – was brought on board as Babyshambles' drummer. My overriding memory of these early 2000s years was the extent to which drug use and litigious activity by rock stars were getting equal prominence in the press (if not more) as the music itself. While Britpop spread a message of invincibility, togetherness and youth, there seemed to be darker, sinister undertones connected to the drug culture around the 2000s bands which, for me, started to become synonymous with that time and which led to a noticeable isolation, separation and exclusivity within the indie music scene, spilling out into the behaviour and attitudes of the public fan base. I observed this shift acutely while at university when I was working a part-time job in a ticket box office of an indie club in my late teens. I really wondered about this phenomenon and welcomed the opportunity to speak to Adam Ficek of Babyshambles who was in his musical ascendancy around this time. On speaking to Adam, I became fascinated by his trajectory into the psychotherapeutic world after experiences with Babyshambles. I was keen to hear about his own understanding of how his turbulent upbringing led to deep emotional wounds that got re-triggered within the rock music industry climate of the time. We talk about that upbringing, his lifestyle on the road within Babyshambles, his exit from the band and subsequent healing process that led him to a new music journey and academic career in music psychology and psychotherapeutic practice. We also explore Adam's interest in the way sound production affects us emotionally.  Helplines and support listed below (hover over text for hyperlinks). Follow Sound Affects Podcast:Twitter: @soundaffectspod Facebook: @soundaffectspodInstagram: sound_affects_podcast Contact Sound Affects Podcast:soundaffectspodcast@gmail.com Subscribe to Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sound-affects-music-mental-health/id1331897982 Download on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mOGoi0QeHiwwRoJuetOkC?si=2sXZzkl8R1yu86EG4yM5Yw Episode breakdown: Intro0.00–0.20 Babyshambles, 'Killamanjaro' Live at S.E.C.C.0.20–0.38 Adam Ficek, 'Sun'0.38–1.40 Intro to Adam1.40–1.02.25 Interview with Adam Ficek52.35 Adam Ficek, 'Interlude'1.02.24–1.03.43 Adam Ficek, 'Sun'1.03.43–1.06.58 Signposting, helpline support and guidance for getting therapy1.06.58 Listener feedback from David Walker and news1.07.38 Outro1.07.41 Babyshambles, Killamanjaro Live at S.E.C.C.Contact Adam:Adam Ficek: @adamficek, @musicandminduk, @amusiciansmind, www.musicandmind.co.uk Support, helplines and guidance mentioned in this episode:Helplines and charity support: Samaritans, CALM, Music Minds Matter, Help Musicians UK, Mind, Cruse Accessing therapy: IAPT, Mind, or visit GP Private therapy directories: Counselling Directory, BACP, UCKP, Welldoing Additional support:1 North East, Music Support, Help for drug addiction

Episode 7: Trauma, with Adam Ficek of Babyshambles

Music and Mental Health podcast by Katerina

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Sound Affects: Music & Mental Health

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