Music is more than just a form of entertainment. It is a powerful tool for healing, expression, and transformation.
Music can help us cope with pain, trauma, and stress, as well as inspire us to create beauty and meaning out of our experiences.
In this article, we will explore how music heals, how music therapy works, and how artists like SZA use music to transform their pain into powerful art.
How Music Heals
Music has many benefits for our physical, mental, and emotional health. Some of the ways music heals are:
- Music can reduce stress and anxiety by lowering cortisol levels, blood pressure, and heart rate.
- Music can improve mood and happiness by increasing dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin levels.
- Music can enhance memory and cognition by stimulating the brain and improving neural connections.
- Music can boost immunity and fight inflammation by activating natural killer cells and reducing cytokines.
- Music can alleviate pain and discomfort by activating the opioid system and distracting attention from the source of pain.
Music can also help us process and express our emotions, especially those that are difficult or painful to verbalise.
Music can provide a safe outlet for catharsis, validation, and empathy.
Music can also help us reframe our perspective and find meaning and purpose in our challenges.
How Music Therapy Works
Music therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses music as a medium to achieve therapeutic goals.
Music therapy can be used to treat various conditions, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, autism, dementia, chronic pain, and more.
Music therapy can involve listening to music, playing music, singing music, writing music, or improvising music.
Music therapy works by using different elements of music, such as rhythm, melody, harmony, tempo, pitch, timbre, and lyrics, to affect different aspects of our being, such as cognition, emotion, behaviour, physiology, and spirituality.
Music therapy can also facilitate communication, interaction, and relationships between the therapist and the client.
Some of the techniques that music therapists use are:
- Guided imagery and music: This technique involves listening to music while imagining a relaxing or healing scenario.
- Music relaxation: This technique involves listening to soothing music while practising breathing exercises or progressive muscle relaxation.
- Songwriting: This technique involves creating lyrics and melodies to express one’s feelings or experiences.
- Lyric analysis: This technique involves discussing the meaning and relevance of a song’s lyrics to one’s life or situation.
- Musical improvisation: This technique involves playing or singing spontaneously without following any rules or structure.
How Artists Like SZA Use Music to Transform Their Pain into Powerful Art
One of the most inspiring examples of how music can transform pain into powerful art is the work of SZA.
SZA is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter who rose to fame with her debut album Ctrl in 2017.
Ctrl is a raw and honest exploration of SZA’s personal struggles with love, self-esteem, identity, and mental health.
SZA has been open about her experiences with depression, anxiety, PTSD, insomnia, and physical ailments.
She has also faced challenges in her career, such as losing her voice due to vocal cord damage and being snubbed at the Grammys.
However, instead of letting her pain consume her, SZA used music as a way to heal and empower herself.
She poured her emotions and thoughts into her songs, creating a relatable and authentic expression of her journey.
She also experimented with different genres and styles, blending R&B, soul, pop, hip-hop, and alternative music.
One of the most notable songs on Ctrl is “Drew Barrymore”, which SZA wrote after watching the movie Kill Bill.
The song is about feeling insecure and unworthy in a relationship and comparing oneself to the idealised image of a Hollywood star.
SZA sings:
“I get so lonely I forget what I’m worth,
We get so lonely we pretend that this works,
I’m so ashamed of myself think I need therapy,
I’m sorry I’m not more attractive,
I’m sorry I’m not more ladylike,
I’m sorry I don’t shave my legs at night,
I’m sorry I’m not your baby mama,
I’m sorry you got karma comin’ to you,
Collect and soak in it right”
The song is a powerful and vulnerable confession of SZA’s insecurities and frustrations.
However, it is also a defiant and empowering statement of her self-worth and resilience.
SZA does not apologise for who she is or what she feels. She also does not let her pain define her or limit her potential. She uses music as a way to transform her pain into beauty and strength.
Discover how SZA’s Kill Bill lyrics offer an inspiring example of turning personal hardship into a universally relatable piece of art.
How You Can Use Music to Heal and Transform Your Pain
You don’t have to be a professional musician or a music therapist to use music as a healing and transformative tool.
You can use music in your everyday life to cope with stress, pain, trauma, or any other challenge you may face.
Here are some tips on how you can use music to heal and transform your pain:
- Listen to music that resonates with your mood or situation. You can choose music that matches your emotions or music that uplifts your spirits. You can also create playlists for different purposes, such as relaxation, motivation, inspiration, or catharsis.
- Sing along to your favourite songs. Singing can help you release tension, express your feelings, and boost your mood. You can sing in the shower, in the car, or with friends. You can also join a choir or a karaoke group for more social benefits.
- Play an instrument or learn a new one. Playing an instrument can help you improve your concentration, creativity, and coordination. It can also provide you with a sense of achievement and joy. You can play an instrument by yourself or with others. You can also take lessons or watch online tutorials to learn a new instrument.
- Write your own songs or lyrics. Writing songs or lyrics can help you explore your thoughts and emotions in a creative way. It can also help you find meaning and purpose in your experience. You can write songs or lyrics based on your own life or inspired by other sources. You can also share your songs or lyrics with others or keep them private.
- Improvise with music. Improvising with music can help you tap into your intuition and imagination. It can also help you cope with uncertainty and change. You can improvise with music by playing or singing whatever comes to mind without following any rules or structure. You can also improvise music with others for more fun and connection.
Conclusion
Music is a powerful tool for healing, expression, and transformation. Music can help us cope with pain, trauma, and stress, as well as inspire us to create beauty and meaning out of our experiences.
Music therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses music as a medium to achieve therapeutic goals.
Artists like SZA use music to transform their pain into powerful art that resonates with millions of people.
You can also use music in your everyday life to heal and transform your pain.
If you are interested in learning more about how music heals and transforms pain into powerful art, you may want to check out these resources:
- Experience The Magic Of Sleep Music For Deeper, And More Restful Sleep
- Music for Stress Relief: A Guide on How to Use Music to Reduce Stress and Anxiety in Different Situations
- Music and Healing Course: An online course that teaches you the science and practise of music therapy
We hope this article has inspired you to use music as a healing and transformative tool in your life.
Remember that music is more than just a form of entertainment. It is a powerful tool for healing, expression, and transformation.
Music can help you cope with pain, trauma, and stress, as well as inspire you to create beauty and meaning out of your experiences.
More Examples of Artists Who Use Music to Heal
SZA is not the only artist who uses music to heal and transform her pain into powerful art. There are many other artists who have done the same, such as:
- Adele: The British singer-songwriter is known for her soulful and emotional songs that reflect her personal experiences with love, heartbreak, and recovery. Her albums 19, 21, and 25 are named after her age at the time of recording and chronicle her journey of growth and healing.
- Eminem: The American rapper is known for his controversial and provocative lyrics that address his struggles with addiction, abuse, violence, and fame. His albums The Marshall Mathers LP, The Eminem Show, and Recovery are examples of how he uses music to confront his demons and overcome his challenges.
- Lady Gaga: The American singer-songwriter is known for her eclectic and innovative style that challenges the norms of pop music and culture. She has also used music to cope with her trauma of sexual assault, chronic pain, and mental health issues. Her albums Born This Way, Joanne, and Chromatica are examples of how she uses music to heal and empower herself and others.
- Kendrick Lamar: The American rapper is known for his critically acclaimed and socially conscious albums that address the issues of racism, violence, poverty, and spirituality in America. He has also used music to deal with his depression, anxiety, and survivor’s guilt. His albums good kid, m.A.A.d city, To Pimp a Butterfly, and DAMN. are examples of how he uses music to transform his pain into art.
These are just some of the many artists who use music to heal and transform their pain into powerful art. You can find more examples by listening to different genres and styles of music and discovering the stories behind the songs.
