Where Music Meets Mission

I took a course my sophomore year at Wesleyan called Socially Conscious Music. The premise of the course was to consume and write music from a “socially conscious” lens. We examined the relationship musicians have with issues they write about, how their art is presented, varied ways of identifying and reaching different target audiences, and varied potential outcomes. Some artists we discussed were: Pete Seeger, James Brown, Bruce Springsteen, Fela Kuti, and Public Enemy. 

We were tasked to write one song per week. My Professor would provide creative prompts for us to abide by that guided the writing process. As the semester progressed, the prompts became more complex and applicable to social causes, forcing you to think and write from a socially conscious perspective. 

At the end of the semester we were assigned in groups to local non-profits. The purpose of this project was to interview workers, get an understanding for what work they do, and write a song that serves as a musical “portrait” meant to illuminate some aspect(s) of their experience and relationship to their work/cause. I worked with Gilead, a non-profit that provides mental health services to those in need. After conducting interviews with five staff members, I had a sense of understanding the effect their work has on the community, but also themselves. I learned that Gilead understands that the mental well being of their clients can be ever changing, but the primary goal is to provide them with the skills and resources to weather the storm. With that frame of mine, I began writing a song entitled “Ebb and Flow”. I recorded the first version on my voice memos app on my phone, and was later able to record it with a professional set up with the help of my TA.

Ultimately, I was invited to Gilead’s Gratitude Gathering in May of 2025 to perform Ebb and Flow, and did so with my professor accompanying me on the keyboard. Staff members, long time donors, and the board of directors were in attendance and gave emotional and heartfelt praise. It was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had in my time at Wesleyan. This course pushed me as a writer, musician, and human in the best way possible.