Music and Mental Health are connected. And in a time where there is more talk and conversation about mental health in our society, we as musicians need to figure out how our craft can elevate the movement. In this episode we sit down with Eli (a music therapist) and Miriam (a full time musician) to talk about the ways they see music impacting their brains, hearts, and emotions. 

If you attend a local show, it's probably because you want to see an artist you really like. But have you ever wondered how many people it takes to pull off a concert? In any music production there are so many "behind the scenes" workers who help make it possible. On this episode, we got a chance to sit down with some awesome audio engineers to talk about their work. 

Hakeem Dodley and Dan Gross wear a lot of hats when they help put together a show. Their role is equally essential in creating a vibrant and successful music scene. Tune in to hear about stage production, finding compensation for your craft, and sound engineer jokes. 

Do you want to be an independent artist? For this next episode, we chat with the folks who are on the ground doin' the thing. These are musicians, singers, rappers, and creators who are actively trying to make their art their full time passion. You will hear them chat about making music in a digital age, how they got their start, and discuss if music should have an impact on the audiences that hear it. 

We had a lot of fun with this one. To start we have Sally Louise, an opera singer turned folk/americana songwriter. Josh Cirlio (aka Terruhwrist) a rapper recently who relocated to Rochester NY who makes socially conscious raps backed by catchy yet ominous beats. And lastly - Arjun Baxter - who is a bass player with Grace Serene as well as the Sideways. 

Tune in to hear their journey, and leave with some takeaways on how to go about starting yours. 

Music has the power to do so much more than we realize. It impacts our mental health, it builds community, and it brings joy to the listener. But the reality is independent artists and local musicians are struggling to keep their artistic endeavors afloat We have often heard of the "struggling artist" but where does this idea come from? And why can't we change that? 

You have an opportunity with this podcast to take that first step towards change. Key Change is an attempt at hosting different conversations between musicians about their careers and experiences in their local music bubbles. And through these stories, we believe we can build empathy for our artists, and enhance an already growing music scene. 

This podcast is hosted by the Local Sound Collaborative, a grass roots music organization in Rochester NY. In this first episode with Zahyia Rolle, Greg Best, Briana Horton, and Geoff Dale we talk about a variety of topics. How does music effect your mental health? What is your writing process like? How do you form relationships in your community to pursue your craft? 

The first episode is an introduction, and hopefully a springboard into meaningful conversations that can enlighten us all to the great value music brings to our world.