“Head Vs Heart: A crowded mind leaves no space for a peaceful heart” ― Christine Evangelou

I recently wrapped up a series of sessions with a young songwriter who's about to record her first track in Washington DC this May. It's been an enlightening experience, not just for her, but for me as well. She came in with a lot of ideas, much like I did when I first started out. Her initial attempts were all over the place, which is pretty normal when you're trying to figure out how to express a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.

We worked on narrowing down her focus, tackling one idea at a time, and turning those ideas into something she could be proud of. It reminded me a lot of my own journey, especially with songs like "Nobody's Toy," which took several tries before I got it right.

Here is the final version, in case you want to check it out, recorded and released with my band in New Zealand: Static Era.

Anyway, this isn't about me, it's about her, because her feedback was interesting.

She mentioned that over the past two months, she's noticed:

• Improvements in her musical vocabulary and thought process
• The sessions expanded her self-awareness and perspective
• But more than anything, she appreciated the validation of her thoughts, and support in exploring her newfound passion for music and songwriting.

She described music as a tool for connection, transcending the usual barriers and reaching deeper emotional spaces.

This whole process highlights an important point: clarity and focus are crucial, not just in songwriting but in life. When your mind is cluttered, it's tough to find any sense of peace or direction. Songwriting, in this case, served as a method to organize thoughts and emotions, turning them into something coherent and meaningful.

If you are, or your teen is struggling with scattered thoughts or finding it hard to articulate feelings, songwriting might be a practical tool worth exploring. It's about finding a new way to process and express what's going on inside your head.

Interested in seeing how songwriting can help bring some clarity to your thoughts? I'm here to chat about how we can make that happen.

[Here's a song from one of my first clients Sydney Witt as another example of using music for self expression]

Let me know what you think! And - again - Click here to book a call to learn more.

And stay tuned for when my latest client drops her song. Trust: it's a doozy. I'm sure your song is a doozy too! ;-)

Have an amazing day on purpose,

~ Emma G

PS. If you're more of a DIY person, I put together a "Turning Struggles into Songs" interactive workbook and journal. Grab your copy here on Amazon!

Want more?

• Click here to read the "Music + Mental Health" blog.
• Click here to listen to the "Reconnect with your Teenager" podcast
• Click here to join Emma G Nation for exclusive content over on Patreon.
• Click here to find out more about, or make a tax deductible donation to Youth Expression through Songwriting coaching.

When you're ready, here are the three main ways we can work together:

• One on one coaching - helping you express yourself safely and healthily, rewrite your perceptions of yourself, and the way the world perceives you: one powerful song at a time?even if you've never written a song before.Perfect for those of you who are interested in unconventional coaching.
• Commissioned song - harnessing your brand, business or organization in one powerful anthem that can be used for teambuilding and rapport, brand-building, and advertising.Perfect for companies, organizations, or entrepreneurs wanting to enhance or improve workplace culture, and are mission, vision, and purpose oriented.
• Edutainment + workshopping - using keynote speaking and music together to elevate your business, organization or event: specializing in stress management, developing and maintaining productive and positive workplace culture, mental and emotional health and well-being, and the JEDI mindset [Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion].Perfect for event planners and coordinators who are looking for something impactful for their next retreat, conference, or training day.

Emma G Music