Photo Credit: Bob Bond
A recent study from Health Psychology Review reveals that music can be effective in reducing stress.
There is an increasing use of music interventions for stress reduction in both medical and mental health care practice.
“Music interventions” include listening to music, playing an instrument, singing, or music therapy.
Similarly, according to another study, “regular listening to classical music reduced anxiety levels and increased subjective well-being levels. Therapeutic music activities were effective in reducing anxiety levels.”
One award-winning singer and songwriter exemplifies this style of music intervention in his work.
Brian De Lorenzo is a Boston-based award-winning singer, recording artist, actor, and songwriter popular on the cabaret scene.
With his forthcoming single and debut solo writing credit, “Things Will Get Better,” to be released on May 19, he wants people to see that music and positive thinking truly can make things better.
Says De Lorenzo, “During the pandemic, I realized that I had long-suppressed a desire to write songs, and I enrolled in a year-long online songwriting program based in London. The program was the impetus for my forthcoming single.’”
Says De Lorenzo: “I was inspired to write a song to lift up spirits from all the sadness and isolation that people were experiencing.” Sometime in 2021, a phrase came to him: “Things will get better.”
With the guidance of his mentors at The Songwriting Academy, he crafted the phrase into a song.
In 2022, having completed the song, he debuted it in a cabaret show in November.
The First Verse and Chorus of “Things Will Get Better”
When the rain beats on your window and the sky’s a constant grey,
Your life’s so out of focus on these never-ending days.
Your heart is really hurting, and you can’t get past the pain.
Don’t forget it’s not forever, you’ll find sun after the rain.
Things will get better. Things will get better.
You’ve gotta believe and you’ll see the light.
Things will get better, yes, they’ll get better.
Just believe and you’ll be alright.
About four weeks after the first performance, De Lorenzo read of the death of Stephen “tWitch” Boss by suicide.
De Lorenzo shares, “I felt a mixture of sadness and anger and disappointment. He was such a bright light. I loved watching him both as a dancer and a judge on So You Think You Can Dance. His smile and his personality were so endearing. And now, the world can no longer see his light shine.”
“We need to give ourselves permission to say, ‘No. This is too much for me.’ We also might want to look outward and see if our own words and actions are contributing to others’ feelings of overwhelm, and allow others to say to us, ‘This is too much for me.’”
To help deal with stress, De Lorenzo listens mainly to classical music, but also enjoys listening to adult contemporary music and the “Great American Songbook.”
When he was preparing to go into the hospital for surgery a few years back, music and laughter were the best medicine.
He says, “The treatment: watching outtakes from sitcoms and variety shows like The Carol Burnett Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Friends, and Seinfeld, and ‘Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!’ on National Public Radio are what made me smile and helped my healing journey.”
Brian hopes that people who are struggling with issues they can’t seem to solve on their own will reach out to find someone who can help. He also hopes to inspire others through his own songwriting and music.
Says De Lorenzo, “Remember – once you put your mind to it, and seek the help you need, things WILL get better.”
To hear Brian’s inspirational music, and to learn more about the release of “Things Will Get Better,” go to BrianDeLorenzo.com, Spotify, YouTube, and other popular music sites. You can also Pre-Save the track on your favorite digital platform at this link: https://ffm.to/qb2ymve and be among the first to hear the song on the day of release.
There’s a free National Mental Health Hotline that connects people with a mental health specialist: 1-866-903-3787.
Some states have their own mental health hotlines. In Massachusetts, you can phone or text for help at 1-877-870-4673 anytime, 24 hours a day. There’s help in over 200 languages.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources.