Album launches during Mental Health Awareness Week

Media release
From the Mental Health Foundation
5 October 2009
For immediate release

Innovative album launches during Mental Health Awareness Week

Accomplished Wellington-based singer/songwriter Jenn Shelton is launching her new album, The SOUL Project, on Wednesday 7 October - during Mental Health Awareness Week.

The album is a collaboration with other New Zealand singer- songwriters who each share their experience of mental illness through song.

The 23-three-year-old wanted to create the album as a way of decreasing stigma and discrimination around mental illness. The idea came to her at 4am one morning and was borne out of her own experience of depression.

“Mental illness is not talked about openly in our society, she says, “yet it impacts and affects so many– not only the person themselves but also their family and friends.”

Instead of shying away from the experience of depression and mental illness, Jenn decided making music would be a positive way of opening it up to others, so they could share their stories with wider society.

“Everyone has a journey, everyone has a story and most of the time people hide their upset feelings from others and keep their chin up. There needs to be more understanding,” says Jenn.

The final 12 songs and artists were chosen from a large selection of song submissions sent in by musicians from all over the country: 1. World Full of Colours - JJ Carberry - Dannevirke 2. Many Lines - Sarita Murdoch - Hamilton 3. Crazy - Mark Laurent – Whangamata 4. Worthy - Jenn Shelton - Wellington 5. Phenytoin Train - Di McMillan - Wellington 6. Kick Away The Glass - Teumu Tientjes - Hawkes Bay 7. Addiction - Sam Saffery & James Taite-Jamieson - Wellington 8. You're An Inspiration - Ngaire Anne Daniels - Hamilton 9. Rain - Brenda Liddiard - Whangamata 10. One More Day - Josh Palmer - Wellington 11. Out of the Blue - Lee Lawrence - Christchurch 12. My Journey - Jenn Shelton & Josh Palmer - Wellington

Jenn says, "Apart from the pure enjoyment of listening to these songs, the album allows people to feel and open up.

“It’s about sharing and understanding, from one human being to another. It’s a melodic reminder, that this is how life can be and it allows others to feel OK about who they are and what they might be feeling.

“The strength and courage that the artists have shown in sharing a part of themselves is moving – and it is inspiring to see such strong challenges to misconceptions about mental illness.

“Creative projects and outlets give both the artist and the observer another style of expression. They can challenge the stereotypes people have about mental illness by showing living examples of success and recovery and creating a sense of belonging.”

Jenn says she would like people to come away with a feeling of connection, inspiration and hope, of being given a glimpse into the completely different lives and experiences of each artist.

“All people are unique and none of us fit into the negative stereotypes that are out there,” she says. “I am immensely proud of the result and excited to be able to gift this project to the world.”

The album is dedicated to singer/songwriter Mahinarangi Tocker (1955 - 2008) who worked on the Like Minds, Like Mine programme.

It is available for $20 (plus postage and packaging) by emailing: sound.of.us.living@gmail.com. Proceeds will go towards the creation of another album, featuring youth from across Aotearoa.

The album was funded by a NZ Mental Health Media Grant and supported by Like Minds, Like Mine, the Mental Health Foundation, Wellink, Bonfire Audio, Sony Music and Mike Chunn (Split Enz, CEO Play it Strange).

ENDS

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