Lyrical Life Lessons is a project by artist Caishnah Nevans celebrating the power music and lyrics can have on our mental health. From showing us that someone out there understands, to giving us positive messages on how to live life, lyrics are a special part of the magic music has.
The project launched in 2018 with funding from the Glasgow Connected Arts Network. This funding allowed Caishnah to work with the Glasgow Association for Mental Health in teaching music themed creative workshops to young carers in the city, culminating in a short exhibition and a launch gig at Stereo.
The project embraces the idea that ‘music is what feelings sound like’ and encourages you to share your own lyrical story on the site. These stories are paired with visual representations of the lyrics creating an online space full of inspiration, advice and support.
Musicians talk to the site about their own creative process, the lyrics they have written and those that have inspired them, as well as their own mental health. There are also interviews with other well known creatives.
Caishnah received further funding from Creative Scotland in 2020/2021 to once again work with GAMH and their young adult group in the creation of a book of creative exercises and mindfulness activities with a music-themed twist and these will be available in a workbook to buy in the near future.
Additional future plans for the project include further workshops with other charities and corporate clients, a range of prints and products of the site’s artwork and collaborations between designers and musicians on these.