- 2023-05-25
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MUSIC
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BENEE Releases New Song “BAGELS”
New Zealand singer-songwriter BENEE collaborated with New Zealand mental health charity Youthline and Auckland University of Technology (AUT) to release a new song “BAGELS” on May 24, 2023.
Musical elements incorporated into the song are identified specifically to "relax the nervous system, modify brain activity and ease feelings of anxiousness.
Neurological testing on teenagers and young adults found listening to the song lowered levels of “state anxiety,” which is the type of short-term anxiety experienced in stressful situations.
The track was also found to calm brain activity in the frontal and parietal lobes, the areas often associated with regulating emotions and the fight or flight stress response.
It was written by Stella Rose Bennett, and Josh Fountain, who also produced the track.
BENEE said of the song, “I've always seen music as a kind of therapy, but it was fascinating to learn why certain sounds move your mood. 'BAGELS' was a totally different creative process for us: every aspect, from the beat, the natural soundscape and harmonies, to the subtle message in my lyrics, 'you are not alone,' is designed to take away feelings of anxiousness.”- She continued, “I've huge respect for Youthline's work so it's been awesome to partner on this track, to show young people that it's ok to talk about mental health, and to provide them with another tool to try when stressed. We all need to find what helps us, and one way I find calm is swimming at the beach and having a bagel – I've made a nod to this in the song, and obviously its title 'Bagels.'”
Producer Josh Fountain said, “It was definitely a bit of a different way of working. It kind of had to be a little bit more abstract, but still feel like a Benee song. That was the whole goal, I think, to try and make something that still lived in the Benee world.”
All proceeds from the streaming of the song will go to Youthline. -
Associate Professor Shepherd said, “Our testing of 'Bagels' shows its effectiveness for managing anxious thoughts and shifting young peoples' bodies and brains into a significantly calmer state, shown through their lower heart rate, patterns of brain activity, and reduced perspiration. I've studied the psychological effects of music for 15 years and jumped at the chance to be part of this ground-breaking project. Powered by more than 10 billion data points mapping a detailed representation of brain activity, our research into 'Bagels' is an unprecedented study of how music can regulate anxiety, and I'm excited to see it help our youth.”
Youthline's Clinical and Services Manager Joanna Madsen said, “There's been a rapid rise in mental distress post Covid, and anxiety is one of the top concerns raised with our therapists and helpline counselors. Helping young people manage their mental wellbeing and anxiousness can prevent an increase in distress, but we know around half of young people don't feel confident asking for support with their mental health. There's a clear need for clinically sound, creative, and accessible resources young people can add to their wellness kit for when they're feeling anxious. It's our hope this track will be a practical tool teenagers and young adults can use in stressful situations – around exams, a tough conversation, or on a crowded bus. It's been so exciting to have someone as talented and relevant as BENEE onboard. She's a vocal mental health advocate and her determination to use her voice to support young people shines through this track.” - source : Apple Music
