Risha’s Sound

Spending your life not knowing who you are, trying to find out, overcoming obstacles, ups and downs, losing and gaining friends. This is what builds us up and prepares us for any curveball the universe throws at us. Being mentally strong builds our physical strength.  Listening to our inner voice and being our true selves is essential to our well-being. Music is that open door to our inner voice. It helps us express ourselves and show the world who we really are. Putting our feelings and thoughts in the form of lyrics makes us feel like we are never alone. 

Risha’s Sound contains songs and music videos for high school students: mirroring and grasping what they are going through, and how to deal with such problems, so they know that they are not alone.

The problem is disconnect--which leads to depression in high school students due to stress and normal insecurities. Almost 30% of students globally struggle with depression. Some of the reasons they suffer with these issues are due to expectations put on them by teachers and parents, and dealing with difficult or toxic relationships. As an example, when you set high expectations on students, they feel pressured and feel guilty when those expectations are not met. They feel as if their parents are always disappointed even after all the hard work. 

Teenagers come across many relationships throughout their high school life. Due to hormones, their emotions can get in the way and cost good friendships which can be really bad for their mental health; because they think they are alone. Students find it hard to fit in with everyone; pressure from social media, and other worries make everything seem worse. Anxiety is very common amongst students. ⅔ of students have reported overwhelming anxiety and it affects their academic performances. Many teenagers receive backlash on social media or get cyber bullied. This really plays with their self esteem and confidence.

Music helps you reach your inner voice. Listening to music helps us dig into our hearts and try and find ourselves. Music inspires us to be the real us. 

‘Risha’s sound’ consists of two albums filled with songs that students can relate to. Songs have power. Students should feel heard and know that others go through the same issues. The songs in the album should help them cope with their problems. Music can raise your mood, get you excited, or make you calm and relaxed. For example, when we hear our favourite song on spotify, we have this urge to get up and dance and sing it out loud, and it puts a huge smile on our faces. It helps you express your feelings without actually expressing them. Music can reduce anxiety and depression, which most students go through. 

I want these albums to be initiated in high school learning. Students could talk about it with their peers or write essays and do something innovative. They can use these songs to calm down the students while working, and use it as inspiration for their projects. The songs will be available for free on iTunes and on Spotify.

‘Risha’s sound’ serves high school students who are facing anxiety, stress, and social isolation. Students with difficult home situations, equitable resources, low income school systems. I understand their needs because I live a similar life. I am engaging these high school students with music. Research shows that music can improve teenager’s sense of belonging to the world. Music helps them explore ideas and express emotions without words. It gives out positive vibes which help them cope with their struggles. Maybe listening to the songs and relating to them will make them admit their problems and also help solve them.

‘Risha’s sound’ is to help students reconnect with the world. Students can talk about it with their peers and write about how these songs affect them. The songs will help them reach deep inside themselves and express their emotions. It will help them realize their true selves and listen to their inner voice. Teachers can assign essays to the students for them to write what they feel about the song and then in a Harkness Method setting they can all share their essays with everyone else in class. 

'Risha's sound' is still being recorded and worked on which is why it is in its earliest stage.

Due to this, the songs have not yet been initiated in classrooms. I hope to introduce 'Risha's sound' to my classroom first and see how my peers respond to the music then announce it in my region and globally.

The purpose of 'Risha's sound' is to let high school students feel heard and not alone. Many teenagers suffer with anxiety and depression and my music is a way to help them cope with those struggles. They should be able to relate to them.