SPILL: Your Musical Pick-Me-Ups

Music affects us in myriad ways – it can energize or soothe, provoke movement or memory, generate introspection or connection. It can also be effective in improving mood, enhancing creativity, and powering us through a towering to-do list or priming us to achieve new goals. That’s the premise behind The Mindful Lawyer program that the OBA is hosting on September 25, in which Connor Callahan, a certified music therapist, will weigh in on how music can benefit mental health.

Chairing the program is Antoine Collins, a lawyer and the singer/songwriter behind Dinner at Antoine’s, who has unique insight on the power of song. “For me, music has always been more than just sound, it’s been an anchor, a compass, a kind of lifeline,” Collins says. “Growing up as a queer kid in Gary, Indiana, I discovered early on that music could do something powerful: it could bridge the gap between who I was, who I hoped to be, and how I wanted the world to see me.

“Back then, as now, music gave me words when I didn’t have them, courage when I felt small, and joy when I needed light,” he notes, adding, “And even today, when the days get a little heavy and I find myself deep in the weeds, I still lean on music, not just as fuel, but as a kind of medicine.”

On that note, we decided to ask members about the song, artist or type of music they turn to in order to boost their productivity or lift their spirits on those days when they’re losing steam or reaching their limit.   

Aural Discoveries

• “Coldplay – the Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends album to boost spirits, everything else by them to unwind.” – Mina Karabit (Administrative Law Section Executive)
   
• “’ Hold On’ by Tom Waits!” – Mohsen Seddigh (OBA Board)
   
• “Right now, when I need to lock in and get things done, my go-to is ‘My Shot’ from the musical Hamilton. There’s something in its rhythm, its urgency, its unapologetic drive that reminds me to keep pushing, to seize the moment, to not let opportunity slip through my fingers. And when I need a lift whether it’s the last five minutes of a cardio workout or just a long day that needs a spark I tend to turn to Beyoncé’s ‘Love on Top’ or any song with that kind of infectious, up-tempo energy. It’s impossible not to feel your spirit rise when the beat insists on joy. Those songs remind me that even in the toughest moments, there’s always space for celebration and light.” – Antoine Collins (OBA Board)
   
• “These: are my three favourite pick-me-ups: ‘Dance Yourself Clean’ by LCD Soundsystem, ‘This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody)’ by Talking Heads or ‘Gypsy’ by Fleetwood Mac.” – Sari Feferman (OBA Health Law Section Executive)
   
• “These two songs reliably lift my mood when it needs some lifting: ‘Spirits’ by The Strumbellas and ‘Respect’ – specifically, the original version by Otis Redding.” – Mitchell Rose (OBA Labour and Employment Law Section Executive)
   
• “To get me moving, my go to music is some Taylor Swift or Coldplay. Listening to either of them brings back some great memories of live, energetic and engaging performances.” – Kathryn Manning (OBA President)
   
• “Hmmmmm songs. I am void of music in the present but do beat to my own drum.” – Lisa Laredo (Sole, Small Firm and General Practice Section)

The Flip Side

Someone who not only listens to, but creates music (“a way to take raw emotion and shape it into melody”), Antoine Collins finds different forms of healing and derives distinct appreciation from both. “As an entertainer, I draw inspiration from the jazz greats; Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone, Sammy Davis Jr. – all artists who knew how to blend vulnerability with elegance, who told stories that stayed with you long after the music stopped,” he  says. “They remind me that authenticity and artistry are inseparable, and that when we share our most personal truths, they can resonate universally.”