Prior to the release of her new album Hysteria, singer/songwriter Indigo Sparke has joined up with Sounds of Saving and 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for a new episode of their “Song That Found Me At The Right Time” series which was created to promote honest, intimate conversations about mental health and inspire action for those in need of support. SoS sat down with Sparke to discuss her relationship between music and mental health. She also chose to cover PJ Harvey’s “White Chalk” and identified it as an essential song in her life and on her playlist.

Sounds of Saving say:

“Indigo’s 2021 album Echo drew our attention to her quietly powerful and intimate songwriting. We were intrigued by her intense storytelling and the ease in which she whispered what others might scream. It was a similar feeling when we stepped into the studio with her and perfectly fitting for her to do a gorgeous take on PJ Harvey. We loved talking to Indigo about a range of intimate aspects of her past and her life. She is a wonderful and articulate person whose words should resonate with everyone who sees this video. We were honored to be working with Indigo before her incredible new album was released and excited to share her ‘Song That Found Me At the Right Time.’ Of special importance to this release is it is our first release in partnership with The 988 Suicide Crisis & Hotline since the national turnover to 988 and in the midst of National Suicide Prevention Awareness Week.

Indigo Sparke says:

“I think there’s a humbling process that happens when you’re in some of your darkest moments. And when you’re really at that rock bottom, you kind of see how small and insignificant we all are in the grand scheme of things. And then your sense of self or your sense of ego kind of dissolves. And there’s kind of a lightness that comes in that relief.”

Sounds of Saving is also excited to announce their sponsorship of Sparke’s record release party for Hysteria. The show is happening on release day, October 7, at Public Records in Brooklyn, NY. Tickets are free and the show starts at 7pm.

This summer the New York City-based non-profit launched the SoS Therapy Fund. Through the program, SoS will cover costs for fans of specific artists to see culturally competent mental health professionals across the country for up to 12 therapy sessions. It is designed for those who are interested in treatment and who may have encountered barriers to care. It is the realization of the Sounds of Saving mission of using the common love of music as a pathway to mental health conversation, resources and treatment.

Also this summer, SoS, in collaboration with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, partnered with Courtney Barnett’s “Here And There” touring festival. They joined the tour, engaging with the audience and artists alike at each stop.

Through “Song that Found Me At The Right Time,” which was created in 2019, SoS emphasize the impact of music of all genres on human connection, coping during difficult times and maintaining mental wellbeing. SoS have shared close to 20 videos for the including conversations with Jim Ward, Allison Russell, Sharon Van Etten and Bartees Strange and they have drawn attention from the likes of Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, AV Club, Uproxx, and others. SoS recently participated in a roundtable discussion with Thao and Xenio Rubinos for Flood Magazine where both artists discussed the unique challenges musicians face and how they work through them.

About Sounds of Saving:

Sounds of Saving is a 501(c)3 Music x Mental Health non-profit that creates unique video content, experiences and events to provide awareness, education, resources and direct paths to treatment—especially for youth and marginalized communities. Research shows that storytelling about surviving emotional crises can decrease suicidality rates and that music is a powerful tool for destigmatizing mental health conversations and inspiring treatment-seeking.

SoS was founded by Nick Greto and Charlie Gross. The organization successfully launched a campaign that placed free vinyl LPs throughout NYC that included mental health information. They have since released over 15 acclaimed “Songs that Found Me” videos and interviews with artists from multiple genres and in partnership with The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. In 2019 SoS hosted its inaugural “Feedback Session,” which involve musical performance and open moderated discussion between artists, audience and clinicians. They have since curated several of these – largely online during the pandemic – with various partners, including Republic Records and MusicCares.

All donations to SoS will support the nonprofit’s mission to bring storytelling, awareness, resources and pathways to care to music fans, especially youth and marginalized communities.

About the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (fka the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) provides free and confidential emotional support and crisis counseling to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States. The Lifeline is a national network of over 200 local crisis centers, uniting local resources with national standards and best practices. Funded by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and administered by Vibrant Emotional Health, the 988 Lifeline is a leader in suicide prevention and mental health crisis care. Since its inception in 2005, the 988 Lifeline has engaged in innovative public messaging, development of best practices in mental health, creative partnerships, and more to improve crisis services and advance suicide prevention for all. 988lifeline.org

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8, or chat via 988lifeline.org to connect with a trained counselor. The service is free, 24/7, confidential, and available across the United States.