[Announcer] Funding for this program was provided by the City of Austin Elevate Grant.

- So you said two bars?

- Yeah.

- Alright, I'm giving a two bar count and then when it starts playing, I'll just cut it off.

- Okay.

My name is Shedrach Rowry.

And I am the founder of The Levites, currently based in Austin, Texas.

Music has always played a pivotal role in my life.

I remember around seven, eight years old hearing a melody for the first time.

Not one audibly, but one that was internal.

And I remember like just being enamored by what I was hearing inside and wanted to somehow bring it out of me, and so I went and got my tape recorder and began just trying to uncover this song that I was hearing.

And the more and more I did it, like I felt more and more of the song becoming a reality.

And I remember thinking like my mom and my brother and sister and I had planned to go grocery shopping, but I was in the middle of this songwriting experience.

And so when the time came to leave, I asked my mom if I could stay and she said yes.

And I think that was the moment that I knew that there was something special about inspiration and about being in the moment and riding the momentum of song and songwriting.

And so that's what I did.

I think that was my first introduction to an original piece and it has kind of shaped my life from that point on.

One of the other things I remember is, I don't know if it was the university in Beaumont, Texas, which is where I grew up, Lamar University, but some kind of organization came to our elementary school and ran a series of tests on all the students there and found out I had perfect pitch.

And I didn't even know what perfect pitch was, but I had it.

And so they made a big deal out of it and sent us like a $1 bill in the mail.

And I remember being so excited, like I didn't care about perfect pitch, but I had $1 for the first time.

And so that experience also shaped like my view of music and just how the world perceived music.

They perceived it as special as well.

And so, like I said, it's always been a part of me.

I often say that I didn't choose music, but music chose me and it's been quite a journey.

[inspiring music] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ - Hi, I am Kraven Rowry, co-founder of The Levites.

I'm really the boss, but don't tell Shedrach I said that.

[mellow music] The role that has played in my life has been very, very significant from the very beginning.

I feel like everybody needs a life soundtrack.

From the very beginning of life, I remember going to church with my parents.

My family back in Florida, shout out to y'all, love y'all.

But I was enamored by the choir and all the instruments and like people's ability to like connect to lyrics and chord structure.

And I didn't know at the time what that all that meant theoretically, but, it sure felt good.

And so I just decided that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

And so at the age of four I had an aunt who pulled me in and taught me a little bit of piano theory and I had to do my first solo at four years old.

Now it's before you get like super scared of crowds and like what people say and what people think.

You're still cute.

So everybody wants, that's alright, baby, that's great.

But I did that first solo and got that first applause.

I was hooked.

[chuckles] So like that was in the good '80s.

Everything was vibrant.

It was like in your face.

It was very intentional I would say.

So just like choir music and gospel music was thriving.

So was like the music of the '80s.

I was really into like pop tunes, Whitney Houston.

But I really loved rock ballads 'cause it was, I feel like it was a surprise, you know, rock and roll artists don't get enough credit for being also very emotional.

The other side of things with the lovey-dovey side of things.

So, I just loved like rock ballads 'cause they were giving it their all, but they were singing meaningful lyrics.

So I really love like good lyrical content.

I feel like it's responsible.

I feel like because music is so powerful, like people can be kinda moving along to just about anything these days, which is kind of scary if you think about it because those lyrics have the ability to like really impact lives and moods and all sorts of things.

So, the music of the '80s and the '90s that I liked were songs that had encouraging messages.

When they kind of flipped over to some other stuff, they lost Kraven 'cause I loved myself a lot and if the lyrics did not like lend themselves to that type of love that I was accustomed to, ain't no way.

So I was like goodbye.

I missed a lot of songs that other people may know and gravitate towards just because it just didn't feel like love to me.

And I felt like music all my life had felt like a warm hug.

- It's gonna be a good day, y'all.

[Group] Yeah.

- Everybody ready to face the day?

Are you ready to face the day?

Come on.

Every day is a good day.

Come on, sing it out.

♪ La la la, la la la, la la la la ♪ ♪ La la la, la la la, la la la la ♪ ♪ La la la la la ♪ ♪ La la la, la la la, la la la la ♪ ♪ I create my space with the words that I say ♪ ♪ So I declare this will be a good day ♪ ♪ A drama-free day filled with accomplishment ♪ ♪ My 24 hours will be well spent ♪ ♪ I refuse to let my enemies get the best of me ♪ ♪ I'm living on cloud nine, holding on to my victory ♪ ♪ I create my space with the words that I say ♪ ♪ So declare and decree it ♪ ♪ And I declare today will be ♪ ♪ A good day, a good day, a good day ♪ ♪ A good day, a good day, a good day, a happy day ♪ ♪ A good day, a good day, a good day ♪ ♪ And I'm gonna have a good day now ♪ ♪ A good day, a good day, a good day ♪ ♪ A good day, a good day, a good day, a happy day ♪ ♪ A good day, a good day, a good day ♪ ♪ And I declare today will be ♪ - Levites... testify.

♪ A great day is in my future ♪ - Yeah, just gotta lace my shoes.

♪ Just gotta lace my shoes, then I'm on my way ♪ - But first.

♪ I'm gonna stop and give praise ♪ ♪ 'Cause You let me see another day ♪ ♪ You are why I'm here today ♪ ♪ You put this smile on my face ♪ ♪ Your gentle touch, it woke me up ♪ ♪ You must really love me ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Tell your problems bye-bye.

♪ Bye-bye ♪ - Come on.

♪ Problems ♪ - Bye-bye.

♪ Bye-bye ♪ - To the pain.

♪ Pain ♪ ♪ Bye-bye ♪ - Heartache.

♪ Heartache ♪ - Come on.

Tell 'em.

♪ Bye-bye ♪ - To the rain in your life.

♪ Rain ♪ Hey.

♪ A good day, a good day, a good day ♪ ♪ A good day, a good day, a good day, a happy day ♪ ♪ A good day, a good day, a good day ♪ ♪ And I'm gonna have a good day now ♪ ♪ A good day, a good day, a good day ♪ ♪ A good day, a good day, a good day, a happy day ♪ ♪ A good day, a good day, a good day ♪ ♪ And I declare today will be ♪ - A good day.

♪ A good day, a good day, a good day ♪ ♪ A good day, a good day, a good day, a happy day ♪ ♪ A good day, a good day, a good day ♪ ♪ And I'm gonna have a good day now ♪ ♪ A good day, a good day, a good day ♪ ♪ A good day, a good day, a good day, a happy day ♪ ♪ A good day, a good day, a good day ♪ ♪ And I declare today will be ♪ - You gotta speak it into your own life that this will be.

♪ A good day ♪ - Yeah.

A good day.

♪ A good day ♪ ♪ A good day ♪ - Declare it.

♪ And I declare today will be ♪ ♪ A good day, a good day, a good day ♪ ♪ A good day, a good day, a good day ♪ - So my name is Fadeelah, known as Queen Deelah.

And my relationship with music, wow, music is everything.

Music is my everything.

I've been a creative my whole entire life.

But I've been a professional artist for 20 plus years.

So, you know, my connection with music, it's in me.

You know not only me.

[chuckles] Woo, you know, honestly, I'm born and raised in Oakland, California, and I have so many loved ones unfortunately that I lost to the streets, to the prison system, and so I'm missing quite a few people just to be honest.

But somebody who stay with me always and forever is my brother.

[gentle music] Most knew him as Brendan.

But Chameleon Brendan Foster.

He's definitely my inspiration for continuing to press forward and just be out here as a positive light.

What makes me think about my brother is just his spirit.

You know, he has such a big and beautiful spirit and it's one of those energies that, you know, now that he's physically not here, it's missed.

Like we would joke.

Listen, when me and my brother got together, the laughter was through the roof.

I have so many things that I see that I'm like, man, if my brother was here, we would be doing this.

Just hearing his voice, he was a amazing vocalist.

And some of these songs that I hear now, I'd be like, "Yo, bro would've killed that," you know.

'Cause he covered quite a few different records.

So everything about him, I miss everything about my brother.

He was super awesome.

And like you said, it'd be little things.

I can take a walk and see some nature, think about him.

I can hear music and think about him.

And I have photos of him all through my house.

So we're often reminded of just who he was and his energy.

Things that I've done to process is making sure that his physical loss wasn't in vain.

And the way that I do that is continue to be the love that I wanted to see.

Something that he talked about a lot is pure connection and wanting to feel that more even outside of the music, right?

But the person and how a lot of people just don't show that authentic love.

And I think the way that I get to process his transition is to be that love and to let people know that even when you are going through loss or you're grieving, that it's important to get to a space where you can get your energy up and be intentional about what it is that you want to do and how you wanna vibrate.

Otherwise you can be overcome by grief.

♪ I got a shoulder you can cry on, ♪ ♪ A ear here to listen ♪ ♪ When life throws a curve ball ♪ ♪ And it feel we are different ♪ ♪ When the going gets tough, ♪ It's tough to get going ♪ ♪ The hugs and the love for my heart is overflowing ♪ ♪ Losing people to situations that is tragic ♪ ♪ It's something hard to fathom and I'm mad to imagine ♪ ♪ I'll bring them all back if equipped with the magic ♪ ♪ But God will restore what was torn and damaged ♪ ♪ Call my name and I'll be there ♪ ♪ Breathing and speaking life ♪ ♪ I really do care ♪ ♪ Crystal, you're my inspiration ♪ ♪ To spit this motivation ♪ ♪ RIP little Vic, this is your dedication ♪ ♪ Jauan, Shake F, Torian, every 11-5 soldier ♪ ♪ I do this for y'all ♪ ♪ We rise after we fall, we fly after we crawl ♪ ♪ Despite all of the lies ♪ ♪ Please know who you are ♪ And that's the Power of Love.

- Hi, I'm Stephanie Johnson, and I am a licensed professional counselor in the state of Texas.

I practice at New Patterns Counseling in Round Rock.

For people who are struggling to find acceptance when it comes to loss, whatever that loss might be, because of course there's our traditional loss where we're dealing with death, facing mortality.

But then there's other type of losses that are a bit more ambiguous and doesn't really follow the more traditional path when it comes to grief.

But if we're thinking even traditional and non-traditional terms, a approach that I like to lean into is acceptance and commitment.

Acceptance and commitment therapy, or ACT, is a theoretical approach that encourages those struggling with grief to, instead of resisting the discomfort and the pain that comes with it, instead, we lean into it and we find acceptance in what that pain is.

And admittedly, it takes time, especially if you're still trying to figure out what that loss means to you 'cause there may be a time where there's a delayed response.

Maybe you feel like I should be in more pain, I should be more hurt, but I don't feel that right now.

And so whether the distress, the pain hits now or later, whenever it comes, the hope is that instead of resisting it, we lean into it and understand that this is gonna be a part of our lived experience going forward.

Healing from a loss, especially when there's confusion around the type of pain you should be experiencing, someone that you love, of course there's gonna be great distress, but maybe it's someone that you had a difficult relationship with and there's pain, but there's still a type of, something that feels unresolved and you know, maybe some anger, some frustration around it.

But regardless of what the emotion is gonna be, acceptance and commitment is about embracing that emotion or emotions.

So, you know, the saying is what we resist persist.

So we're gonna walk hand-in-hand with that distress.

And I would even say walk hand-in-hand knowing that you have others there to help shoulder that distress with you.

That can be a therapist, that could be your spiritual support, your communal support.

It is not anything that you can do alone.

Grief needs to happen with others there.

[upbeat music] - We've come to bring you good news.

- Yes, sir.

- No matter what state you're in right now, psychologically, mentally, emotionally, we've come to tell you that you still have life to live.

Can you believe?

Listen.

♪ After the rain ♪ ♪ The sun will shine again ♪ - It's gonna shine again.

♪ Hold on, my brother, sister ♪ ♪ Everyone, hold on ♪ - And know this.

♪ And know that hope is like a light when it gets dark ♪ ♪ It gets so dark ♪ ♪ Don't give up now ♪ ♪ Don't you give up ♪ ♪ There are brighter days ahead ♪ - You still got brighter days ahead of you ♪ Hold on, my brother, sister ♪ ♪ Everyone, hold on ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ And know that hope is like a light when it gets dark ♪ ♪ Ah, ah ♪ ♪ It gets so dark sometimes ♪ - It gets so dark sometimes, y'all.

♪ It gets dark ♪ - Yeah.

♪ It gets dark sometimes ♪ - We know that it does.

♪ It gets dark sometimes ♪ - But listen, there's hope.

♪ But darkness ♪ - Is only temporary.

♪ It only lasts for a season ♪ ♪ Just a season ♪ ♪ And my faith, faith releases me to believe ♪ ♪ Oh, I believe ♪ - There's a reason.

♪ There's a reason ♪ - There's still a reason.

♪ Still a reason ♪ - To hope.

♪ To hope ♪ ♪ Hope is like a light when it gets dark ♪ - It may be dark in your life right now, but listen, there's hope.

♪ Hope, hope ♪ ♪ Hope is like a light when it gets dark ♪ ♪ It gets so dark sometimes ♪ ♪ But hope is like a light ♪ - Come on, Josh.

♪ ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ ♪ - Yes, sir.

♪ ♪ Yes, sir.

- Yes, sir.

♪ ♪ Come on, Rob.

♪ ♪ Yes, sir.

♪ ♪ Encourage the people.

♪ ♪ Come on, Rob and say, hope.

♪ Hope ♪ ♪ Hope is like a light when it gets dark ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Ah, ah, hope ♪ ♪ Hope will be your light when it gets dark ♪ ♪ It gets so dark sometimes ♪ ♪ But hope is like a light ♪ ♪ I see the light ♪ ♪ Beautiful light ♪ ♪ I see the light ♪ ♪ Beautiful light ♪ ♪ Keep on running now ♪ ♪ I see the light ♪ ♪ Beautiful light ♪ ♪ I see the light ♪ ♪ Beautiful light ♪ ♪ Keep on walking now ♪ ♪ I see the light ♪ ♪ Beautiful light ♪ ♪ I see the light ♪ ♪ Beautiful light ♪ ♪ Keep on praying now ♪ ♪ I see the light ♪ ♪ Beautiful light ♪ ♪ I see the light ♪ ♪ Beautiful light ♪ ♪ Keep on hoping ♪ - So a daily practice could include, again, that community that we talked about.

Making sure that you carve out time to connect with other people.

I'm a believer in purposeful solitude.

So you know, I encourage that as well.

But making sure that there's an established routine where you're checking in with someone or you know that someone's gonna be checking in with you.

I also would want to see that person reminding themselves why they're here.

Maybe that loved one is not here, but you are still here and you still have purpose and you still have reason.

And so reminding ourselves of that, we ground ourselves in what's still important to us.

So what are things that are gonna remind us day in and day out when we do feel that deep, deep despair.

And so we go back to that.

We go back to our values, we go back to our purpose.

Keeping a journal.

I know, you know, gratitude journals are great.

Maybe you need some prompting though.

Some people do well with just lines on a page.

But if you need something very specific, again, that's where working with a counselor, working with a group, someone can, you know, give some suggestions of some words or some phrases that will continue to help give space for that grief that is, again, so desperately trying to exist along with you.

And so doing those things.

And then of course, taking care of your basic needs.

You know, we gotta eat.

We gotta go out and enjoy ourselves because life is still worth living, even if that loved one is not there to live it with us.

[inspiring music] ♪ Season ♪ ♪ Season ♪ - Don't let it drop.

- I would say like this time period for me has been marked with a lot of different emotions.

I lost my stepfather in 2017 and I remember like going through fog.

It just felt like I was numb.

And maybe about two weeks after that, one of my daughters said, "We haven't heard you sing around the house."

And I was like, "Really?"

I was kind of taken aback by it because that's kind of something that I instinctively do or did, but I didn't realize that I had like silenced my voice while I was grieving.

And so it was just kind of stunning to me that they would notice that even around the house, I have a soundtrack that was basically on mute while I was grieving that loss.

You fast forward to like 2023 and my biological father passed away.

And this time because the nature of the relationship was also different, that soundtrack was full of like all of his favorites.

Of course he loved all genres.

It didn't, you know, it kinda landed in hot water in the church back in the day.

But he liked everything.

Earth, Wind, and Fire... you name it.

Everybody that played instruments, he loved it because he was an instrumentalist himself.

But I just remember that time period was filled with like all of his favorites.

The Hawkins family, The Winans, Commissioned.

Like anything that had like a driving percussion section that I knew he would've loved, I just kind of like poured back into myself, you know, during that time.

Just songs that I knew would help me feel closer to him in that loss.

That was a huge loss for me because I mean, that was my dad, that was my hero.

The person who affirmed me from the very, very beginning.

[uplifting music] - One of the more difficult things in life is to be in a crowded room and still feel alone.

We've just come to encourage you.

Yeah, The Levites are here to help you make it through this journey.

You're never forsaken.

♪ Never forsaken ♪ ♪ Never forsaken ♪ ♪ Those promises I made to you ♪ ♪ Believe that I am able to supply ♪ ♪ Dry your eyes ♪ ♪ And remember these words I say and know ♪ ♪ You'll never be forsaken ♪ - You're not alone.

I don't care what it looks like right now.

We were made for each other.

And so you can make it through this journey.

Come on.

Say it again.

You're never forsaken.

♪ Never forsaken ♪ ♪ Never forsaken ♪ ♪ Those promises I made to you ♪ ♪ Believe that I am able to supply ♪ - Dry your eyes.

♪ Dry your eyes ♪ ♪ And ♪ - Remember this.

♪ Remember these words I say and know ♪ ♪ You'll never be forsaken ♪ ♪ Just believe me ♪ ♪ You are not alone ♪ ♪ No, never ♪ - You'll never be.

♪ You'll never be ♪ - Forsaken.

It means to be abandoned, to be deserted, to be left alone.

The Levites are here to tell you that although that feels like the case, that's not the reality of the situation.

That there is someone who's waiting for you to help you, to assist you, to encourage you.

We're here together and I got news for you that you're never-- ♪ Never alone ♪ - You're never alone.

♪ I'm here when your friends are all gone ♪ - Come on, tell 'em I'm here.

♪ I am here forever ♪ - And I'll never leave you.

♪ I'll never leave ♪ - So sometimes we have to cry like we're ♪ Oh ♪ like we're desperate for help.

♪ Oh ♪ [Shedrach] Oh.

♪ Oh ♪ [Shedrach] Come on.

♪ Never ♪ ♪ Never ♪ ♪ Alone ♪ ♪ Alone ♪ ♪ I'm here when your friends are all gone ♪ ♪ I am here forever ♪ ♪ Never leave ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ I'll hold your hand ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ I'll help you stand ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ I'll never you ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ I will never forsake you ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ I'll be there for you ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Sing, oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh ♪ ♪ Remember these words I say and know ♪ ♪ You'll never be forsaken ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Never, never, never ♪ ♪ No, oh ♪ - Never forsaken.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Never forsaken ♪ ♪ Don't give up ♪ ♪ Don't give up ♪ ♪ Don't give in ♪ ♪ Don't give in ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Don't give up ♪ ♪ Don't give up ♪ ♪ Don't give in ♪ ♪ Don't give in ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Don't give up ♪ ♪ Don't give up ♪ ♪ Don't give in ♪ ♪ Don't give in ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Say, I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ Say, hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ Said, I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ Said, I know, said, I know ♪ ♪ Said, I know, said, I know ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ Said, I know ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ I know you will win ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ You're a winner ♪ ♪ You about to win ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend, yeah ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ I know it gets rough but hang in there ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ I know it gets tough but hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ You're never alone ♪ ♪ You're never alone ♪ ♪ Hang in there ♪ ♪ Hang in there my friend ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ [claps] ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Remember these words I say and know ♪ ♪ You'll never be forsaken ♪ ♪ No, no, no, no ♪ ♪ No, no, no, no ♪ ♪ No, no, no, no, no ♪ ♪ No, no, no, no, no ♪ - Hang in there.

Hang in there.

- Hang in there my friend.

- Hang in there.

Hang in there.

- Hang in there.

- You gonna win.

Woo.

- You gonna win.

- You gonna win.

You gonna win.

- We're winners.

- I'm Kevin Overton-Hadnot, a therapist and owner of Counseling for Us.

On the power of human connection, one of the greatest gifts we can offer or receive, especially in difficult times, it's genuine human connection.

It's what steadies us when the world as we know it feels uncertain and it's what reminds us that we don't have to walk through anything alone.

Connection is, it isn't just about conversation, for me, it's really about presence.

It's about the quiet moment when maybe someone looks at you in the eyes and sees you.

It's when someone listens not to respond, but really to understand.

Those are in my mind, sacred moments.

And really the kind that build bridges.

Bridges between maybe our stories and then even soften the edges that we may feel within loneliness.

In therapy, I often remind people that healing happens in relationship.

So when we show up as we are, when we are bringing our messiness, our tiredness, our grieving, maybe even hopefulness, we are able to create space that then creates authenticity.

And that authenticity invites real connection.

We're never meant, we were never meant to heal in isolation.

And the holidays also can sometimes make us feel disconnected, especially if it doesn't look like the way we had planned or hoped for.

But connection doesn't have to come from large gatherings.

It doesn't have to even be perfect moments.

It really can happen in small ordinary ways.

Maybe it's a song, maybe it's a phone call, a smile from a nice stranger or even like a quiet walk with someone that you trust.

If you feel alone, my invitation is to reach out or if you know someone who seems alone, maybe reach to them or reach toward them.

I really do believe that human connection, even in the smallest doses, has a way of restoring hope.

And also, I invite you to think of this, that connection also starts within as well.

So when you take a deep breath, when maybe you speak kindly to yourself, maybe even give yourself permission to rest.

That's also a form of reconnection within your own humanity.

I invite you in this season to make room for really what matters.

And not perfection, but maybe presence.

Because at the heart of it all, connection is really the thread that holds you and me and all of us together.

I think it's the healing.

It's when healing begins and really where love is truly able to find its voice.

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ Mm, mm, mm, mm ♪ ♪ Mm, mm, mm♪ ♪ Mm, mm, mm, mm ♪ ♪ Soon now He'll be done ♪ ♪ With the trouble of this world ♪ ♪ The trouble of this world ♪ ♪ Trouble of this world ♪ ♪ Soon I will be done ♪ ♪ With the trouble of this world ♪ ♪ I'm going home ♪ ♪ To live with God ♪ ♪ I want to see my Jesus ♪ ♪ Lord, I want to see my, ♪ ♪ See my, see my Jesus ♪ ♪ Lord, I want to see my Jesus ♪ ♪ I'm going home ♪ ♪ To live with God ♪ ♪ And when I get there ♪ ♪ I want to see my mother ♪ ♪ Lord, I want to see my, ♪ ♪ See my, see my mother ♪ ♪ Lord, I want to see my mother ♪ ♪ I'm going home ♪ ♪ To live with God ♪ ♪ Soon I will be done ♪ ♪ With the trouble of this world ♪ ♪ The trouble of this world ♪ ♪ You know, the trouble of, trouble of this world ♪ ♪ Soon I will be done ♪ ♪ With the trouble of this world ♪ ♪ I'm going home ♪ ♪ To live ♪ ♪ With God ♪ [vocalizing] - My name is Aaron Michael, and I'm a singer.

I sing in many different genres, gospel, R&B, jazz.

And recently introduced to classical music in college.

If I can describe a loved one that I'm missing today, I would say my grandmother, Jerilene Williams.

She was my dad's mother and she was very special to our family.

She was the cook.

She knew how to throw down in the kitchen.

And she also was the one that introduced our family to music.

And so she's the one I'm missing today.

Every time she laughed, everybody laughed because she just had this contagious laugh that when she was on a roll, everybody in the house was cackling with her.

And so I would say her laugh was the one thing that makes me miss her.

The way that I've coped with my grandmother's loss is cooking.

So she was very known for her mac and cheese.

And that was one of the dishes that I picked up.

And I now cook that for Thanksgiving.

And every time I cook it, I remember her, I remember how she instructed me when she taught me.

I remember her saying, "Don't be shy with it.

You know, keep on going.

Yep, yep.

There you go.

There you go."

And so I use, it's crazy 'cause I do that when I cook with other people, I be like, "Don't be shy with that.

Yeah, yeah.

Put a little bit more salt.

Yeah, yeah.

A little bit more Italian season.

There you go.

There you go.

That's how it go."

And so I just remember those moments of her instructing me.

And I try to remember that and love the food the way she loved it, which made us love it.

She didn't cook it just, okay, I'm just cooking some food, da da da, here you go.

But like, she loved the process of cooking and in turn we felt that when we ate it.

And so that's the way that I like to keep her memory alive is through cooking and continuing to develop musically, I'm honoring a legacy that she poured into to my parents.

♪ Tell me, what do you do ♪ ♪ When you've done all you can ♪ ♪ It seems like you can't make it through ♪ ♪ Well, you just stand ♪ ♪ When there's nothing left to do ♪ ♪ You just stand ♪ ♪ And watch the Lord bring you through ♪ ♪ After you've done all you can, ♪ ♪ You just stand.

♪ - So why do you think this project was important?

- I think, you know, from our genre, like we know that the music is uplifting, but we've always felt like we needed to do more as artists to support people's mental health.

So I think that's the significance of doing music and therapy, really trying to get into help people who may not have access to, you know, counselors and funds to go to counselors and all that.

So I think it's important.

When you initially like, you know, came up with this concept, what were you kind of feeling or dealing with at the time?

- Yeah, I think I was just aware of the anxiety and grief around the holidays and just how people have a hard time coping with the loss of loved ones, and so I wanted to do something that kind of like not ignored the grief, but like, you know, speak to it, but also like, don't rush people past it.

[Kraven] Absolutely.

- Help 'em to sit in it and sit in it with him, you know?

And so I think there's a fine balance between, again, like acknowledging it versus enabling versus pushing people too fast.

- Right, right.

- I'm just trying to find that sweet spot and just, you know, I want to contact some friends of mine that I knew who had recently suffered loss.

[Kraven] Yeah.

- And so many of them, you know, are on this project and were able to tell their story.

[Kraven] Yeah.

- You know, sometimes- - I'm excited about it.

[Shedrach] Yeah.

- Yeah.

[chuckles] - Sometime it got emotional, sometime there was laughter.

So I think grief hits in different, you know, ways.

- Hello, I'm Jonathan Davis.

Music in my life is really important.

From a young age sitting on side of my aunt in church listening to gospel music, watching her play the piano and to now music is just so inspirational.

God is so good.

He instilled music in me.

And I'm so glad to be a part of something that's even bigger and to encourage folks through my music now.

- Come on, put your hands together.

[upbeat music] [Shedrach] Let's go, y'all.

♪ ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ I will bless the ♪ ♪ Lord at all times ♪ ♪ And His praise shall forever ♪ ♪ Be in my mouth always ♪ ♪ Hey, hey ♪ ♪ Because He keeps on making me glad ♪ - He keeps on.

♪ Because He keeps on making me glad ♪ ♪ Because He keeps on making me glad ♪ ♪ I will bless the ♪ ♪ Lord at all times ♪ ♪ And His praise ♪ ♪ Shall forever be in my mouth ♪ ♪ Always ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Because He keeps on making me glad ♪ ♪ Because He keeps on making me glad ♪ ♪ Because He keeps on making ♪ ♪ Because He keeps on making me glad ♪ - Come on, say, His love... ♪ His love keeps lifting me ♪ ♪ It feels like a fantasy ♪ ♪ Sometimes I can't believe ♪ ♪ That He keeps blessing me ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ His praise shall continually be in my mouth ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ Because He keeps on making me glad ♪ - I said He keeps on making me glad.

♪ Because He keeps on making me glad ♪ - When I get down, He lifts me up.

♪ Said He keeps on making me glad ♪ ♪ Psalm 34:1 ♪ ♪ Praises shall continually be in my mouth ♪ ♪ I will bless the Lord ♪ ♪ At all times ♪ ♪ Because He keeps on making me glad ♪ ♪ Because He keeps on making me glad ♪ ♪ And He keeps on making me glad ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ And He keeps on making me glad ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Praises shall continually be in my mouth ♪ ♪ I'll give You praise ♪ ♪ He lifts me up ♪ ♪ When I get stressed ♪ ♪ And then He fills my cup ♪ ♪ So in every trial, ♪ ♪ And in every test ♪ ♪ Your Name alone my soul will rest ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ And I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ Said, I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ Ah, I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ Ooh, I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ Ooh, I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ Ooh, I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ Sing, I'm glad, glad ♪ ♪ Glad, glad ♪ ♪ Glad, glad ♪ ♪ Glad, glad ♪ ♪ Glad, glad ♪ ♪ Glad, glad ♪ ♪ Glad, glad ♪ ♪ Glad, glad ♪ ♪ Glad ♪ ♪ Glad ♪ ♪ Glad ♪ ♪ Glad ♪ ♪ Glad ♪ ♪ Glad ♪ ♪ Glad ♪ ♪ Glad ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ Woo ♪ ♪ Said, I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ His praise is forever in my mouth ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ Praises shall continually be in my mouth ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ So very glad ♪ ♪ So very glad ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ So very glad ♪ ♪ So very glad ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ I'm glad about it ♪ ♪ Praises shall continually be in my mouth ♪ - Praises shall... ready.

♪ Praise shall continually be in my mouth ♪ ♪ Praises shall continually be in my mouth ♪ ♪ Praises shall continually be in my mouth ♪ - Praises shall... ♪ Praises shall continually be in my mouth ♪ - Be in my mouth.

♪ Be in my mouth ♪ ♪ Be in my mouth ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ Be in my mouth ♪ ♪ Be in my mouth ♪ ♪ Be in my mouth ♪ ♪ Be in my mouth ♪ ♪ Be in my mouth, yeah ♪ ♪ Praises shall continually be in my mouth ♪ ♪ Be in my mouth ♪ ♪ Be in my mouth ♪ ♪ Be in my mouth ♪ ♪ Be in my mouth ♪ ♪ Be in my mouth ♪ ♪ Be in my mouth ♪ ♪ Praises shall continually be in my mouth ♪ - Yeah.

[band claps] [Announcer] Funding for this program was provided by the City of Austin Elevate Grant.