1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:01,280 Speaker 1: Music Saved Me. 2 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 2: You know, I think to be able to give back, 3 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:09,559 Speaker 2: you know, their their talent and their creativity to people 4 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:12,039 Speaker 2: that are going to benefit from it on a deeply 5 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 2: personal level is a gift, and I would like to 6 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:20,759 Speaker 2: think that they can all recognize that that what they 7 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 2: have is a gift to be able to help people 8 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 2: through difficult times. 9 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: I'm Lynn Hoffman, and welcome to this episode of the 10 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: Music Saved Me podcast, the podcast that delves deep into 11 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: the healing power of music. If you like this podcast, 12 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 1: thank you so much. Please share it with your friends, 13 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 1: and also please check out our companion podcast from Buzznight 14 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: Media Productions called Taking a Walk Music History on Foot, 15 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: hosted by buzz which is available wherever you get your podcasts. 16 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: Now today, I'm so excited I get to speak with 17 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: Simon Davies. He is the executive director of Team Cancer America, 18 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 1: which was founded by Roger Daltrey and Heat Townsend of 19 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 1: The Who Now. Simon and his team have a mission 20 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: which is increasing the survival and improving the lives of 21 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:12,399 Speaker 1: adolescents and young adults with cancer by transforming hospitals to 22 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: better serve their needs. It's a noble cause and We're 23 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 1: thrilled to have them here. Simon, welcome to music save meh. 24 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 2: It's a pleasure to be here. I'm really looking forward 25 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 2: to the conversation me too. 26 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: Let's start out by having you tell us about the 27 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: important work of Teen Cancer America and how you became involved. 28 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, well I'll go back a long way, so well, 29 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 2: we'll just start with seeing Cancer America to begin with. 30 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 2: But basically, as you know, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend 31 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 2: of the who are the founders of this organization, and 32 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 2: it's really built on a lot of work that happened 33 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 2: in the UK. I was the chief executive of an 34 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 2: organization called Teenage Cancer Trust in the UK and we 35 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 2: did a lot of work there. Roger and Pete love 36 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 2: what we'd achieved and they asked me to do something 37 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 2: to help them develop a charity here in America, which 38 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 2: I did with a not with an idea that i'd 39 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 2: end up here, but I have ands eleven years later 40 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 2: that I've now been the executive director of Ting Cancer 41 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 2: America and we've made a lot of progress here, so 42 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:29,640 Speaker 2: I'm excited about that. But the principle of why we 43 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:33,919 Speaker 2: do what we do is really very simple. The health 44 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 2: systems as they are established now and have been for 45 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 2: many many years, are siloed principally into pediatric cancer care 46 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 2: and adult can sircure and pediatric can sircure. The average 47 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 2: age of a hospital in the US in a pediatric 48 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 2: hospital is six and in the adult world, the adult hospitals, 49 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 2: the average ages sixty. And it doesn't take much imagination 50 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 2: to think about that from an adolescence point of view 51 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:11,359 Speaker 2: or a young adults point of view. We work with 52 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 2: adolescents and young adults, and both of those communities feel 53 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 2: very left out of the environments and the places that 54 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 2: they find themselves in because it's isolating to be amongst 55 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 2: very young children and everything is designed around Disney and 56 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 2: all of the things that you expect to see at 57 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 2: a children's hospital and that are six foot adolescent doesn't 58 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 2: really feel like they fit into. And likewise, in the 59 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 2: adult world, most everything is geared up towards much older 60 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 2: people and feel very isolated in that setting. And our goal, 61 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 2: our mission is to change really and create a new paradigm, 62 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 2: which is adolescent and young adult cancer, so that coming 63 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 2: together pediatric and adult care in order to create a 64 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 2: specialty that's just around adolescents and young adults, and that's 65 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 2: on the basis of their clinical needs in terms of 66 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 2: the treatments that they have, because sometimes those have been 67 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 2: designed for older or younger people and they're not right 68 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 2: for this age group, but also their psychological and social 69 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 2: welfare whilst they're being treated, and making sure that they 70 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 2: have opportunities to experience what they need in terms of 71 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 2: social support, in terms of the experience that they have, 72 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 2: the environment even that they're in that's created much more 73 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 2: for them, and create a specialism. So we're kind of 74 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 2: trying to, I suppose, bring about an awkward merger how 75 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 2: you might describe it, between two silos that have not 76 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 2: communicated well before and bringing them together to develop a 77 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 2: specialist service for these young people and ultimately improve their 78 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 2: experience and their outcomes and their survival. 79 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: It's very special what you do, and when you do 80 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 1: think about it, when you put it that way, you 81 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 1: don't really ever see or hear anything that's geared towards 82 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:14,160 Speaker 1: this critical time in people's lives when they're growing I 83 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 1: mean young like you said, and old, but right there 84 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:22,040 Speaker 1: in that sweet spot. It's so so critical. Besides all 85 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: the other things that they're dealing with in their life, 86 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 1: then they've gone to keep this on top, which is 87 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 1: what really made me so excited to meet you. When 88 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 1: I did our pats crossed at an event that you 89 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: were throwing and it made me see I believe Rob 90 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:39,720 Speaker 1: Zombie was there. So there was this music element, and 91 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 1: also you had them in the creative process, which I 92 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 1: think music well. On this podcast, we talk about how 93 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 1: music can be a healing device, and so that's why 94 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:56,599 Speaker 1: I was so interested in having you come on to 95 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:59,279 Speaker 1: talk about this, because you do bring a lot of 96 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:03,720 Speaker 1: that creative together to help them manage. Also, I've had 97 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:08,159 Speaker 1: a lot of artists come on this show, young and writers, 98 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 1: Beth Nielsen, Chapman, Danielia Cotton. I can go on a 99 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 1: list who have faced this in their lives and persevered 100 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 1: because of the music. Yeah, so I had to talk 101 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 1: to you. 102 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 3: It was my mission. 103 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 1: Can you share a personal experience where maybe music has 104 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:30,280 Speaker 1: helped you through a difficult time? 105 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 3: Boy? 106 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:37,919 Speaker 2: Many you know, I think music is such a is 107 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 2: such a a genre which I think connects everybody in 108 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 2: so many different ways, and I can think, I mean, 109 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:56,159 Speaker 2: I guess you know, the most the most emotional of 110 00:06:56,240 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 2: the music that has affected me is to you know, 111 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 2: the love of my life. And I still now listen 112 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 2: to music that means something to our relationship after almost 113 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 2: fifty years of being together. You know, and there are 114 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 2: you know, there there, there are, there's music that evokes 115 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 2: those moments from many years ago when we first met, 116 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 2: and it's you know, it's a it's a motivational thing 117 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 2: in our in our partnership, and we share it. 118 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 1: In your opinion, what makes music so powerful? What is 119 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 1: it about music that helps so much with with our emotions, 120 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 1: with our healing. 121 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 2: I mean, and this isn't just a viewpoint, you know, 122 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 2: this is proven. You know that music does have an 123 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 2: intrinsic value in the healing process. And for example, we 124 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 2: are now embarking on a global initiative to have young 125 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 2: people share the music that has helped them get through 126 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 2: their cancer experience. And so we're creating a global playlist 127 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 2: from all around the world that people are contributing to 128 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 2: of the music that has helped them during their cancer journey, 129 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 2: so that we can have this as a library and 130 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 2: accessible to all the people that are going through And 131 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 2: I think it's a you know, it's a visceral thing. 132 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 2: You know music inspires people anyway, but I think it's 133 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 2: a place that people turn to at times of crisis 134 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:37,439 Speaker 2: where they can really connect with something that is meaningful 135 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 2: to them and gives them, you know, confidence and can 136 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 2: help them through those moments. 137 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 1: I couldn't agree with you more. And mental health is 138 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 1: also a pretty significant topic, especially recent days. How do 139 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 1: you think that musicians can use their platform to address 140 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 1: mental health issues, which I would assume is a large 141 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 1: part of going through a diagnosis of cancer, much less 142 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 1: just teenage. 143 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, I mean there are many kind of stress points, 144 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 2: you know, and feelings of depression and hopelessness and isolation, 145 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 2: and so music can often be an inspiration or a 146 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 2: therapy or a relaxation during a stressful moment. And I 147 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 2: think musicians that are you know, have the especially for 148 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:42,839 Speaker 2: young people. You know, musicians that they know and that 149 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 2: they love anyway, are tremendously powerful in their lives. You know, 150 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 2: people will not just talk about this piece of music 151 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 2: that got me through. It'll be this artist that got 152 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 2: me through, because it's their songs and what they create, 153 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 2: and so that has meaning. And so from a musician's perspective, 154 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 2: you know, I think to be able to give back, 155 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:11,720 Speaker 2: you know, their their talent and their creativity to people 156 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 2: that are going to benefit from it on a deeply 157 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 2: personal level is a gift, and I would like to 158 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 2: think that they can all recognize that that what they 159 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 2: have is a gift to be able to help people 160 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 2: through difficult times. 161 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 1: Speaking of gifts, can you tell us where we can 162 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 1: hear or see some of these songs that you're collecting 163 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,199 Speaker 1: from around the world from teenagers. 164 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're going to be creating out a special part 165 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 2: of our website. We've only just started, but we will do. 166 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 2: You can go to to Team Cancer America dot org, 167 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 2: which is our website, so that again teen Cancer America 168 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:54,440 Speaker 2: dot org and you can find out about all of 169 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 2: our music initiatives there. But we're going to create this 170 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 2: global list and have that link so that people can 171 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:04,319 Speaker 2: just come to the site and add their own. 172 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 1: Their own music. That's great, Well, thank you and please 173 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 1: keep us posted on that. I definitely want to know. 174 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: Have you seen any changes in how society views mental 175 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 1: health in relation to the arts over the years. 176 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 2: I mean, I think that certainly mental health is hugely 177 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 2: on the agenda at the moment, which is great. People 178 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 2: are being much more open about it, and there's a 179 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 2: lot more talk about it. When I think about adolescents 180 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:37,440 Speaker 2: and young adults particularly, there's an awful lot that's related 181 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 2: to social media and some of the challenges that that 182 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:47,559 Speaker 2: brings in terms of its opportunity but also its challenges 183 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:51,559 Speaker 2: in some of its sort of social isolation that sometimes 184 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 2: has created. And so I think mental health is definitely 185 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 2: it's definitely on the agenda. It's being talked about more openly, 186 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 2: and people are talking personally about their experiences, whether there 187 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 2: artists or whether they are people who are going through 188 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 2: a mental health crisis. So I think it's it's also 189 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 2: it's a kind of a normalizing process. You know, we 190 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 2: all have struggles, and there's a sort of spectrum from 191 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:30,599 Speaker 2: you know that just the everyday anxieties through to the crisis. 192 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 2: And I think just that openness and how you know, 193 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 2: music is related to that, and it's being expressed in 194 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:44,079 Speaker 2: music and song, and it's being expressed by the people 195 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 2: who are the creators of it. I think this has 196 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 2: to be just a very positive message for the world. 197 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 1: Looking ahead, what are your goals for the next few 198 00:12:56,520 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 1: years with Team Cancer America. 199 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 2: Well, in terms of our core work, just with the hospitals. 200 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 2: You know, we're probably working with about sixty hospitals now 201 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 2: we'd like to be working with a couple of hundred. 202 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 2: So we want to make sure that every single young 203 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:18,440 Speaker 2: person in America has access to these specialist services and 204 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:23,200 Speaker 2: facilities and can feel comfort and help by that. But 205 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,080 Speaker 2: we also have been doing a lot of work on 206 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:32,080 Speaker 2: developing a music program, which is we call it Play 207 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 2: It Back, and it's a music education program for young people. 208 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 2: My colleague Kellery Gan and Kenny Matthis who's the music educator, 209 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 2: they had got together and created this thing and it's 210 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:50,960 Speaker 2: really taken off and it's down to their knowledge and 211 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:53,440 Speaker 2: expertise about how to work with these young people that 212 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:57,719 Speaker 2: it's as successful as it is. And it was started 213 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 2: actually at the request of two parents, two sets of parents, 214 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:11,680 Speaker 2: both of whom had lost their sons around the same 215 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 2: time to different cancers, but around the same age the 216 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:18,560 Speaker 2: same time, and they both said to us, we love 217 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 2: what you do, want to we want to support you. 218 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 2: But what really made a difference to both of our 219 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 2: sons was music and their ability. They were both they 220 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 2: were both singer songwriters, and they had used music and 221 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 2: poetry as a way of getting through the cancer experience, 222 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 2: even though they didn't survive, and they said, we would 223 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 2: like to raise some money for you, but we'd like 224 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 2: it to go into a music program. Now, these were 225 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 2: not rich people, and they were at the kind of 226 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 2: bake sale level of fundraising, and they between them they 227 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 2: managed to get together about twenty thousand dollars over about 228 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:07,240 Speaker 2: a year and they helped us create this play at 229 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 2: Back music program, which we have now extended. I mean, 230 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 2: it's now an extraordinary program. And the premise behind it 231 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 2: is it's not it's about it's accessible to anybody who's 232 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 2: going through cancer, regardless of their musical ability. But it's 233 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 2: all about helping them to become singer songwriters. It's about 234 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 2: their enabling them, at whatever level of ability they have, 235 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 2: to be able to express themselves through music and to. 236 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 3: Record that. 237 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 2: And we help them not only record it, but record 238 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 2: it to a very high standard so that they actually have. 239 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 3: Whether they whether that ever would get. 240 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 2: Used commercially or whatever, that might be their thing, but 241 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 2: at the very least, it's a legacy of a very 242 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 2: good quality thing. And I want to just share something 243 00:15:56,120 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 2: with you because today today from one of the parents, 244 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:07,320 Speaker 2: I got a. I got a card with one thousand 245 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 2: dollars from one of those parents who give us us 246 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 2: some money every year, and he said that today is 247 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 2: Danny's birthday, and Danny was his son, and he wanted 248 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 2: to give this gift to us for our player Back 249 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 2: music program because we've connected, we've reconnected with them and 250 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 2: we keep giving them updates on how it's going and everything, 251 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 2: and they're. 252 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:30,080 Speaker 3: So happy to have been part of it. 253 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 2: And it's a card and it is with a quote 254 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 2: on it from one of Danny's songs, which says the 255 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 2: sky is bright with tender hope, and that's one of 256 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 2: his one of his poems. And they just keep giving 257 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 2: to us. And there's a picture of Danny. 258 00:16:57,160 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 3: He was lost. 259 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:00,040 Speaker 1: Oh what a handsome young man. 260 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 3: Beautiful guy to learn about. And there's a Dannyilly dot com. 261 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 2: You can look at Dannyiley dot com and learn about 262 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:14,120 Speaker 2: him and see his music. But that inspired us. They 263 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:17,360 Speaker 2: inspired us to say, right, we're going to do this thing, 264 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 2: and it's become a really important part of what we do. Obviously, 265 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 2: we want to get all that change done in hospitals, 266 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 2: but we know that music is incredibly important to young 267 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 2: people going through this terrible disease. And what we are 268 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 2: enabling them to do is to write their own music, 269 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:45,040 Speaker 2: to write their songs, and we connect them around the country. 270 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:46,960 Speaker 2: So we have young people in different parts of the 271 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 2: country who are making music together because we had to 272 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:51,359 Speaker 2: do that. We used to have it just as an 273 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:54,359 Speaker 2: LA base, and then the pandemic came and so we 274 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 2: thought we were better go online and do this thing. 275 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:58,400 Speaker 2: And now we have young people all around the country 276 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:04,199 Speaker 2: working together, and we have some great musicians and artists 277 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 2: that have come along and helped us. And not just 278 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 2: not just the musicians and artists, but also technicians. We've 279 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 2: had engineers help us, We've had producers help us example, 280 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:22,399 Speaker 2: but we've had some great people. You know, there's a 281 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 2: lot of opportunity for people to get involved, you know, 282 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 2: especially people, you know, creative people who want to help 283 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 2: young people and provide some sort of mentorship or help 284 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:36,120 Speaker 2: them with learning a new instrument or whatever it takes. 285 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 1: Or even just to find an artist that gives them 286 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 1: solace just to listen to. Whether they're listening to it 287 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 1: or creating it, it all goes, I think hand in hand, 288 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 1: which is why I wanted you to come on because 289 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 1: besides just hounding you that I can do your commercials. 290 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:56,320 Speaker 1: I want to do more to help this cause because 291 00:18:56,359 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 1: it is such a wonderful opportunity to give back, and 292 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 1: it's so I don't know how to explain it. It's 293 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 1: just not maybe as as known for for the reason. 294 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:15,120 Speaker 1: And I know when it first arrived with Roger behind it, 295 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 1: that really gave it some incredible momentum. 296 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:21,680 Speaker 2: For sure, you know, and obviously having the having somebody 297 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:26,399 Speaker 2: like that who is fantastic, but John Oates who I 298 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 2: mentioned earlier, and he has been incredible and not only 299 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 2: is he given studio time and help people out, but 300 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 2: he's also put our young people in his video of him, 301 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:40,200 Speaker 2: you know, and he's very personal about it, and that's 302 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:45,520 Speaker 2: what we love about it. And Roger has been the 303 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 2: greatest ambassador you could wish for Pete too, but Pete 304 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 2: Pete's you know, is he helps in a quieter way. 305 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:58,879 Speaker 2: Roger's the lead singer, you know, and he's his you know, 306 00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:01,040 Speaker 2: what he's done for us and the way he's connected 307 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 2: us with other people in the music industry and helped 308 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 2: us is. 309 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 3: Second to none. I can't you know. 310 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:11,680 Speaker 2: It's a gift from heaven to have someone like Roger 311 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 2: helping you, for sure. 312 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 1: Roger's the best. And John Oates he recently just did 313 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 1: an episode of Buzz Night's Taking a Walk podcast, which 314 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:23,480 Speaker 1: is great if you have a chance to check it out. 315 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 3: I love that. I'm glad that he's a very warm 316 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:29,440 Speaker 3: and loving human being. 317 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:32,720 Speaker 1: For sure, he sure is, and he's real as real 318 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:34,720 Speaker 1: as it gets. And I think that's another thing that's 319 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:41,639 Speaker 1: so important about what you're doing and what's happening, what 320 00:20:41,720 --> 00:20:43,399 Speaker 1: it seems to be happening in the world today with 321 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:46,720 Speaker 1: the stigma of mental health, where people want to talk 322 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:48,640 Speaker 1: and they just want to be real. They just don't 323 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:51,399 Speaker 1: want to hear things that are heavily produced and perfected. 324 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:54,560 Speaker 1: They just want the truth. They want to hear and 325 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:57,160 Speaker 1: feel and know what people are going through so they're 326 00:20:57,160 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 1: not alone. 327 00:20:58,359 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, absolutely, connection. You know, you know, we're in 328 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 2: a world where it's possible to become very isolated, and 329 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:07,800 Speaker 2: I think, you know, music is another way of connecting 330 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 2: and engaging and it's so important. It's so important, and 331 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:19,919 Speaker 2: mental health in any kind of circumstances is a challenge. 332 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:24,159 Speaker 2: If you're having mental health challenges at the time of 333 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 2: battling cancer, that's you know, that's a double whammy. That's 334 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:32,639 Speaker 2: just so difficult to deal with. And to some extent, 335 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 2: everybody who goes through cancer has some kind of mental 336 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:40,160 Speaker 2: health challenges for sure, because you know they're they're facing 337 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:44,399 Speaker 2: the prospect that they might not survive. But young people 338 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 2: going through it, you know, it's a it's a difficult 339 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:50,919 Speaker 2: time in life. There are changes they're you know, they're 340 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:55,160 Speaker 2: they're they're going through bodily changes, they're going through psychological changes. 341 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:59,719 Speaker 2: There it's it's an important time of education, it's an 342 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:03,199 Speaker 2: import on time, a career development. All these things can 343 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:07,600 Speaker 2: get messed up completely and that messes with you. That 344 00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:11,280 Speaker 2: messes with you when you're going through it. So it's 345 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:14,240 Speaker 2: you know, the things that you can find to help 346 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 2: you get through the night. And music is a big 347 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:19,200 Speaker 2: part of that for young people, there's no doubt about that. 348 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:22,800 Speaker 1: Let me ask you before I let you go, how 349 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 1: do you personally stay inspired and connected to music in 350 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:28,119 Speaker 1: your everyday life? 351 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:31,439 Speaker 2: You know, I've got a very broad spectrum of music 352 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:37,879 Speaker 2: interests and I am I like to I like to 353 00:22:37,880 --> 00:22:41,879 Speaker 2: listen to music according to what my mood is, and 354 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:44,480 Speaker 2: I guess that's the same with everybody. So I'm not 355 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:48,199 Speaker 2: trying to suggest I'm very special, but you know, you know, 356 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:50,680 Speaker 2: there are times, you know, when you need a good 357 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:52,480 Speaker 2: rock song, and there are times when you need a 358 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 2: good ballad and being a being a part of that 359 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 2: and having a you know, having a I'm pretty sort 360 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:02,720 Speaker 2: of open mind about the interest that I have. So 361 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:08,720 Speaker 2: you know, I can listen to Andrea Bacelli's Romanza. 362 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:08,719 Speaker 3: You know. 363 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:12,400 Speaker 2: And and then you know, one of my all time 364 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:16,280 Speaker 2: favorite American bands from when I was a teenager is 365 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 2: an old band called the Marshall Tucker Band, and you know, 366 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:24,399 Speaker 2: they're all kind of you knowastic classic stuff, and you 367 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 2: know that can get me going. But you know, I've 368 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 2: just started getting into you know, Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga, 369 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:37,200 Speaker 2: you know, and that single that they've got. 370 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 3: I love it, you know. 371 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:41,879 Speaker 2: So it's it's just it's just an everyday part of 372 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:46,679 Speaker 2: my life, and you know, you've got to make the 373 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:50,280 Speaker 2: most of it. And you know, you use your catalog 374 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 2: for the for helping to inspire you in any part 375 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:56,400 Speaker 2: of your day. 376 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:59,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's like you open your medicine cabinet, pull out 377 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:02,359 Speaker 1: this can't pull out the CD anymore, though you have 378 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 1: to Yeah, that's true. 379 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:06,679 Speaker 2: You know, well, hang on a minute, what cs and 380 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:08,680 Speaker 2: cassettes are making a comeback? 381 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:10,879 Speaker 1: No, tell me more. How do you know? 382 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:13,679 Speaker 2: Well you can read it in the in the news. 383 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:16,480 Speaker 2: They're the new vinyl. 384 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 3: Oh my gosh. 385 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 1: Oh so now vinyl came back, and now it's gone 386 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:20,399 Speaker 1: to get. 387 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 2: Back and now everybody's getting out there old take cassettes 388 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:26,800 Speaker 2: and you know we used to make those compilation tapes, 389 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:31,040 Speaker 2: you know, and they're listening yes, yeah, yeah, And then 390 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:35,080 Speaker 2: CDs too. CD's is not their place. So it's interesting. 391 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:39,000 Speaker 2: I think we are. We're going through a few you know, 392 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:43,880 Speaker 2: you need a bit of retro in order to counterbalance 393 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:47,439 Speaker 2: the kind of high tech that's taking us an AI 394 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:50,360 Speaker 2: and all that stuff. You know, a bit of retro 395 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:51,440 Speaker 2: is good. 396 00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:51,800 Speaker 3: For the soul. 397 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:55,120 Speaker 1: I love it. On that note, it's a perfect way 398 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:57,280 Speaker 1: to end our conversation, although I don't ever want to 399 00:24:57,320 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 1: end a conversation with you. Simon Davies, Thanks so much 400 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 1: from Team Cancer America and my life in general. Thank 401 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:06,760 Speaker 1: you so much for being here on Music Scation. 402 00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:10,040 Speaker 3: Thank you for the opportunity. It was good to talk 403 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:10,240 Speaker 3: to you. 404 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:12,840 Speaker 2: I love love our conversations, and thank you for all 405 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:16,240 Speaker 2: your support because you're a special person to the charity 406 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 2: as is buzz Oh. 407 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 1: Before you go real quick, one more time, play it Back? 408 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:23,720 Speaker 1: And where can people find all of this stuff we 409 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:24,520 Speaker 1: were talking about. 410 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:28,640 Speaker 2: Go to our website in Cancer America dot org. That's 411 00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:34,600 Speaker 2: te N Cancer America dot org and make sure that 412 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:37,600 Speaker 2: you look into you're looking out for the Play It 413 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:41,360 Speaker 2: Back music program. And then there's an amazing podcast series 414 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:45,160 Speaker 2: called The Real Me and that's all about how it's 415 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 2: telling young people's stories at the same time as talking 416 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:52,200 Speaker 2: about the music that they've created and listening to it. 417 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 3: Thank you, Thank you.