Songkites aims to create a channel through music that can bring hope, resilience and peace to the hearts and minds of people.
Songkites’ therapeutic approach aims to empower and serve people at many different personal, creative and societal levels – artistic, expressive, identity, well-being, leadership and social consciousness.
Songkites is a groundbreaking therapeutic music project that nurtures creative expression, leadership and wellbeing of artists through songwriting, music production and performance based in Cambodia founded by Euan Gray and Carrie Herbert.
“Songkites has broken new ground in the presentation of original music in Cambodia” (NRG Radio). The albums were distributed locally and worldwide through online media channels to 95 distribution outlets – resulting in over 6 million streams. A number of the songs became national hits and many of the songwriters have gone on to become successful household names in Cambodia.
“I really think my music and the music from Songkites helps young people in Cambodia to believe in who they are and believe in themselves. If we believe in ourselves, we can rebuild a stronger Cambodia for the future”.
The Songkites curriculum was developed foregrounding personal development, creativity, the craft of songwriting, skills development in recording and performance, self-care and leadership.
The Songkites method is built from the core values of safety, compassion, collaboration, creativity and music. This pioneering method brings music together with therapy with powerful impacts to cross borders and build bridges as one Songkite Artist reflects on his experience:
“I think music can heal people in many ways based on my experience. My father is a musician and survived the Khmer Rouge; he lost his leg from a land mine accident. I think playing music helped him begin to heal. I remember him rehearsing the Tro (Cambodian Instrument) at home when I was small; he inspired me to play it and find a way to let music cross the borders of hatred. Music is for everyone – it is without enemies and borders. It can stop discrimination and hatred between people. We can bring music to our enemies. For example, Thai and Cambodian people have not felt good towards each other for hundreds of years, but when I played this music for them it is as if I am their friend. They loved the music I played, there was no border between us” (Yorn Young 2017)
