We Are All Music | WAAM is Strengthening and Saving Lives Through Music

Strengthening and Saving Lives Through Music.

We believe music can, and must, play a central role in mental health — especially for our youth.

"The intersection between music, health, and healing is a critical effort for us... to save so many lives in this country."

— Dr. Olajide Williams, MD, MS
Vice Dean of Community Health at Columbia University (VP&S),
physician & clinical neurologist

Our Story

Founded in 2019, We Are All Music began as a foundation committed to improving lives through music. Building on our years of research, experience, and collaborations, today we’re building a national movement to use music to address the mental health crisis. Our new executive director, Bryan Kohl shares how his experience in suicide prevention and postvention is helping to shape and lead our evolved mission—developing scalable, evidence-based programs and music-driven tools that are making an impact nationwide.

Flagship Initiative:
WAAM Box Sets

A first-of-its-kind toolkit for youth:

• Evidence based and co-created with mental health and music therapy experts.

• Tools for self-regulation, stress relief, emotional resilience

• Designed for use in schools, clinics and community orgs

Our Focus

• Who: Youth ages 12-24

• What: Brain/mental health

• How: Research, program development, public awareness

Backed by our Research White Paper

A Sound Approach: A Review of the Role of Music in Addressing our Mental Health Crisis

In partnership with Sounds of Saving and generously supported by Sweetwater

Music is a powerful and accessible tool to support youth mental health. Backed by neuroscience and clinical research, music can reduce stress, ease symptoms of depression and anxiety, strengthen emotional resilience, and foster real-world social connections.

"Music is... an emotional vest that I use to give me peace... for any mental health issues when I need to work through stuff in my life."

— Isaiah Gregory, Age 17
President, Associated Student Congress of Baltimore City
Baltimore City Public Schools

Now Playing...

We Are All Music x Sounds of Saving

We Are All Music and Sounds of Saving have joined forces in a powerful collaboration grounded in the shared belief that music can transform—and even save—lives.

Together, WAAM and SoS are partnering on The WAAM Box Set, a groundbreaking new program designed to equip young people with accessible, music-based tools for emotional resilience, self-expression, and brain health. This innovative initiative is integrating SoS’s proven mental health content and outreach strategies with WAAM’s research-driven approach to use music to reduce anxiety, depression, and suicide risk.

Our message: music isn’t just a soundtrack to our lives, it’s a lifeline.

The Music Impact Council (MIC)

WAAM is aligning with field leaders, musicians, clinicians, and change makers to help shape WAAM’s programs and strategy around music and mental/brain health. Follow us as we amplify the voices of these industry leading professionals.