A Holistic Approach to Mental Health Live Q&A

Let’s face it, being a musician is challenging. Over 70% of independent musicians struggle with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. Hell, being human is challenging. The consistent pressure to be the best can become overwhelming, and those high expectations can take a toll on anyone’s mental health. We place the utmost importance on providing consistent support in our community for those in need. In this Live Q&A, we’re talking about holistic approaches to mental health, and so much more. Here’s the rundown…

A Holistic Approach to Mental Health Live Q&A

Date: May 18th

Time: 1 pm ET

Where: Zoom

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In this live Q&A, you’ll learn…

• How to combat mental health challenges unique to the music industry.
• How routine plays a roll in your mental health.
• About Backline’s mental health and wellness resources.
• … and so much more!

Meet Your Panelists:

Audrey Mallory // Symphonic Distribution Client Manager

I’ve been at Symphonic for the last year and a half, but have been in the music industry for 5 years now. I moved to Nashville in 2013 to pursue a music career and attend Belmont University’s music school, but my path quickly changed when I realized I was meant to be on the industry side. I love helping independent artists and musicians, not only with their music careers but also by being an advocate for their mental health in the music industry as a whole.

Marni Wandner Ashby // Co-Founder of Equilibrium & CMO of sona

Marni Wandner is a creative strategist and marketer with 15+ years’ experience in the music and entertainment industries. She is currently the CMO of sona, a restorative music app that relieves anxiety using scientifically-tested original music created by Grammy-winning producers (IG: @sonacares). As a certified holistic health, she is the co-founder of Equilibrium, an initiative that brings wellness resources and health coaching to the music industry and beyond (IG: @thisisequilibrium).

Marni ran digital agency Sneak Attack Media for 12 years before it was acquired by marketing agency The Syndicate where she served as VP, Marketing & Business Development. She’s worked with a wide variety of clients over the years, from artists like Lou Reed, Guns N’ Roses, Motörhead, The Cult, David Crosby, Tori Amos, Third Eye Blind, Flora Cash, LP and Ani DiFranco, to an array of brands, apps, events, films, and books.

Nicole Blonder // Co-Founder of Equilibrium

Nicole Blonder is a marketing consultant, holistic health coach and co-founder of Equilibrium (IG: @thisisequilibrium), an organization working with musicians and music industry professionals to create healthy, sustainable careers through health coaching, wellness resources, programs and events.

Nicole has 20+ years experience in the music industry working closely with artists, labels, management and events including Desert Daze, Black Box and Mute Records as VP Marketing for over a decade. She’s worked with artists such as M83, Moby, New Order, Erasure, Goldfrapp, Jose Gonzalez, Can, Martin Gore, Fever Ray, Laraaji, Federico Aubele, Jesse McCartney and many more.

Hilary Gleason // Co-Founder & Executive Director

Hilary Gleason is the Executive Director of Backline, a non-profit that provides free mental health and wellness resources to music industry professionals and their families. She co-founded Backline in October 2019, after spearheading a series of conversations across the music industry that illuminated the critical need for increased access to customized mental health resources for a community in crisis. Hilary also serves as founder and CEO of level, a consulting firm that connects businesses and bands to impactful non-profit organizations, which has been in operation since 2017.

Hilary’s background is in global health advocacy and non-profits, which began in 2007 when she helped to create a neurosurgical partnership between Duke Hospital and the Ugandan Ministry of Health. To this day, she maintains a lead role in the program, traveling bi-annually to Uganda with teams from Duke and Stanford to host surgical training camps at Mulago, Mengo, and Mbarara Hospitals, respectively. In addition, she is a lifelong music fan who believes it can inspire and mobilize people around important humanitarian causes.

Ari Jacobson // Clinical Director

Ari Jacobson, LCPC, NCC, is a Baltimore native with a passion for the music/nightlife scene. After spending years working in night clubs, he transitioned to a full-time career in mental health counseling working with individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse, anger, domestic violence and life transitions. The last 5 years of his career, Ari has served as the Clinical Director of an outpatient mental health clinic training and supervising new clinicians and expanding new services. Aside from the counseling field, Ari’s experience is in program development, teaching and research. Ari’s appreciation and love for live music grew from friends and family members who have worked as touring artists, as well as crew members.

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