We all know the best cure for mental health issues is…Drum & Bass?
When you think of workplace burnout, wellbeing and mental health you may not think of banging beats. And you’d be hard pushed to find a nightclub volume bassline at any event on the same topic. Well not any more…
Lucky for us — and you — Ben Verse, the famed MC from drum & bass titans Pendulum (see him in action on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury ) this year left the band and discovered a new mission: an album series called Mind State. All to raise money for mental health.
And what an album he’s pulled together for your listening, dancing, arm waving pleasure! It’s only featuring The Prodigy, Chase & Status and Sub Focus. Here’s what Billboard had to say. And this is only the first volume of what is a key pillar of our 25 year plan.
The album launch party is 11pm to 6am at Getahead Festival on June 13th in London. So get your tickets to Getahead right now!
Reinvention
Having parted ways with Pendulum at the start of the year, Ben was in need of a new direction and challenge. Through his friend Jho Oakley he got in touch with Del at AEI and was invited in to spend some time with the team.
It was at one of these meetings that he gravitated towards the Getahead Festival that Jenni Cochrane was planning with Max Linguistics alongside Dan, Fran, Ed and the team at Techdept.
Having had someone very close to him recently get sectioned due to paranoid schizophrenia, the idea of helping raise money & raise awareness of mental health was a no brainer. The concept of the album came together by Ben believing that through his contacts in Drum and Bass he could approach people and ask them for their support via their music.
He made it clear he wan’t after their latest killa tune but more a track that the’ve always loved but never had a chance to put out. An album of various artists to make money for the Music Minds Matter 24hr helpline and Getahead whilst also promoting the festival itself.
Bit between the teeth
It was a good concept but after initial meetings it was agreed that 10 tracks would be amazing. That was the focus. Ben started to get the word out and one of the first people he approached was Liam from the Prodigy. He explained his concept and how the money raised would be spent…and Liam was instantly involved.
From that it really snow balled with Chase & Status, Sub Focus, Calyx & Teebee amongst many others all donating tracks. Going round to studios and getting in peoples faces was Ben’s tactic…and it paid off. 18 tracks later this is the first time this broad selection of artists have ever featured on a compilation together.
Rising star Max Linguistics added to the album, bringing in some amazing tracks representing the new school. He also collaborated on a track with Spor, an artist who rarely makes any D&B due to his other superstar alias commitments as Feed Me.
With Jenni’s rallying skills alongside the incredible engine and team at AEI the album came to together in 4 weeks from concept to delivery.
Purpose
Mind State Vol 1 is the beginning. Ben is already exploring other genres (did someone mention Skrillex?) and has ambitious plans to build upon the Mind State concept. Mental health & wellbeing in dance music (indeed any walk of life) can become less of a problem if we talk about it.
We want to advocate a lifestyle that better handles stress & anxiety through simple lifestyle adjustments and maintaining balance.
For a more in depth interview with Ben on his experiences of overwhelm on the road & his vision for Mind State read this on Music Ally.
Do your bit & buy the album right now!
Does your life stress you out?
Then come to Getahead Festival in London on Weds 13th June. It’s on for 24 hours but you can come for an hour, an afternoon or rave it up across the whole day!
The Mind State Vol 1 album launch party — including some very very special guests — goes from 11pm Weds 13th to 6am Thurs 14th.
Learn more about the festival agenda here.
