Sound Mind Live Announces Mental Health Music Festival At Brooklyn Paramount On Sunday, May 18th

Fest Includes Thought-Provoking Panels, Keynote Speeches, And Immersive Moments

Tuesday, April 1st – Today, Sound Mind Live announces its seventh annual Music Festival for Mental Health at Brooklyn Paramount on Sunday, May 18th. 

Starting at 7 pm and hosted by American comedian Jordan Carlos, the festival will feature sets from psychedelic pop artist BØRNS, rock band American Authors, singer-songwriter and activist MILCK, and a spoken word presentation by Hakeem Rahim. 

Tickets ($35) and VIP Tickets ($135, includes private concert viewing area, two drinks, and Sound Mind Live merch and gift bag) go on sale Thursday, April 3rd at 11 am ET here: https://www.universe.com/soundmindfest 

Pre-sale tickets go on sale on Wednesday, April 2nd at 11 am ET. Sign up page here: https://www.soundmindlive.org/2025-festival-presale

The Sound Mind Live Music Festival for Mental Health aims to provide crucial support, raise awareness, and create a safe space for individuals to connect, heal, and find resources. Mental health challenges are at an all-time high, with nearly 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experiencing a mental illness and suicide now ranking as the second leading cause of death among youth ages 10 to 24. With rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation continuing to rise, there’s an urgent need for creative platforms like music festivals to raise awareness, foster connection, and break the stigma around mental health.

"We are beyond excited to bring together such a powerful combination of music, mental health advocacy, and community at this year’s festival," said Chris Bullard, Executive Director of Sound Mind Live. "The Sound Mind Festival is not just about great performances—it’s about creating a space where people can come together to heal, share their stories, and find the support they need. Mental health is something we all navigate, and through music, conversation, and connection, we hope to inspire hope and spark change."

This year’s festival features thought-provoking panels on mental health and social justice, as well as a special live recording of the Sound Mind/Consequence podcast Going There with Dr. Mike, featuring a surprise artist guest. 

Over a dozen leading mental health organizations—including the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the Mayor's Office of Community Mental Health—will be on-site, offering keynote talks and live resources. Attendees will also take part in a powerful, immersive audience singing moment led by Gaia Music Collective.

On May 17th, the day prior to the festival, Sound Mind Live will host live performances, wellness workshops, singing circles, and an ecstatic dance party at Sound Mind Center, the nonprofit’s Dumbo venue dedicated to inspiring deeper connection through the power of the arts and wellness. Sound Mind Center is a hub of creativity, community, and healing. It features a wide array of programming each week, including live concerts, dances, comedy, storytelling, wellness retreats & workshops, and more. Ticket buyers for the festival on May 18th will also receive free entry to the events at Sound Mind Center on May 17th. 

Solo tickets for the panels and keynotes on May 17th can be purchased here: https://www.tixr.com/groups/soundmindlive/events/sound-mind-center-immersive-experience-day-part-of-the-sound-mind-festival--138347 

For those unable to attend in person, the festival will be available as a one-time-only stream on the Sound Mind Live YouTube channel in partnership with YouTube Health. This year's event is made possible with the proud support of BetterHelp. Attendees can get their first week of therapy free at betterhelp.com/soundmind.

“As a global leader in mental health advocacy and access, we’re thrilled to partner with Sound Mind to break down the barriers to mental health support,” said Fernando Madeira, President of Better Help. “Together, we’ll confront the stigma around mental health challenges and remind everyone that there’s strength in asking for support.”

Other Sound Mind Live Festival for Mental Health partners include WFUV Radio, Consequence, Spinach Records, and more. 

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ABOUT SOUND MIND LIVE:

Sound Mind Live is a non-profit organization that brings together musicians, music lovers, and forward-thinking organizations to foster community, open dialogue, and action around mental health through the power of music. Sound Mind events and programs create safe spaces where music and open conversations about mental health coexist through collaboration between artists, audiences, and organizations that provide direct mental health support. Sound Mind Live's work includes live concert events, podcast and video programming, and the annual Sound Mind Music Festival for Mental Health in New York City each May. Their programming also provides on-site and digital mental health resources in partnership with artist tours and venues around the country.

ABOUT BØRNS: Chart-topping, platinum recording artist BØRNS has shared his timeless new EP Honeybee, available to stream now on all DSPs worldwide. The release puts BØRNS’ full spectrum of songwriting on display, paying homage to 60s and 70s icons like Elton John, The Beach Boys, and ELO. Honeybee serves as a continuation of his journey from 2023’s Suddenly, but with a much warmer, uplifting energy after exploring the 6 stages of grief. In addition to releasing new music, BØRNS plans to announce his first shows in over five years in 2025. BØRNS is an artist who taps into something enduring yet has always been strikingly ahead of his time. His debut album Dopamine, not only lit up the charts but also gained new virality in 2020 with "Electric Love," which currently boasts over 1 billion Spotify streams and was hailed by Taylor Swift as "an instant classic." Throughout the 2010s, BØRNS shared the stage with countless iconic artists, such as Lana Del Rey, Bleachers, The Lumineers, Halsey, Charli XCX, and many others. He was also a featured artist for Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen, and Angel Headed Hipster: Songs of Marc Bolan and T.Rex, alongside a line-up of legacy artists. Both projects were produced by the late, great Hal Willner. After a sold-out US tour and his second Coachella appearance in 2018, BØRNS took a break, stepping away from the spotlight to recalibrate and dive deeper into his craft. His latest work showcases a more intimate and authentic side, teaming up with a seasoned arranger to create some of the most authentic songs of his career. Just as he did with his debut, BØRNS is once again set to push the boundaries of music, shaping a sound that feels both familiar and entirely new. The question on everyone’s mind: where will he take us next? The answer: Honeybee. Photo Credit: Zach Snellenberger

ABOUT AMERICAN AUTHORS: 

Since releasing their debut album Oh, What a Life in 2014, New York-based pop-rock outfit American Authors have experienced milestones most bands only dream about. They’ve watched their music climb to the top of the charts, and seen singles go multi-platinum. They’ve played awards shows, hit the stages of legendary venues all over the world, and toured the world with bands such as Andy Grammar, OAR, OneRepublic, The Revivalists, and The Fray. Their anthemic hit single “Best Day of My Life” has been featured in over 600 movie trailers, TV shows, commercials, and as a theme song for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Despite these accolades, however, lead singer Zac Barnett vows that the best day of their lives is still yet to come. “We just want to keep going,” he says. “We can’t wait to continue this adventure.” Originally formed in 2006 at Berklee College of Music in Boston, American Authors - Zac Barnett [vocals/guitar], Dave Rublin [bass], and Matt Sanchez [drums] - eventually dropped out of college and moved to Brooklyn to continue refining their airtight song-craft. “My whole reason for attending Berklee College of Music was to find other like-minded musicians to start a band with. I knew I had found those people after the first night we jammed,”claims Barnett.

Shortly after moving to Brooklyn, American Authors crossed paths with Shep Goodman while playing a gig in the city. Eventually signing with Goodman’s production company Dirty Canvas, the band wrote and recorded “Believer” and quickly saw the track thrown into rotation on Sirius XM’s Alt Nation radio. Their next song “Best Day of My Life” was featured in a commercial campaign for Lowes. Shortly after, American Authors inked a deal with Island Records. “Boston was a great city to get our feet wet in but moving to Brooklyn completely changed our lives,” drummer Matt Sanchez explains.“Constantly surrounded by so many new creatives and artists fueled our music to a whole new level.”

By 2018, the guys had impressively generated over 1 billion global streams on a string of alternately striking and soaring smashes. Their inescapable and instantly recognizable breakthrough “Best Day of My Life” earned a triple-platinum certification from the RIAA and vaulted to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in addition to receiving countless film, television, video game, and sports syncs. Their 2014 full-length debut, Oh, What A Life, achieved gold status, while the follow-up What We Live For, spawned another Top 20 hit, “Go Big or Go Home,” in 2016. Along the way, they sold out shows around the globe and ignited stages at festivals, including Lollapalooza, Firefly Music Festival, Bottle Rock Napa Valley, Reading Festival, and Leeds Festival, to name a few. “I don’t think anyone knew how special Best Day of My Life really was when we first wrote it,” bassist Dave Rublin reflects.“It just kept snowballing from TV to commercials then one day into a number one record.” The band just released their 5th full length LP, Call Your Mother that includes the new folk-tinged singles “Daisies,” “My Last Dime,” and “Can’t Stand the Mourning.” “We’ve never been afraid to explore new musical genres but we always try to maintain a message of hope in our music,” states Zac. It all comes together to present a vision of the band that’s at once recognizable and unfamiliar. “Nothing ever came easy for us,” Dave reveals.“We had this crazy dream and we had to do everything ourselves and keep working harder and harder everyday to make those dreams a reality.”

ABOUT MILCK:

Connie Lim, professionally known as MILCK, is a singer/songwriter/producer who has spent close to two decades professionally working with the powerful medium of music. She landed on the global stage when her performance of her song “Quiet” went viral and sparked a global movement. From Sweden to Ghana, singers from all over the world started flooding the streets to flashmob her song and share their own stories of struggle and survival. The ESPYS had MILCK sing the song as the survivors of Larry Nassar walked onstage to accept the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, and Billboard named her song the #1 protest song of the year. Her ability to craft anthemic songs has led MILCK into years of social change work. She collaborates with grassroots activists, corporate leaders, artists, and politicians to work towards common goals. She has shared the stage with luminaries like Oprah Winfrey and Secretary Clinton. Her collaborations with GRAMMY winners like John Legend, Ani DiFranco, and Natasha Bedingfield continue to deliver powerful anthems for critical movements, including reproductive rights and anti-violence campaigns. Honored by Planned Parenthood, Netflix’s This Is Pop, and the Los Angeles City Council, MILCK invites individuals and organizations to joi her in transforming personal pain into collective power. MILCK storytelling has extended into musical theater as she partners with La Jolla Playhouse to debut her groundbreaking musical, led entirely by women of color, exploring the powerful ripple effects of healing from intergenerational wounds.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Mikaela Duhs and Naomi Banks

SoundMindLivePR@shorefire.com