Join team Music Support at The Great Escape.
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week with the theme of ‘Community.’ We’re pleased to be making our annual trip to Brighton for The Great Escape to raise awareness of our work and catch up with our UK music community. Gaby, Joe, Laila and Lynne will be on site between Thursday – Saturday. We’re hosting a panel on Thursday and appearing on another one on Saturday, both in Room 2 at the Leonardo Waterfront Hotel.
We’d love to see you there…
Thursday 15th May at 1pm:
Being part of a safe, positive community is vital for our mental health and wellbeing. The rise in demand to Music Support’s services across the board tells us that our industry peers are still struggling with feelings of depression, anxiety and isolation, meaning connection and community have never been more important. Join us for a discussion on the power of community and how you can engage with us to build healthy networks across the music industry, reducing stigma and creating safe spaces where every individual has the support and connection they need to truly thrive.
HOST - Gaby D'Annunzio
Music Support’s Head of Connections and Community. Gaby is a social activist, community organiser, and mental health advocate with a Master of Arts in Psychology from Edinburgh University and has a COSCA-accredited counselling qualification. She is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of the Open Music Lab, which provides free music education and development for marginalised communities. Previously, she served as Head of Community Development and Education at Refuge Worldwide in Berlin, where she established a diverse community, curated workshops, developed partnerships, and supported business growth. Additionally, she is a DJ, radio host, and an audio producer. She produced a podcast series called Agora for Give Something Back to Berlin and spearheaded the radio programming for Refugee Week.
The panel
Dr. George Musgrave
George is a leading specialist in mental health and wellbeing in the music industry. His research led directly to the establishment of a 24/7 mental health helpline for musicians – Music Minds Matter – in 2017, and a new Code of Practice for the Danish music industry in 2025 with signatories including Live Nation and Universal Music Denmark. His work has been cited as informing the development of global therapeutic & public health interventions as well by the UK Government’s Department for Culture Media and Sport as part of the ‘Creative Industries Sector Vision’. He is also a musician who has signed both major recording & publishing deals with EMI and Sony.
Kemi Sulola
Singer-songwriter, artist and music entrepreneur from East London. Her soulful sound has been supported by BBC 1Xtra, Capital Xtra, Amazon Music as well as internationally, and she has performed at prestigious venues including The Jazz Cafe and KOKO Camden. Alongside her artist work, Kemi runs Sulola Music Studio , a community-focused recording space using music as a tool for empowerment, development and education. She is passionate about wellbeing and creating space for authentic expression within the industry.
Lleo
London-based artist, Lleo, is known for her bold, bright pop sound infused with emotional depth. Her tracks are catchy on the surface but delve into complex, polarised emotions, blending upbeat melodies with introspective lyrics. With a unique style dubbed “bipolar pop,” Lleo explores themes like mental health and identity, resonating deeply with listeners. Her 2022 EP Am I Making Sense? and 2024’s wild ride showcase her distinct approach, combining energetic production with vulnerability. With over 1.7 million streams, Lleo’s music offers a space for emotional connection and raw honesty in pop music.
Saturday 17th May at 3pm
Music Support’s Events and Artist Engagement Specialist, Laila Khan, is guesting on the panel “The Power of Wellness in Music.”
The mental and physical wellbeing of artists and their teams is of paramount importance, but the music industry hasn’t always created safe spaces for its creators. Join us to discuss practical tips to safely navigate this complex industry, and to hear about how staying well can benefit your creativity.
The panel will be moderated by Artist wellness coach, Ruth Emery, and also feature our friends from fellow charities Tonic Music (Jeordie Shenton) and Music Minds Matter (Keith Millar).
ABOUT LAILA:
Laila has over 20 years’ experience as an artist relationship manager working with the likes of Sam Smith, Dua Lipa, Nile Rodgers and Chaka Khan. Prior to joining Music Support, she spent eight years working with music therapy charity, Nordoff Robbins, facilitating fundraisers and devising advocate strategies. As a touring recording artist in her own right as part of the band, Sonic Boom Six, Laila is acutely aware of how physically and mentally demanding a career in the industry can be. She has been in a 12-step recovery programme for more than four years and is proud to bring her lived experience to supporting the crucial efforts of Music Support in empowering our UK music community to navigate the highs and lows of the industry and achieve their full potential.
Plan your trip to The Great Escape Conference and add Music Support’s sessions on Thursday (at 1pm) and Saturday (at 3pm) via downloading the app here.
Find out more about what Music Support does here.