Earlier this year, I decided to release a song I wrote about my best friend who took his own life in 2013. Like with most artist releases, you get your finished assets together, submit your song, then play a show to promote it. Because of the subject matter, however, and the heavy weight that it carried in me, I felt like something was missing in the formula. 

The song was, in some ways, my own attempt at coping with his death, which was directly influenced by his struggles with alcohol and substance abuse (something which I’ve also struggled with myself). So when it came time to release, I wanted an opportunity to celebrate his life, but I also wanted to bring awareness to the complications of his passing.  
 
I had been introduced to Music Support by a close friend, and I immediately resonated with their mission statement and core principles.  I brainstormed a few ideas on how I could help contribute, which ended up being a charity benefit concert with local bands, a raffle and DJs, all in honour of my friend. I figured, what better way to give back than to help raise money for an organisation that helps those exactly like my friend CJ.