Music as Medicine: Can Sounds Help Us Heal?

From hearing songs that take us back to our childhood to losing ourselves in the energy of a rave, music has a remarkable ability to influence how we feel. But what happens when we begin to use it more intentionally?

Deepavali has barely disappeared from the calendar, and Christmas jingles are already taking over the radio. Of course, we had to celebrate Deepavali first, admiring all the gorgeous kolams on display around KL. But is it a little too early for Jingle Bells or All I Want for Christmas Is You? Not for us!

Perhaps they take you back to Christmases spent with family, festive gatherings with old friends or a place you haven’t visited in years. Maybe it reminds you of someone who is no longer around. Whatever the memory, a song can take us somewhere else entirely.

That is part of music’s extraordinary power. A song can lift our spirits, bring tears to our eyes, calm an anxious mind or stir emotions we didn’t even realise were there. Sometimes, we know exactly why a particular melody affects us. At other times, the response seems to come from nowhere.

Coincidentally, today is 11 November and it also marks World Frequency Day, an annual initiative launched in 2025. It is a day to celebrate the power of sound and music to encourage connection, harmony and wellbeing. With its invitation to pause, and tune in, it is a fitting reminder of just how much music can influence the way we feel.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE BRAIN WHEN WE LISTEN TO MUSIC?

There is a growing body of scientific research exploring the relationship between music, the brain and our emotional and physical wellbeing. When we listen to music, several areas of the brain become active, including those involved in hearing, memory, emotion, anticipation and reward.

Pleasurable music can activate dopamine-related reward pathways. It explains why a favourite song can give us goosebumps, create a feeling of anticipation or produce an almost physical sense of pleasure. It also helps explain why music is so closely connected to personal memories. A familiar melody may bring back not just memories of a person or a place, but the emotions and sensations associated with that moment.

This connection between music and memory is particularly interesting. We might forget the details of an ordinary day. But you may remember exactly which song was playing during our first romantic school dance. Or recall a reunion with a loved one or a difficult period in our lives.

And it is not just nostalgia. Researchers have also been investigating music’s potential to support emotional regulation and reduce anxiety.

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in eClinicalMedicine in June 2025 examined 51 studies on music therapy and anxiety. The researchers found a overall effect on anxiety, particularly in participants’ own reports of how anxious they felt. 

A 2021 Cochrane review, meanwhile, examined 81 trials involving more than 5,500 people with cancer. It found that music interventions may help reduce anxiety, depression, pain and fatigue in adults. The authors did, however, caution that much of the evidence was of low certainty, with more consistent results from interventions delivered by trained music therapists.

Music is not a cure-all, nor does it replace medical treatment. But the research suggests that it can be a very valuable tool in supporting wellbeing, particularly when used thoughtfully and with an understanding of the individual.

LISTENING WITH INTENTION

Most of us use music instinctively. We put on something upbeat when we need energy, choose familiar songs when we feel nostalgic or turn to soft melodies when we want to relax. We may even reach for a particular playlist without consciously knowing what we need from it.

But there is a difference between having music playing in the background and listening with intention. A carefully curated musical experience can invite us to pay attention to what is happening within us. Rather than simply choosing songs we know and love, the music can be selected to create a particular journey, moving through different rhythms, moods and sounds.

That journey does not necessarily have to lead towards happiness or relaxation. Sometimes, a sad song is exactly what we need. It can give us permission to acknowledge sadness rather than push it aside. A more energetic rhythm might encourage movement and release, while a slower melody can help us pause and notice what we are feeling.

The important thing is that there is no universal musical formula. A familiar melody might bring joy, while the same piece could trigger an uncomfortable memory for someone else. Even a sad song can be comforting, intensify sadness or do both at once. This is why personal response matters.

THE ROLE OF RHYTHM, MOVEMENT AND SILENCE

Music is not only something we hear. We experience it through rhythm, vibration and, often, movement. A beat can make us tap our feet, sway, dance or simply become more aware of our breathing. Different tempos can influence the pace at which we move and the energy we bring to an experience.

And then there is silence. In a world where we are rarely without some form of noise, a pause can be surprisingly powerful. The space between musical pieces gives us an opportunity to notice what has changed, what we are feeling and what we might need. It can be just as important as the music itself.

Together, intentionally selected music, rhythm, sound, movement and silence can create an opportunity to slow down and become more present. The aim is not to force a particular emotional response, but to make space for whatever is already there.

Perhaps the music that helps us most, may simply be the music that allows us to acknowledge how we really feel.

THE POWER OF MUSIC

This approach to music and wellbeing is something Holistic Life Coach and Nervous System Guide Melissa Indot has explored through her work. She has developed and trademarked a method called Intuitive Music Programming, which uses carefully selected music to encourage people to notice where they are emotionally, experience what is present and reconnect with themselves.

Those interested in exploring the connection between music, emotion and self-awareness can find out more at a workshop led by Melissa Indot in KL next weekend.

After all, music has always been part of our lives. So, the next time Jingle Bells comes on the radio, perhaps take a moment to listen a little more closely. You never know what it might stir.

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