Helsinki Seagulls

Abstract

Research background: This song resulted from a songwriting workshop co-facilitated by Naomi Sunderland (Griffith University), Kristina Jacobsen (University of New Mexico), and Klisala Harrison (University of Helsinki). The workshop facilitated place-based, sense-bound song writing with refugees and asylum seekers who have experienced significant trauma drawing on previous research and creative work by the facilitators. The research investigated participants' experiences of using sense bound songwriting and how they felt before and after the workshop.

Research contribution: The research contribution is primarily in applying trauma informed practice models from social work and psychotherapy to song writing and community music. In addition to three original songs and recordings that emerged from the project the facilitators have published a peer reviewed article.

Research significance: The literature review for this project confirms that there is a vast need to respond to participants' experiences of trauma in sensitive and informed ways in community music settings. This project applied sensory ethnographic and trauma informed ways of working in a community music context in partnership with local service providers. This work is one of only nine published articles that directly relate to these topics currently available. Networks formed during this project are ongoing and have resulted in a community radio podcast produced by one of the participants about the songwriting workshop and ongoing collaborations between participating musicians.