Medicine Music and the Journey of Working in Collaboration

My relationship with medicine music has been unfolding throughout my life in a beautiful way for many years. It began with my mother’s strong emphasis on the importance of words. As a child who loved to sing, she always made sure the lyrics I chose aligned with my age and understanding. This early awareness of the influence of language and sound laid a foundation for my future exploration into the deeper, healing properties of music.

In university, I was introduced to music therapy, which broadened my understanding of music as a healing tool. Music therapy uses tools like nostalgia, beneficial frequencies, composition, and expression, as well as singing together and more. These elements can help tap into deep emotions, bring comfort, reprogram neural pathways, and create meaningful connections. It was then that I began to realize how much more music could be beyond performance—it could be medicine.

In my early 20s, I had a powerful experience that deepened my understanding of medicine music in a very practical way. during a Halloween party at the Seahorse Tavern in Halifax. There were several DJs that night.  DJ 100 Drums was one of them. It was about halfway through her set when she started playing gong samples, and suddenly, I found myself on a journey of self-discovery. The music seemed to unlock my subconscious, allowing me to process deep emotions and patterns through dance and movement. With care and compassion, I examined these emotions, and I realized I was being guided by the music itself.

In that moment, I not only understood the healing properties of ecstatic dance, but also the immense responsibility a DJ holds. When people are in a heightened state, the music and narratives the DJ shares can have a profound impact. Depending on their intention, it can be either highly beneficial or detrimental. This realization made me see DJing as a form of medicine, with the power to either heal or harm, depending on the intention of the DJ.

My relationship to medicine music continued when I was introduced to ecstatic dance by a friend from BC. She was longing for more ecstatic dance in Nova Scotia, asked me to invite Nicole, a talented DJ, to perform. Although I wasn’t a DJ myself, this friend taught me all about ecstatic dance, and I had started doing research on my own online about the ecstatic dance rhythms, emotional landscapes, and movements. I passed on the notes I had made to Nicole. She had taken a break from DJing in the club scene and was very excited to start DJing for the public again in this new way. Nicole performed the first ecstatic dance solo and she fell in love with the experience.

From there, Nicole and I began collaborating on ecstatic dances under the name of Halifax Ecstatic Dance. This 

opened many doors for me in my relationship and understand with medicine music. Ecstatic dance has helped me express emotions I hadn’t felt safe to explore, including sacred rage, grief, and ecstatic joy. Feeling deeply in the presence of our community is an incredibly healing and connective experience. 

However, creating these offerings through wasn’t without its challenges. Nicole and I had a clear vision of creating healing spaces, but in the early days, it was difficult to sustain. With only a few regular attendees and volunteers, we struggled to balance accessibility and sustainability. There were times when we felt depleted, living in a mouldy basement and still trying to show up 100% was taking its role and we realized that if we didn’t take care of ourselves, our offerings would eventually lose their healing power.

Nicole and I took a pause to figure out our living situation, realign our intentions and reevaluate. After much reflection, we transitioned from Halifax Ecstatic Dance to Coastal Vibe Collective. We understood that a vision of this magnitude needed to be built by the collective, for the collective. We called in support from volunteers, vendors, and artists who shared our dream of creating a space for community healing, growth, and connection.

What’s Next for Coastal Vibe Collective?

The future of CVC is an exciting journey of continued growth, collaboration, and expansion. After taking time to reflect and realign our vision, we’ve set our sights on deepening the ways in which we offer healing, connection, and community through music, movement, and creative expression.

We aim to create more consistent and diverse events, including themed ecstatic dance sessions, sound healing workshops, sober races, collaborative performances with local artists and facilitators and more. We also hope to broaden our reach by exploring different venues and outdoor spaces, providing a variety of atmospheres that align with the healing energies we want to cultivate. Sustainability and the well-being of our community will remain at the forefront of what we do, so finding a balance between accessible pricing and fair compensation for all involved will continue to be key.

In addition, we want to foster a larger, more supportive community by offering spaces for people to share their creative talents, whether that be through music, visual art, or movement. We also envision creating opportunities for members of the community to contribute ideas, workshops, and experiences that align with our mission of collective growth and healing.

Ultimately, CVC’s future is about co-creating with the community to expand the ways we bring people together to heal, grow, and thrive. We are open to new possibilities and are always learning how we can better serve the collective.

Written with love by Micaela @wuzzomusic