The statistics are staggering — around 20 veterans take their own lives each day as they battle the challenges of post-combat anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Meet Kristin Starling, who has set out to change those statistics. As Executive Director of SongwritingWith:Soldiers (SW:S for short), Kristin orchestrates a unique platform for veterans, forging connections through the transformative power of music. We spoke to Kristin about her organization, her commitment to helping those who have served our nation, and music’s profound healing impact.
Can you tell us a bit about your career background?
My music nonprofit journey began at Santa Monica NPR radio station KCRW in the early 1990s. On my drive in, I would pass the Recording Academy offices, and I began to look into their charitable work. After learning about the GRAMMY Foundation (now GRAMMY Museum) and MusiCares, I joined them as a fundraiser. I also managed grantmaking in music research and preservation.
When I moved to Nashville in 2011, I was still working as a grant officer and met with some folks at Vanderbilt to see who was working in music research. I met the founder of the VU Music Cognition Lab. In 2012, I became the Development Director at Nashville Opera. One of the operas we performed was based on Oliver Sacks’s book The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat [which delves into the world of neurological disorders] — which serendipitously reconnected me with the neurology department at Vanderbilt.
I reconnected with the VU Music Cognition Lab, which was hosting a symposium featuring one of my former GRAMMY research committee members as a keynote speaker. SongwritingWith:Soldiers was there as the musical guest performing songs from the program. I met one of the board members from SW:S, and eventually, they reached out to me to interview for the Executive Director position. Six years later, here we are.
What inspired the launch of SongwritingWith:Soldiers, and where are the retreats held?
SW:S was founded by a songwriter and a mentor coach who believed it was important for civilians to bridge the understanding of what our veterans and their families experience by creating this opportunity to tell stories and build community. They combined their skills to develop a program to use collaborative songwriting to expand creativity and forge connections.
The first retreat was held in 2012 near Fort Hood. The bonding, songs, and impact were so powerful that there was no turning back. Retreats are held at locations all across the country.
What is your role with the organization?
I’m the Executive Director, and I’m pretty hands-on. We have a great team, so while we all have our areas of responsibility, we collaborate and do what needs to be done. For me, that means I might be meeting with donors, board members, or music researchers, leading a meditation at a retreat, or moving chairs and filling out forms.
In your experience, what are the biggest challenges veterans face, and how does music help them heal?
I hear from veterans that one of the biggest challenges can be the feeling of a loss of community and purpose after leaving the military, a sense of isolation, and feeling unknown. Music brings people together and helps us find meaning in shared experiences and emotions.
What songwriters work with the organization, and how do you match up the musicians and veterans?
Marshall Altman, Pryor Baird, Bonnie Bishop, Michael Bradford, Gary Burr, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Jay Clementi, Ashley Cleveland, Erin Enderlin, David Forman, Radney Foster, Mary Gauthier, James House, Will Kimbrough, JD Martin, Georgia Middleman, Danny Myrick, Mark Nesler, Gary Nicholson, Terry Radigan, Darrell Scott, Maia Sharp, Darden Smith, Trent Willmon, and Amy Speace are some of the songwriters who have written with SW:S. They have written for artists like Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, Kelly Clarkson, Ringo Starr, Fleetwood Mac, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, and more.
Pairings happen after the first evening of the retreat and are based on what connections the facilitator sees happen at dinner and during the opening concert.
Can you share some of the SongwritersWith:Soldiers success stories?
These stories are just a few of many examples of the impact this program has had:
Out of the Chair (Into the Spotlight)
The Ripple Effect
Building Bridges
What are your favorite ways to spend time outside of work?
I love to go to Radnor Lake or Edwin Warner Park. I love being outside. I also have some mindfulness practices and enjoy cooking and gardening.
What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Listen more than you talk. I’m not always successful, but it is the best advice.
Outside of faith, family, and friends, what three things can’t you live without?
Good food, nature, and options!
LIGHTNING ROUND
Last great book you read: This Is What It Sounds Like by Susan Rogers
Most memorable recent meal: I love breakfast, and Dozen Bakery has the best breakfast sandwich, perfect baguette, custard-like scrambled eggs, butter, and the perfect amount of coarse-cracked black pepper.
Go-to gift to give: Anything from Parnassus Books
Destination is at the top of your travel bucket list: Rangiroa or anywhere with a coral reef
All photography courtesy of SongwritingWith:Soldiers.
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