How many disabled artists are on your favourite playlist? When was the last time you saw a disabled musician at a festival? Do you know any music-related projects in your local area, designed specifically for the disabled community?

I bet you really have to think hard about answering these questions. But you’re not alone.

Disability is still a taboo topic in the music world. Thankfully, though, some wonderful projects try to defy the current state of things in Australia. Wild At Heart is one of them.

PART 158 OF “AM I EVER GONNA SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN?” A RANDOM COLLECTION OF UNKNOWINGLY OBVIOUS FACTS ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC SCENE

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First things first. I describe myself as a non-disabled person. And because of my environment and life circumstances, I’ve spent most of my life perceiving the world and music business from that perspective.

But I believe it’s better to start learning late than never. So after interviewing two disability advocates this year, Eliza Hull and Morwenna Collett, I found myself researching this topic a bit more.

And I’m happy to report good things are happening on that front in Australia these days. Firstly, more artists want to share their stories. And that also means the media are willing to dedicate more space to them.

Plus, some cool, inclusive organisations foster creativity in the music space for disabled people. A Melbourne-based organisation, Wild At Heart, is my newest discovery.

Now, here comes a shocker. It’s not a new thing at all! According to the FB page, it has been running for more than 11 years already. I can’t believe I’ve never heard of it before!

Wild At Heart (WAH) is a non-profit based at the Meat Market in North Melbourne. It is “a vibrant community of songwriters, singers, rappers, musicians and arts makers who experience visible and invisible disability, mental illness, neuro- and gender diversity.”

As a safe, creative space, WAH believes that “every person has the right to tell their story”. I, too, believe music is one of the best ways to do that. And that philosophy is reflected in the formats the organisation offers.

For example, WAH collaborates with a band “rockin’ for mental health”. And here’s another mind-blowing fact: BiPolar Bears have been around for over 20 years. Aside from making badass music, the group’s goal is to educate people on mental health and raise awareness of general wellbeing through workshops and chats.

Their performances seem super fun and approachable. And apparently, they have gigged in diverse venues, from a psych ward to the Sydney Opera House.

Most importantly, however, the knowledge BiPolar Bears impart is informed by their own lived mental illness experiences. And if they can put it all in a song, I’m here for it.

For those who want to practice rapping, recording or free-styling, WAH’s project Inkrewsive Hip Hop will be a good place to start.

This dance theatre ensemble for young Melburnians experiencing disability meets every week. Participants have the opportunity to work on a variety of things. From writing lyrics to creating beats, music video making or practising choreography. They are supported by experienced artists who facilitate these inclusive, accessible activities.

The social aspect seems to be equally important in this particular project.

Aside from musical competencies, the youth learn about working in and leading a team. They develop a strong work ethic and acquire vital communication skills.

But if hip-hop is not really your thing, there are also separate songwriting workshops.

Whether you’re at the beginning of your musical journey or an established artist already, this project will help you hone instrumental and performance skills. And who knows? Maybe you’ll be discovered as the next big thing at your local Open Mic?

Lastly, individual mentoring is another WAH initiative.

It’s for everyone thinking seriously about a career in the music business. Songwriters, singers, sound engineers, producers and visual artists (like video makers or photographers) are welcome to attend.

Achieving artistic and professional goals is the key here. Music industry experts involved in the programme can help participants come up with a development plan, realise their objectives and access direct training or employment opportunities. And we all know how much having someone like-minded to bounce ideas off of means to anyone creative.

The four hands-on programmes are just a part of what WAH offers its dedicated community.

The organisation frequently stages events, either face-to-face or online. They include single or album launches, wellness workshops or industry panel discussions. There is even a proper festival called UNMUTED that sheds light on mental health through music and artists’ personal stories.

But wait, that’s still not everything. The non-profit has another branch as well.

WAH Records is an independent, accessible label that helps musicians with disability, mental illness and neuro- and gender diversity put out their music.

And they don’t discriminate on any genres, either. On their SoundCloud page, you can find releases by indie, folk, rock and hip-hop artists, including some very recent ones.

WAH’s motto is “Changing lives through arts and music.”

I haven’t had a chance to support any of their awesome events in person yet. But having seen the online response to their activities, I couldn’t agree more with their mission.

We need more organisations like that to ensure that creativity and access to arts and music are not only reserved for the privileged, non-disabled community.

And I’ll do my best to feature them on my channels. Whether they’re from Australia or beyond.

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