Want Your Picture In My Music Video to Raise Awareness About Mental Illness? Selfies work!

Hey loves!

As a lot of you know, I’m a singer/songwriter in New York City with a fabulous life…. and a mental illness! (the two can go together! And errr.. it wasn’t always that way! LOL) I am so passionate about mental health awareness, ending the stigma, and connecting with other warriors like you! I am also writing a musical about these topics.

What I want to know is: Can I have a picture of you (selfie or taken by another) for a music video that will raise mental health awareness? I’ll put instructions below for what I need you to do in the selfie or picture you submit, but first I want to tell you more about the project and its potential!

More about the mental health musical I’m writing, We Have Apples, can be found on the website. You can also hear songs there. (But the song for this video is not released, yet- You’ll be the first to hear it, though!) If you want, you can sign up for the show’s mailing list to be kept posted on the development!:)

I was just selected as a Dramatists Guild Fellow, which means this year I will be working on developing We Have Apples with Broadway professionals!

More about my career as a singer/songwriter at: Rachel Griffin Website. This info I’m giving is not because I want to brag, but I want to tell you a little about my career so you know this song and video we are going to make will be high quality and could do very well! 🙂 I’ve won two National songwriting contests, recently wrote a song for an internal Macy’s campaign, and I have a publishing deal for a few of my pop songs. Also why you need to know it: Many people could see you in this video, so if you don’t want to be aligned with the cause, don’t submit your photo. On one of my YouTube pages, I have over a million views. I am looking for people with mental illness, family members of people with mental illness, and friends and supporters! Once I publish the video with your pic in it, I can’t edit it out. That being said, your name and info will NOT be anywhere. Just the pic as a slideshow. If you are under 18, I need your parents permission.

What to do in the picture of selfie:

Hold up (write on a piece of paper in bold print and bold color) a message to someone struggling with mental illness. It can be something you’d say to someone just diagnosed, something you need to hear yourself (but put it like it’s to another person) or something you’d say to your younger self. It can be something you’d say to your family or friend who is struggling. If the message is not positive, I can’t put it in this video.

EXAMPLES: “You got this!” “Hang on!” “Stay safe” “It’s strong to ask for help!” “You are not alone” “I wish you joy”

ANOTHER OPTION: You can write how you used to feel when you were really struggling in one sentence. This will be for the verses of the song. Examples are “I felt scared.” “I was suicidal” “I felt alone” “I felt confused” “I was full of shame” OR how you feel now (if it’s positive) “I feel better.” “I’m so glad I got help” “I feel free” “I’m so glad I didn’t give up”

If you can do all three categories, you are my HERO! (this would be three different pics, though, one per message) The more pics you want to submit, the better, but ONE is also fine!:)  I’m so psyched about how many people we could potentially reach with our stories and our words of encouragement! We change lives! I may ask you to resubmit if: The quality of the photo is extremely poor, the message could be taken the wrong way.

I wrote the lyrics and music but it will be a guy singing (amazing voice) and has an indie, pop vibe!:)

Send pics to: rachelgriffinmusic@gmail.com or if you post them here I can screen shot them!

I also need you to write “I give you permission to use this picture on youtube for the music video” (you can copy & paste)

If you are wondering, “Hmmm, what is this song about before I submit my photo?” I posted the lyrics below! You can’t hear it yet, but I will play it for you as SOON as I get it from the producer. The lyrics are about an apple (figurative) that has fallen from a tree. No one picked this apple and it feels bruised and alone. Then other apples let this apple know that it is not alone on the ground, and that everything will be ok. The apples on the ground all join together and become majestic trees. (because of their seeds in the ground) It’s an analogy about how I feel about mental illness. On the ground alone it’s so scary, but when we find others and get empowered we can be even more then before we were diagnosed. We can be propelled further. Here are the lyrics. You’re amazing! Love you bunches!

I’m An Apple, Too

You fell from the sky
Unexpectedly
No one chose you from the tree

You feel like you’re bruised
Like you lost your chance
no one gives second glance

Well I’m an apple, too
Just like you
Here on the ground
You have been found
I’m an apple, too
Stay with me
Let’s become an apple tree

You’re falling apart
Sinking more each day
All your friends have gone away
You’re scared of what’s next
Scared you’ll disappear
Don’t know what you’re doing here

Well I’m an apple, too
Just like you
Here on the ground
You have been found
I’m an apple, too
Stay with me
Let’s become an apple tree

One day
You’ll stand so tall
Your leaves all
kissed by the sun
One day
majestic trees will stand
Where fallen apples land