Harmony over Hussle: Exploring Music’s Role in Stress Relief

Keith Muscat in collaboration with Malta Pagana

Let me start off with a disclaimer.  Stress and mental health challenges are not to be taken lightly.  Though alternative therapies may alleviate some of the symptoms, always seek professional care.

The right amount of stress might make you feel alive, but an uncontrolled dose will affect your mental and physical health.  It is a silent killer.  Mental health challenges are more in the spotlight and rapidly becoming one of the most common ailments of the modern era.  Nothing to be ashamed of.  The mind is just another body part that requires maintenance from time to time.  The scope of this article is to explore, in lay terms, the transformative effects of music on our mental wellbeing.  Taking some time out to distress and boost our mood can work miracles. Evidence-based research shows that music can be an effective stress reducing tool.  It has the power to change brain functioning by relaxing the mind.  This leads to a significant reduction in stress levels. 

Music has a remarkable way to affect our body and emotions.  Research has shown that whilst upbeat music can make us feel more positive and optimistic and faster music can make us feel mor alert, music with a slower tempo has the opposite effect – it will relax your muscles and quite your mind.  Many things can turn your stress level up during the day……traffic, work, bills, deadlines, etc. etc.  Give it a try.  Either during the day, when you are packed in the tin box your call your car, stuck in the middle of chaos, under the scorching sun, or else after you come back home.  Put on some tranquil nature sounds or soft musical melodies and see how this will trigger physiological responses that help your mind and body destress. Studies suggest that music around 60 beats per minute (bpm) can cause the brain to synchronize with the beat, leading to alpha brainwaves, associated with relaxation and consciousness.  In everyday garble, this simply means that music with a slow tempo, will calm us down.   

Listening to relaxing music can also help to decrease our accelerated heart rate and high blood pressure.  This is the way our cardiovascular system responds to stress.  Diminishing the stress levels by listening to music that will tranquilise us will calm our hearts down, and lower our blood pressure.     

 Another important factor for our overall wellbeing is our mental health.  It is undeniable that when feeling down a good tune can spark some light into the darkness.  This comes along because music has the ability to evoke emotions within us.  More often than not we find solace is music.  This practice goes beyond the feel-good factor.  Music Therapy is an evidence-based practice that has been increasingly utilized as a therapeutic tool by professionals.

So, the next time you feel short fused, frustrated by emotions and situations that you have no control upon, try listening to some instrumental, classical, meditation music or nature sounds.  There are many playlists to choose from, find one that works out for you and keep it handy.   

This article is being presented in conjunction with Malta Pagana – The Ritual – Festival of Spirit on the land of Ancestors.   The fist edition will be held on 25 and 26 October.  

Launched in 2025, this festival aims to bring neo-pagans and interested parties together, in Malta, for two days of blending ancient traditions with contemporary creativity.  The festival invites participants to explore the rich heritage of pre-Christian, folkloric, and earth-based spiritual practices through workshops, music, art, and ritual.

With a strong focus on ecological awareness, personal empowerment, and community connection, Malta Pagana is more than just a festival—it's a sacred gathering that honours the cycles of nature, the power of myth, and the enduring beauty of cultural roots. Whether you're a seasoned pagan, a curious traveller, or a lover of history and nature, Malta Pagana offers an unforgettable journey into the heart of Malta’s ancestral soul.  A Celebration of Ancient Rhythms through Modern Spirit.  Follow our Facebook page and keep yourself updated.  Facebook.com/people/Malta-Pagana.