By ԱƵ Alum Lisa Heller
I didn’t start making music because I thought it would lead to fans, streams, and shows. I honestly didn’t think a single person would ever hear what I was making. I started because I needed it. Writing songs was how I survived. It helped me make sense of my anxiety, body image struggles, and loneliness. Music healed me first. And, over time, I realized it could do the same for other people, too.
That simple belief — that music could be a tool for healing — became the seed for what eventually grew into Is Anyone Listening?, my community. What started as one girl at a piano writing her way through the chaos has become something bigger: a mental health-centered experience built around songs, storytelling, and real conversations. Thanks to the TIA Summer Accelerator at ԱƵ, I’m finally building the structure to grow that community beyond just me.
One thing I’ll never forget from the Bootcamp:
One of the most valuable things I took away was learning how to explain what I do in a way that actually connects with people. I’ve always known my music came from a personal place, but putting that into words, especially for people outside the music world, wasn’t always easy. Working with mentors Kim Schafer ’92, Andres Echenique ’83, Brian Horey ’82, Steve Rock ’85, and Entrepreneur in Residence Reece Wilson helped me figure out how to communicate the heart of this project clearly. I see that shift in my confidence now when discussing my music and mission with schools, venues, and potential partners.
How TIA’s $10,000 grant is making an impact:
This funding is helping our small team take some real steps forward. Up until now, we’ve all been juggling a lot: from content creation to getting songs over the finish line to organizing shows; we’ve all been wearing way too many hats. With this support, I can bring in a content strategist, finish my new EP, and finally start releasing the eight songs we’ve planned. We’re also lining up college shows for the fall, hoping to connect in person with the same people who’ve been following along online. It feels like a chance to turn what’s been resonating digitally into something more tangible and human.
The biggest lesson I learned the hard way:
You really can’t do this alone. I used to avoid asking for help because I thought it made me look weak. The TIA Summer Accelerator helped shift that mindset. In the creator space, you’re expected to do everything: run your own team, come up with content, write the songs, plan the tour, post on social media, hire the band ... After burning out trying to be a strategist, artist, and a team of 10 all at once, I had to admit I couldn’t keep going that way. The accelerator reminded me that asking for support isn’t failure — it’s how things actually grow. And now, I finally believe I don’t have to carry it all by myself.
Why being in-person mattered:
There’s something different about standing in a room and pitching your vision the same way you would perform a song: raw, vulnerable, and fully present. Being in-person made space for real emotion, honest feedback, and, honestly, a lot of messiness. For someone like me, who builds her whole project on being real, that kind of environment was exactly what I needed.
If I had to write a “How To” for starting a music x mental health venture:
- Start with your truth. Don’t chase trends, chase what keeps you grounded.
- Make content with intention, not perfection. My most viral videos were shot on an iPhone, not in a studio.
- Find your people, then show up for them. I’m not trying to be for everyone, just the ones who need someone like me. Some people might think it’s cringey. That’s fine. It’s probably not for them.
- Let the mission guide the numbers. When you’re clear on your “why,” growth follows in a more sustainable way.
I came into this accelerator with a music project. I’m leaving with a mission, a clearer direction, and a deeper belief that maybe, just maybe, one honest voice can still make a real impact.