Music Production Meets Mental Wellness at CoSTAR Live Lab

CoSTAR Live Lab recently served as the venue for a unique four-day Music and Mindset Retreat. Organised by Henna Angus and supported by funding from Arts Council England and Leeds City Council, the retreat offered emerging artists a powerful combination of creative development and mental wellness support.

The retreat addressed a crucial gap in artist development by blending professional music production with psychological support. Participants worked with professional producers and sound engineers in our Networked Performance Labs, where each artist wrote, produced and recorded their own track from start to finish across the four days. The programme included vocal coaching, mixing and mastering, and live lounge-style music videos, all backed by PR support.

Alongside creative sessions, participants engaged in one-to-one sessions with a psychologist, neuropsychology workshops, and therapeutic coaching designed to build resilience, demonstrating a truly holistic approach to artist development. The Future Venues space hosted group workshops and networking sessions with industry professionals, including established songwriters and managers.

"We wanted to create something that acknowledges both the creative ambitions and the mental challenges that come with building an artistic career," said Henna Angus, organiser of the retreat. "By combining industry-standard music production with psychological tools and support, we're equipping artists with the 'bulletproof brain' they need to thrive, not just survive, in this demanding industry."

Participants left with professionally produced and promoted music, plus the psychological tools and industry connections needed to sustain long-term careers. The CoSTAR Live Lab team loved supporting this innovative event and seeing our spaces used in such creative and impactful ways.

Interested in hosting your own creative event or workshop at CoSTAR Live Lab? Get in touch to explore how our versatile spaces can bring your vision to life.