A community-funded ambient music series in Goa has helped launch a new mental health support initiative for Indian musicians facing financial barriers to care.
Called Compos Mentis, the programme is a collaboration between Interbeing and Sangath Goa and will provide 15 musicians across India with five fully funded one-on-one sessions with trained mental health professionals. Applications opened on 5 June and will remain open until 25 June 2026.
The initiative has emerged from Big Sound Lie Around, an ambient listening series organised by Goa-based creative agency Interbeing at Vaayu Kula in Mandrem, North Goa. Over the past two years, the events have brought together artists and audiences in an immersive listening environment, with attendees contributing on a pay-what-you-can basis. Funds raised through the series have now been directed towards providing mental health support for musicians.
According to the organisers, the programme is intended to address a longstanding gap in support for artists working across independent music, electronic music and nightlife communities, many of whom contend with irregular working hours, financial instability, social isolation and creative burnout while having limited access to affordable mental healthcare.
Applications for Compos Mentis are being assessed based on need, access to alternative support systems and readiness to engage with the programme. Priority will be given to full-time musicians from low-income and marginalised backgrounds. Selection is not based on artistic profile, popularity or career achievements, and all applicants will receive a response. Those who cannot be accommodated within the current programme will be placed on a waitlist and directed towards other free or low-cost mental health resources.
The clinical component of the initiative is being delivered in partnership with Sangath, the Goa-founded mental health organisation known for its work in expanding access to evidence-based care across India. Participants selected for the programme will receive support from trained professionals working under clinical supervision.
Organisers say clinicians involved in the programme have also been oriented to understand the specific realities of creative careers, including income uncertainty, audience-facing work, nightlife culture and the often-isolated nature of freelance artistic practice.
Commenting on the partnership, Devika Gupta of Sangath Goa said:
“The mental health needs of musicians and nightlife professionals are widely misunderstood, as they challenge the assumptions of “typical” behaviours and habits. We are excited to partner with Interbeing for this initiative, and look forward to our clinicians serving the complex needs of a new population.”
The funding for Compos Mentis was generated through multiple editions of Big Sound Lie Around held between late 2024 and 2026. Artists including Sunju Hargun, Chhabb, Dualist Inquiry, Kiss Nuka, Fursat.fm, Kohra, Monophonik, Andy Garvey, Zokhuma, Avril and Majestic 88 contributed performances without charging fees, helping raise funds for the programme.
Alongside the launch, Interbeing has also announced the release of the Lie Around Archive, a SoundCloud series featuring live recordings from past editions of Big Sound Lie Around. The first release captures a performance by Sunju Hargun and Chhabb recorded during the inaugural edition held at Vaayu Kula on 7 January 2025, with additional recordings scheduled to be released monthly through December 2026.
Reflecting on the initiative, Interbeing founder Prakriti Abel said:
“The music has always been about more than the music. This program is what the evenings were always working towards, finding a way to support the people behind the music.”
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