Maxim Mower
Co-Founder & Editor Hey there! I recently turned 23, which means I can no longer spontaneously start singing “I’m feeling 22” in my best Taylor Swift voice (actually, that's a lie, I'm definitely going to keep doing it regardless). I’m a huge fan of Country, Hip-Hop and EDM, but I’ve also got a guilty soft spot for One Direction.
I recently finished a Buddhism & Hinduism Masters degree at the University of Oxford, and previously studied Philosophy & Theology there as an undergraduate. During this time I worked as Music Editor of two student publications, and I also started a blog over at www.maximoco.com, on which I’ve published album reviews, interviews, and some more general musical musings. My first foray into the relationship between music and mental health was in my Self-Help Songs blog series, where I’d pick a song that has an especially helpful message and discuss the meaning behind it. The more I studied Buddhism, the more I realised that most Buddhist practices and philosophies are aimed towards one goal - improving our mental health. This provided the inspiration for my blog’s 30-Day Happiness x Music Project, which combined a Buddhist step-by-step process of how to improve our mental wellbeing with a song that embodied each teaching. Two of my main passions in life are writing and music, and it’s been a long-term dream to start a magazine, so I’m incredibly excited to have co-founded Mindful Melody with my best friend, David. My favourite artists are Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Travis Scott, Florida Georgia Line, Kanye West, Avicii, Zac Brown Band, Drake, and Luke Combs...to name a few (!). When I’m not listening to music, I’m either out playing golf, over-watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine, or wondering why it’s so quiet… |
David Dawson
Co-Founder & Deputy Editor Hi, I’m David and along with my more talented and better looking (no I'm not bitter) best friend Maxim I co-founded this magazine. I have always had a passion for music and played instruments from a young age, but when I was 12 I settled on the saxophone and with it played in multiple bands in and outside of school. Through an amazing band I was in I was fortunate enough to perform at the Royal Albert Hall twice and go on a tour to Spain. I also did work experience as an army musician and just about got involved in music in any and every way I could. I studied music throughout school and also had a keen interest in History, Philosophy, Ethics and English but as it was my passion music is the one I followed through to University. As well as performance modules, in Uni I would also study modules focused on music psychology, musicology, film music, music journalism and the music industry (Bored yet?).
So, music has been a big part of my life, but so is mental health. Although I didn’t really know it at the time I suffered depression through my later years at school, I knew the way I was feeling wasn’t right but was unable to put any sort of label on it. Whilst at Uni, although overall a positive part of my life for many reasons, I began to suffer more and more and finally went to the doctors where I was diagnosed and put on medication for depression. After five or six years I have finally realised that the journey is not one with an end as such, but more of a bumpy ride filled with ups and downs. Whilst the ride at times may be more difficult than others there is no way that we can fix the road, but only better prepare ourselves for when the ride isn't so comfy (maybe a new set of springs!). When I'm not working or writing I'll probably be playing football, Xbox or watching the US version of The Office on a continuous loop. |
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