February 28th, 2013 – News Reporter Emma Jackson’s story
EMC news – A Greely musician is hoping his song can help the world put an end to suicide.
Larry Pegg wrote his song Weight last October while attending the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention convention in Niagara Falls. The upbeat but emotional song was motivated by the grief he’s endured since his daughter died by suicide at the age of 20 in 2007.
The song’s message, Pegg said, is to convince everyone to slow down and let others help you carry your burden.
“We all carry weight, and there are times when we feel crushed by the burden of it and darkness can become frightening and unbearable,” Pegg wrote on his blog. “My objective with this song is to try and help those that have lost hope to reach out and at least to find some comfort in and through the music.”
Pegg took his song and message to the next level through CBC’s Searchlight contest, a national competition to find Canada’s next big artist.
Under the artist name LPGroove, throughout February Pegg was busy mobilizing an army of voters to help his song win the contest with the promise that all proceeds – from the prize money to future album sales – will support the mental health and suicide prevention cause at large.
At press time, the first round of voting had not been concluded to decide which songs made it into the top 20.
The song’s lyrics climax with the words, “You’ve got to wait/Just share the weight/This love is great.”
Pegg said it captures the feelings of every parent who has endured their child’s suicide.
“You’re screaming out, ‘please wait, don’t do it, come back, we love you,’” he said through tears at his kitchen table. “This has become my raison d’etre.”
Pegg said that if his song can win the contest, which is currently in its regional voting phase, everyone will win because “the world will be healthier.”
“CBC sees it merely as a popularity contest, but I see it as an opportunity to focus the power of the mental health and suicide prevention network, and music.”
He plans to donate 100 per cent of the prize winnings, including a paid gig in Toronto and the opportunity to make a music video, to mental health causes. The video, he said, would be used as a tool to get the message out that suicide is not the answer.
Voters can secure him a spot in the top 20 by Feb. 24 by voting every day until then. If he makes it to the number one spot in Ottawa he will compete against other regional winners across the country for the national title.
But win or lose, Pegg said the contest serves as a convenient platform for suicide prevention.
“It will be a way to keep sending the message,” he said.
After the contest, Pegg plans to release his first album during Mental Health Week in May, featuring Weight and another nine to 13 songs.
Titled Before and Afterlife and the Theory of Positivity, the album will feature collaborations with a number of Canadian and international musicians.
All proceeds from the album’s sales will also go to mental health programs, although Pegg hasn’t decided which organizations will benefit from his music.
To vote for Weight visit cbcmusic.ca/allinaday.
EMC news – A Greely musician is hoping his song can help the world put an end to suicide.
Larry Pegg wrote his song Weight last October while attending the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention convention in Niagara Falls. The upbeat but emotional song was motivated by the grief he’s endured since his daughter died by suicide at the age of 20 in 2007.
The song’s message, Pegg said, is to convince everyone to slow down and let others help you carry your burden.
“We all carry weight, and there are times when we feel crushed by the burden of it and darkness can become frightening and unbearable,” Pegg wrote on his blog. “My objective with this song is to try and help those that have lost hope to reach out and at least to find some comfort in and through the music.”
Pegg took his song and message to the next level through CBC’s Searchlight contest, a national competition to find Canada’s next big artist.
Under the artist name LPGroove, throughout February Pegg was busy mobilizing an army of voters to help his song win the contest with the promise that all proceeds – from the prize money to future album sales – will support the mental health and suicide prevention cause at large.
At press time, the first round of voting had not been concluded to decide which songs made it into the top 20.
The song’s lyrics climax with the words, “You’ve got to wait/Just share the weight/This love is great.”
Pegg said it captures the feelings of every parent who has endured their child’s suicide.
“You’re screaming out, ‘please wait, don’t do it, come back, we love you,’” he said through tears at his kitchen table. “This has become my raison d’etre.”
Pegg said that if his song can win the contest, which is currently in its regional voting phase, everyone will win because “the world will be healthier.”
“CBC sees it merely as a popularity contest, but I see it as an opportunity to focus the power of the mental health and suicide prevention network, and music.”
He plans to donate 100 per cent of the prize winnings, including a paid gig in Toronto and the opportunity to make a music video, to mental health causes. The video, he said, would be used as a tool to get the message out that suicide is not the answer.
Voters can secure him a spot in the top 20 by Feb. 24 by voting every day until then. If he makes it to the number one spot in Ottawa he will compete against other regional winners across the country for the national title.
But win or lose, Pegg said the contest serves as a convenient platform for suicide prevention.
“It will be a way to keep sending the message,” he said.
After the contest, Pegg plans to release his first album during Mental Health Week in May, featuring Weight and another nine to 13 songs.
Titled Before and Afterlife and the Theory of Positivity, the album will feature collaborations with a number of Canadian and international musicians.
All proceeds from the album’s sales will also go to mental health programs, although Pegg hasn’t decided which organizations will benefit from his music.
To vote for Weight visit cbcmusic.ca/allinaday.