Wife of Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington and founding partner of 320 Changes Direction, Talinda Bennington, is not only speaking out on the power of asking for help, but also sharing stories about her late husband and the impact his music had on so many.
In her recent interview with Dr. Chris Donaghue on I’m Listening: Stay Connected, Bennington says that when it came to describing what his lyrics meant he never wanted to leave anyone out or “box them in” to one simple definition. The activist says, “I would often times ask him what the lyrics were about. He would say, ‘I just wrote it. It’s going to connect with whoever listens to it, however they need to connect to it.'”
Bennington has always found beauty in the sentiment Chester had behind his lyrics when it came to inclusivity. “I always thought that it was super special," she reveals. "He would never talk about where songs came from. He never said this is what this song means. He would never box-in his lyrics… aside from the song he wrote for our wedding.” Bennington explains that Chester felt that if he gave a definition to a song, “he might keep people from connecting with it.” She says that his understanding of this was “so powerfully aware.”
Music is a tool for healing, as well as tool used for understanding. Bennington speaks to the weight music carries for so many. “Music plays such a huge role in so many ways for everybody. It’s a very personal experience," explains Talinda. "A song can often lift my mood or make me feel sad again… I think that’s so powerful.”
The W.H.O. Representative for mental health advocacy also says that in regards to music, “I don’t really know many other things that can trigger the depth of your emotions.”
Dr. Chris shares that often times music can be a form of self-care. He says, people can just “disconnect from the world and connect to music.
Bennington admires when artists allow their vulnerability to shine through in a song lyric, because more frequently than not, someone in a completely different part of the world will connect to the song because they too, are sharing the same experience. She says, “often times you hear how the words of a song connected with somebody and helped them get through a moment. Those stories are so beautiful to hear.”
RADIO.COM’s I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-273-8255.
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