Survivors of drug and alcohol addiction are being supported to tell their stories through song. 

The residents of River Garden Auchincruive – a recovery centre in South Ayrshire – have been encouraged to express themselves via songwriting, by fast-rising young musician April Dowling, a BA Commercial Music student at University of the West of Scotland (UWS). They are collaborating on a new album, with proceeds supporting the work of River Garden.

The centre – located on a stunning 48.5-acre site on the banks of the River Ayr – offers a residential programme for people in the early stages of recovery from drug and/or alcohol addiction. 

To produce the tracks on the album, April sat down with a number of residents; turning their lived experiences into lyrics that they felt represented them, in a genre of music that they connected with. 

She explained: “I’ve always been interested in how music can be used in health and wellbeing, and this is something I expressed to one of my lecturers at UWS, Clare Duffin. She suggested I contact River Garden, who already had a relationship with the University. Students had gone there to perform, but no one had done anything like this. 

“I’d done research on music in relation to addiction, and it’s something I wanted to explore further; particularly in relation to its therapeutic qualities.

“Music allows people to relate, and connect back to specific times in their lives. It can also give those in recovery hope, and allow them to express how they are feeling or have felt in a unique way.”

She added that the residents embraced the project. April said “I sat with them and conducted lengthy interviews, working with them to translate what they told me into a song.

“We explored different genres – for example, one resident told me that he really liked rap; and asked me if I could turn his story into a rap song. 

“I’d not written rap before, let alone performed it – but that’s exactly what happened, and he was really pleased with the end result. The response has been overwhelming, with songs from the album receiving radio airplay as far away as the United States.

“I’m so pleased that I have been able to work with these amazing people, at this incredible facility.”

All proceeds raised from the album go directly to River Garden. 

Margaret Gibson OBE, a trustee of the charity, said: “The residents involved in this project were absolutely delighted at the end results, and it has been an enormously positive experience for them.

“I’m truly grateful to April for taking an active interest in the life-changing work done here at River Garden, and I look forward to watching her career going forward. I’ve no doubt that her future is bright.”

Clare Duffin, lecturer in Commercial Music at UWS, added: “This project demonstrates how versatile – and beneficial – music can be. It allows us to communicate lived experiences in a way traditional academic projects are often unable to.

“I’m impressed by what April has achieved here, and I am grateful to River Garden residents, volunteers and staff for allowing us to be part of the wonderful work they do to transform lives.”

The River Sessions is available to download via BandCamp here.