Rooted in the Music

A Boulder non-profit organization sings their own harmony amid mental health struggles

By Mackenzie Shelswell-White, Jessie Kotmel and Jordan Houten

With a strum of her ukulele, Ellie Berg stands in the middle of her living room, singing to the crowd composed of her parents, Josh and Carly, and the front row of her beloved stuffed animals; her most adoring audience. More than just an instrument, her ukulele showcased her personality and the embodiment of her love of music, passed down from her parents. “Music was everything for us,” says Josh Berg, reflecting on his family’s involvement in music.

It all started one day at a street jam hosted by Roots Music Project, where Ellie was drawn in by the sounds of cover artist Emelise and her influential strumming. The family stopped for a moment, listened, and their connection to music grew from that day forward. 

In 2023, Josh and Carly tragically lost their daughter in a backyard accident, turning their lives completely upside-down. “Spread love, be kind, play music,” is the mantra that harbors the Be Like Ellie Foundation, built in her honor to embody what was most important to the six-year-old.  Music, although painful for the Berg’s to listen to at first, became a vital part of their healing process.

“Ellie could often be found playing music for her stuffed animals or putting on a show in our living room, playing love ballads she wrote,” said Carly. “The energy around music is unparalleled, the love and kindness that comes from playing, listening, writing, and sharing is why music is a crucial part of our mission, and why we choose to celebrate Ellie,” Josh continued to elaborate. 

“Ellie loved music; she listened, she played, she sang, and she created,” said Carly at their second annual fundraising concert hosted at Roots Music Project. The movement, founded in May of 2024, aims to promote kindness and abundance in the Boulder community, young and old alike, through music, outreach programs, concerts, and educational campaigns. 

The foundation emphasizes the therapeutic and healing benefits of music while offering people a space for emotional healing. Partnering with Roots felt like the right thing to do for the Bergs since “... they're doing it because, not only do they love music and being around music, but they also really want to help people,” said Josh at the event.

According to America’s Health Ranking’s,  12% of people in Colorado struggle specifically with a clinical depressive disorder, and the numbers have continued to rise, especially among young adults. With so many people facing mental health struggles, finding healthy ways to cope can be more than challenging. One powerful, connecting, and overall accessible way to improve mental health and well-being is through music. 

Recent studies show that music therapy has been successful in lowering depression and anxiety. According to a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine, even 30 minutes of exposure to music can benefit mental health. Beyond the simple joy of listening to your favorite song or artist, music can be used to address serious mental health conditions.

21% of people in Colorado struggle with depressive disorders

Josh and Carly witnessed this first hand when one of their favorite and widely recognized bands, Phish, surprised them at a concert in Mexico shortly after Ellie’s passing. Songs about mangos, worms, and all of the weirdness initially drew them into the band and were captivating to Ellie and her expressive personality. When she passed, listening to the band was especially hard since they enjoyed the music together as a family. Going to the concert was much more of an out-of-body experience than an in-body one, the Berg’s said. 

Fully aware of the band's low accommodation rate for dedications and not expecting much, their friends still wanted to put minds together and ask that one of the family’s favorite songs could be played as the couple admired from the beach. More than what they could have ever expected from a random concert on a random vacation, the band surprised them by playing the song, making a short remark about Ellie, and touching their hearts deeper than they could have ever asked for. “He was so emotional. They played so poorly,” said Josh remarking on the gesture, yet uncaring about the quality of the music itself. The performance was more than just a shout-out, but a way to feel seen in their grief.

Ellie's mom, Carly, showing off her tattoo in honor of Ellie that happened to stem from an unknown Taylor Swift reference, but ultimately always represented Ellie's love to play music on her ukulele. (Photo by Mackenzie Shelswell-White, CU News Corps)

Ellie's mom, Carly, showing off her tattoo in honor of Ellie that happened to stem from an unknown Taylor Swift reference, but ultimately always represented Ellie's love to play music on her ukulele. (Photo by Mackenzie Shelswell-White, CU News Corps)

Not only is Roots a place for grieving families to go, but it's a thriving environment for individuals to find their artistic voices. “It has immensely helped my mental health to be able to be authentic and write music that I like,” says Riley J. Hughes, of the Riley J Band, who performed for the first installation of the Roots Music Project’s (RMP) festival this October. More than just a stepping stone for undiscovered artists to find a stage and let their stories sing, the nonprofit organization is touching the lives of those who have sought healing through music within their community.

“They place an importance on the artists and on the musician, and you feel well taken care of when you're here,” Hughes continued. Hughes opened up about her struggles being apart from her family in an emergency situation inflicting anxiety in her life. With artistry running in her family, Hughes uses music not only as a way to perform but as an outlet to deal with difficult challenges like medical and family health scares that she can’t be present for due to her family residing across four different states. Her song “Time Trip” speaks to these challenges and highlights how physically being away from her family has taken a mental toll on her.

“That health scare showed me that I just want to be present and I want to have good relationships with my parents … and I don't want to take our time together lightly,” Hughes said. “I am glad that it inspired me because I don't think I am the first one to receive a scary phone call like that before, and that's the beauty of song writing…”

“It’s the feeling that you give them when they’re listening to it … to me, songs are a feeling.”

Upgrading from an artist to a team member, Hughes used her innate sense of leadership to secure a position as general manager at the Roots Music Festival. When talking about the aftermath of the weekend shows, she said that her successes outweighed the hiccups and that management released future festival dates, despite the show being in its inaugural year. She touched on points highlighting the collaboration and dedication to communicate with those involved that connection and building relationships would be the core reason for the event to continue.

Riley J. Hughes, of the Riley J. Band, talks with student reporters about her involvement with Roots and excitement for the upcoming festival in the Roots Music Project secondary studio in Boulder. Hughes performed in and managed part of the first-annual Roots Music Festival that took place in mid-October this year. (Photo by Mackenzie Shelswell-White, CU News Corps)

Riley J. Hughes, of the Riley J. Band, talks with student reporters about her involvement with Roots and excitement for the upcoming festival in the Roots Music Project secondary studio in Boulder. Hughes performed in and managed part of the first-annual Roots Music Festival that took place in mid-October this year. (Photo by Mackenzie Shelswell-White, CU News Corps)

Riley J. Hughes plays her original song "Time Trip" in her apartment for student reporters. Hughes often draws her lyrics from personal life events and explained that this song specifically was about an anxiety-inducing phone call she received about a family member. (Photo by Mackenzie Shelswell-White, CU News Corps)

Riley J. Hughes plays her original song "Time Trip" in her apartment for student reporters. Hughes often draws her lyrics from personal life events and explained that this song specifically was about an anxiety-inducing phone call she received about a family member. (Photo by Mackenzie Shelswell-White, CU News Corps)

The festival also has a broader commitment to financially supporting the over 1,000 artists and 750 bands performing for the three-day celebration across Pearl Street Mall. While the music scene is on the rise in Boulder, it is important to recognize that not everyone gets to witness and attend a concert experience like RMP hosted. 78% of Americans say music and the arts is “a positive experience in a troubled world,” according to a survey conducted by the Boulder City government. Not only is music important to the artists, it is crucial to the people and their shared experiences.

According to RMP’s website, their mission is to “amplify live music through performance and artist development.” Their commitment to supporting artists reflects a core belief that music has the power to make the world a better place. Beyond financial support, RMP hosts numerous workshops and events focused on mental wellness.

Sober Night Live is an open mic event that RMP hosts to help sober artists have a stage and community. Founder Paul Soderman created the event because of personal experience struggling with alcohol abuse in the music industry. Hosted every first Tuesday of the month, Sober Night Live has curated a close-knit community of supportive friends. 

“You know this is like an island of misfits," said Soderman. “Everybody's very present, they're very sober. They just want to come and make some music and have a good time.”

“You know... [Roots] is like an island of misfits."

Music is a unique kind of medicine that helps people heal, connect, and find meaning in both the difficult and joyful moments of life. It shapes our identities, strengthens our communities, and inspires us to become the best versions of ourselves regardless of the raw, and sometimes messy, experiences of life. Whether it's hip-hop or the blues, we could all use more music in our lives.  The mission behind Roots Music Project is bringing that to the Boulder community with grace and invitation, and there’s only more to be written.

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