Dial M for Meditation: Artist sets up national hotline of calming sounds to soothe stresses

In the midst of a global pandemic and all its accompanying stress, a Victoria, B.C.-based artist and musician is creating an oasis of calm in the form of an old-fashioned telephone hotline.

From now until July 2021, anyone across Canada can call the toll-free number, 1-877-2BE-CALM, and get connected to a wide variety of calming sounds includingchildren's laughter and joyful music.

Kathryn Calder, Victoria's artist in residenceand member of the band The New Pornographers, was initially inspired by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry's famous mantra.

"It started, of course...with Bonnie Henry [saying] to be calm," Calder said on CBC's All Points West.

Calder said she was trying to figure out what a communityproject could look like under pandemic restrictions. A friend sent her a link to a Calgary teacher who created a hotline where her students would record jokes and people could call in and hear them.

Working withcollaborator Emily Hamel, Calder said they came up with idea of having a hotline with different kinds of soothing sounds that callers could choose from whenthey callin.

"It's challenging times out there and we wanted to do something that was uplifting and positive," she said.

"I'm an artist and I believe in the power of art to make people feel better in times of difficulty and people turn to music and art in general. It's sort of a fundamental part of being human. I believe in this project and I hope people get something out of it and I hope it brings some joy."

Some of the sounds are particular to the West Coast, includingnorthern resident orcasrecordedby the Pacific Biological Station ofFisheries and Oceans Canada, a story told by the City of Victoria's Indigenous artist in residence Dylan Thomasabout the ancient Salish wool dog, and original music from Calder.

One of the most popular sounds so far, Calder says, is the sound of children laughing.

"Different things appeal to different people ... but definitely the children laughing has been a big hit."

Anyparents who would like to have their child's laughter included in future phone line audio can send recordings along with arelease form to Calderby February 7, 2021, via the victoria.ca/becalm website.

While the project ends in July 2021, but the content will be refreshed throughout the next few months to feature works from different area artists.

The hotline is toll-free across Canada. Servicesare being paid for by TELUS.

Listen to the segment on CBC's All Points West here: