One of the questions I get asked most often is about the music. People sometimes assume RISE is a wellbeing event that happens to have music playing in the background. In reality, the music sits right at the centre of the experience. It creates the atmosphere, shapes the energy in the room and helps people move beyond thinking and into feeling.
Long before RISE existed, music was already a huge part of my life. I've spent years DJing, playing percussion and exploring the way rhythm brings people together. Whether it's a packed dancefloor, a festival crowd or a small room full of strangers meeting for the first time, I've always been fascinated by how quickly music can change the mood of a space. That fascination became one of the foundations of RISE.
The music you hear during a session isn't chosen randomly. Every track is selected with intention. The energy rises and falls naturally throughout the experience, creating space for people to settle, explore movement and gradually feel more connected to themselves and the people around them.
House music plays a big role because it creates momentum without demanding attention. Alongside that, you'll often hear elements of soul, funk, disco and downtempo electronic music. Each brings something different to the room. Some tracks create energy and release. Others create reflection, grounding and calm. The goal isn't entertainment. The goal is creating an environment where people feel comfortable enough to move.
There is something deeply human about rhythm. Long before people gathered around dancefloors, they gathered around drums, voices and shared movement. Rhythm has always been part of how communities connect. It gives people a common language without needing words. When people arrive at RISE, many are carrying stress, distraction or simply the weight of a busy week. The steady pulse of music provides something to hold onto. It helps people stop analysing and start experiencing.
You don't need dance experience to respond to rhythm. You don't need confidence, technique or knowledge of any particular style. The body already understands rhythm. Often it just needs the opportunity to remember. That's one of the reasons people frequently tell us they relax more quickly than they expected. Once the music begins, attention naturally shifts away from the noise of everyday life and towards the present moment.
Live percussion adds another dimension to the experience. There is something powerful about hearing and feeling rhythm being created in real time. It creates a stronger sense of presence in the room and builds a connection between the music and the people moving to it.
When I play percussion during a session, I'm not performing for an audience. I'm responding to the room. Sometimes that means lifting the energy. Sometimes it means holding a steady groove. Sometimes it means creating moments of space where people can simply breathe and settle.
The interaction between DJing, live percussion and movement means every RISE session feels slightly different. No two groups are the same, so the energy never unfolds in exactly the same way twice.
That sense of spontaneity helps keep the experience human and alive.
One of the most rewarding things about RISE is watching a room full of strangers gradually find a shared rhythm.
At the start of a session, everyone arrives with their own thoughts, concerns and expectations. Within a relatively short space of time, the music begins to create a common thread between them.
People are still moving in their own way. There is no choreography and nobody is trying to get the steps right. Yet a feeling of togetherness often begins to emerge naturally. The room starts to move as a community while still allowing every individual to have their own experience.
That's one of the unique things about music. It creates connection without requiring conversation.
For many participants, that feeling becomes one of the most memorable parts of RISE.
The impact of music doesn't stop when the session ends. Research continues to explore the relationship between music, movement, wellbeing and emotional regulation. Music can help reduce stress, improve mood and strengthen feelings of connection and belonging. These aren't new ideas. Humans have been using rhythm, song and shared movement to come together for thousands of years.
At RISE, we're simply creating a modern space where people can reconnect with those experiences. We're not trying to recreate a nightclub and we're not trying to run a therapy session. Instead, we're creating an environment where people can experience the benefits of music and movement in a way that feels welcoming, accessible and free from pressure.
The music creates the opportunity.
The movement brings it to life.
Together, they create the energy that makes RISE what it is.
And that's why music will always sit at the heart of the experience.
