Anna Gabriel & Michael Hermann: Do Everything Better With Music

Thoughts on Record: Podcast of the Ottawa Institute of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

While many of us regularly use music to enhance our well-being or increase performance, we are often unaware of the underlying science around music as tool to improve our lives. Reverberation Studio Co-founders, Michael Hermann (CEO) and Anna Gabriel join us for a discussion of Reverberation Studio, an undertaking they have started with legendary recording artist, Peter Gabriel. Reverberation’s mission is to do everything better with music. In this discussion we cover:

• the ethos of Reverberation Studio & the types of projects that Reverberation plans to undertake
• why it has been important to integrate an evidence-based perspective into Reveberation’s framework
• why humans have the capacity to create and enjoy music
• musical tools that Anna & Michael use in their personal, business and creative lives
• the application of music to enhancing athletic performance
• applications of music from a psychotherapeutic perspective
• the impact of systems level changes in the way music is made & distributed (including the potential for AI-generate music) on using music to enhance well-being
• how we can be more intentional about integrating music into our lives

Reverberation Co-Founder & CEO, Michael Hermann launched Wicked Cow (Reverberation’s managing partner) in 1995 as a TV production company, producing its inaugural project, Reverse Angle, a sports/entertainment show Michael hosted airing on Fox Sports. In the late 1990s into the 2000s, Michael consulted for the CEOs of two of the most pop-culture-shaping brands of their time—FUBU and Maxim Magazine. In 2004, he transformed Wicked Cow into a brand strategy/business development agency spending the next decade helping to oversee culturally iconic brands. In 2013, Michael co-founded with Derek Jeter, their content and media studio, Jeter Publishing, which featured a two-imprint joint venture with publishing giant, Simon & Schuster, and several best-sellers. Next for Michael was the creation of Wicked Cow Studios, and its children’s book sensation, Lulu Is A Rhinoceros, which it co-created and published. Now, Wicked Cow is engineering a world-class brain brand through its revolutionary neuroscience-driven media company, It’s All In Your Head. Michael was recently appointed to Fast Company’s Impact Council.

Reverberation Co-Founder: Born in London, England, Anna Gabriel moved to the US in 1992 to launch her career as a photographer and video director. Her fine art photography has been exhibited in galleries in Sundance, Boston, New York, and London. She has also worked as a portrait photographer, photographing musicians including Iggy Pop, Moby, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and PM Dawn. Anna has been directing music videos since 1997 and has worked with an array of global music stars including Joseph Arthur, Jesca Hoop, Emmanuel Jal, Adam Masterson, and Shelly Segal. She directed the documentary/live concert films Growing Up on Tour: A Family Portrait, Still Growing Up: Live & Unwrapped and Taking The Pulse: Live in Verona. Anna has also filmed and directed documentary work for non-profit organizations such as Happy Hearts Fund and Delete Blood Cancer. In November 2009, Anna and Hunter Heaney founded the non-profit organization, The Voice Project. More recently, Anna created the multimedia photographic portrait series, EyeD, featuring an unusual and intimate glimpse into the souls of Lou Reed, David Byrne, Brian Eno, Tom Petty, Paul Simon, Eddie Vedder, Susan Sarandon, and Johnny Depp by photographing only their eyes. It has been featured in the Morrison Galleries in NYC, LA, and at the Alaia Foundation in Paris.
Reverberation Studio