Singer tells of struggles – and how music helped

Music has always been an incredibly important part of Iona Housby’s life. Since her teenage years, the former Forres Academy pupil has used music as a natural release to deal with panic attacks and high anxiety.

She moved to London to complete degrees in Popular Music and Performance at the London College of Music and Media.

After graduating, she worked as a session singer and backing vocalists in a number of top studios in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London.

Last year she was diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and, as a result, has turned her pain into creative expression by writing music in the hope of inspiring others.

Oran, her stage name, was brought up at the Findhorn Foundation and has opened up to The Press and Journal about her mental health struggles.

She was born and spent her early years in Australia. She said “traumatic life events from a very young age” had “a major impact” on her.

She moved to the Findhorn Foundation when she was eight.

In recent years, Oran returned to Moray to start a family, which meant putting her music career on the back burner.

However, a traumatic event in her life led to her return to music.

Oran explained: “It is only by chance that I recently stumbled back into music again.

“Last year I experienced a sudden, traumatic event which triggered a series of flashbacks from my childhood, followed by bouts of insomnia and adrenalin-hyped nightmares.

“These symptoms began to leak into my day to day living, until I noticed I was living with a kind of continuous low level anxiety.

“It became debilitating when I could no longer drive, do my weekly food shop or open my post, emails, or answer my phone.

“Passing sounds sent me into a kind of panic and sudden noises induced states of hyperarousal.

“As someone who has meditated and practised yoga for years, I was somehow unable to help myself or support my own wellbeing.”

She praised the NHS for encouraging her to return to music making as a form of art therapy.

Oran said: “I have to say I am very grateful for the genuine care I received through Moray NHS – which has been incredible.

“When I found it difficult to deal with day to day tasks, I began to focus on the daily practice of songwriting and this has been a part of my recovery.

She now wants to use her music to discuss mental health issues. She said: “As a PTSD survivor, I am really passionate about using my music to discuss the topics of mental health and in particular anxiety, which I believe many of us – and our children – will probably experience at some point in our lives.

“Talking about these difficult topics and raising awareness is a big part of my music, song lyrics and themes.

“So my aim is to create music that is raw and real, while also being uplifting and brings hope to people.

“What I have learned during my recovery journey is that the power of the human spirit is so strong, even when we think we can’t go on... somehow we can.

“My dream is to take these songs all over Scotland and use my story and the images of Moray to inspire others.

“I want to particularly inspire young people who may be struggling with anxiety-related symptoms.”

JOURNEY: Findhorn’s Iona Housby – known as Oran – wants her music to inspire other young people dealing with mental health issues.