SongwritingWith:Soldiers (SW:S) is more than a music program — it’s a lifeline. Founded in 2012, the organisation brings together veterans, service members, and their families with professional songwriters in retreat settings across the country. The goal is simple yet profound: to transform life experiences, often painful or unspoken, into songs that capture truth, honor sacrifice, and create healing. Check out their organisation here.
For many veterans, carrying the weight of war and service means living with invisible wounds. SW:S gives them a place to be heard, to share their stories in their own words, and to see those stories respected and reshaped into something lasting. The process is intimate and collaborative, encouraging trust and connection in a way that traditional therapy sometimes cannot reach.
A new song from SongwritingWith:Soldiers (SW:S), ‘Hey Brother,' has just been released on streaming platforms, accompanied by a lyric video and a behind-the-scenes story clip. Written by Marine veteran Tristan Wimmer and acclaimed songwriter Mark Nesler, the ballad captures the grief and love Wimmer felt after losing his brother Kiernan, a fellow Marine who suffered a traumatic brain injury and later died by suicide. More than a tribute, the song represents the heart of what SW:S strives to achieve: transforming the weight of lived experience into music that heals, connects, and helps both veterans and civilians understand one another.
At its core, SW:S’s mission is to transform lives by using collaborative songwriting to build creativity, connection, and strength. By pairing veterans with professional songwriters, the organization creates a powerful exchange. Veterans bring their lived experiences — the memories, grief, pride, or resilience they may struggle to put into words — and the songwriter helps give those emotions shape, melody, and rhythm. The result is more than a song. It is a testimony that validates the veteran’s journey while giving others a way to understand it. Once created, these songs are not locked away; they are recorded, shared, and released so they can ripple outward, connecting veteran and civilian communities alike.
The retreat experience itself is carefully designed to foster safety, reflection, and growth. Veterans and their families are given the chance to step away from daily life and enter an environment of creativity and acceptance. Songwriters don’t approach with judgment or preconceptions — they arrive with open ears and a willingness to listen. That act of listening is crucial. For veterans to be understood, they first need to be heard, and SW:S ensures that happens in a way that feels genuine and deeply personal.
The impact goes far beyond the retreat weekend. Many participants describe the experience as life-changing, offering closure, catharsis, or simply the relief of putting words to what was once unspeakable. Songs like ‘Hey Brother,' written by Marine veteran Tristan Wimmer and Mark Nesler, demonstrate the power of this approach. Written in honour of Wimmer’s late brother, the song became a way to express love and grief he hadn’t been able to share during his brother’s lifetime. For Wimmer, and countless others, the song became a cherished piece of healing — one he could return to again and again.
Thanks to the generosity of supporters, including The Johnson Family Fund, SW:S has expanded its reach by carefully selecting and producing songs from its retreat catalog for wide release. These songs are now available on major streaming platforms, ensuring the voices of veterans and their families are heard by audiences far beyond the retreat circle. Releases like ‘The Man You Used to Know' and ‘At Ease' reflect not just the diversity of stories but also the honesty and courage behind them.
SW:S believes it is not just creating songs, but cultivating understanding. Each track offers civilians a window into the challenges of military life while reminding veterans that their experiences matter, their voices are valued, and they are not alone. The mission is as much about building bridges as it is about making music. In every lyric, every melody, and every shared moment of truth, SongwritingWith:Soldiers honours service with compassion, creativity, and connection — proving that a song can do more than heal; it can transform lives.
