Ever felt like screaming your heart out? Well, now’s your chance. A Toronto woman is organizing a group event next weekend that will allow you to release all that pent-up emotion.
Grace Turner, the fearless woman behind the solo music project City Builders, is inviting Torontonians to an evening Group Scream in Trinity Bellwoods Park on May 3. Turner’s quirky idea is all about creating a space for people to share their emotions, let go, and, as she says, just scream it all out together.
The event isn’t only about letting off steam though. It’s part of the lead-up to the release of City Builders’ debut single, “Learning to Miss You,” set to drop on May 6. The song, which she describes as an “emotional” and “gut-wrenching” ballad, was inspired by the recent end of a relationship that left her feeling alone and, well, in need of a good scream.
“I went through my first-ever heartbreak, which was a bit brutal and isolating. For the first month of it, all I wanted to do was scream,” Turner explained to Now Toronto on Friday.
So, Turner broke ground on a simple plan; a small gathering of 20 or so friends screaming together in the park. But what began as an eccentric idea quickly grew into something much bigger. She decided to post the Group Scream online, where anyone who needs it can tag along for a loud, joyful release.
Since releasing the open invitation online earlier this week, the event has garnered more than 300 responses from people confirming their attendance.
Turner says she was surprised at the response.
“It makes me feel happy and sad at the same time. I’m glad that there’s going to be an opportunity for people to just let out a scream, but also sad that it’s needed,” she said.
A focus on positive mental health is also a big part of the event’s message. In a time when discourse around mental health is becoming more open, Turner hopes the Group Scream will help normalize emotional release.
“I’m glad that mental health is a topic of conversation in today’s day and age,” Turner said.
“I think that it’s more acceptable when it’s quiet or talked about in hindsight. But I think that this will be an opportunity for people to just let out their voice,” Turner said.
The event promises to be an immersive experience, complete with stickers that say, “I’m screaming because…” for attendees to fill out and wear. Turner says she’s most excited to talk with people about their reasons for screaming, encouraging everyone to get out their emotions and connect with one another.
As for her new single, “Learning to Miss You,” she sees it as a way to close the chapter on a painful period in her life.
“For me, it’s a way to leave that kind of era of my life behind,” she says. “I hope that this scream will be that start for other people who are coming.”
And for those who can’t make it this time around, don’t worry, as the Group Scream is just the beginning. Turner hopes to continue with more events, including a possible tour with stops in different cities. Plus, she’s already gearing up for the next chapter of her music, with poppier songs set to drop as the summer progresses, followed by her full EP release either later this year or early next year.
