Purple Heart Recipient Inspires Song of Hope With CreatiVets’ December Release

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Nashville-based nonprofit CreatiVets and Big Machine Label Group have shared their new song, “I’m With You,” as part of the year-long campaign to release a veteran-written track on the 20th of every month—paying tribute to the 20 veterans and active-duty members that commit suicide every single day.

Written by Purple Heart veteran Adam Mitchell and his mentor Greg Pihs, alongside songwriters Brian Davis and Joel Shewmake, the track is a product of CreatiVets’ songwriting program, which pairs combat veterans with Nashville songwriters to help them learn to use music as a form of therapy.

Since sustaining several injuries to the head and neck while serving overseas in 2005, Mitchell has struggled with communication, memory and balance, and continues to navigate the difficulties of post-traumatic stress. Going into the program, he knew he wanted to write a song about his children. As a result, “I’m With You” became a message not only to his kids, but to the thousands of military families awaiting the return of their loved ones.

“I found Creativets on accident while looking for a veteran-based music learning program,” Mitchell shares. “I’ve always loved playing along to other people’s songs, but I never thought of writing my own for fear of being vulnerable… Since my experience with Creativets, I have gotten over the fear of showing who I am.”

Since 2013, CreatiVets has helped more than 1,000 combat veterans, with over 500 of them participating in its songwriting programs. Big Machine Label Group continues to contribute to CreatiVets through Scott and Sandi Borchetta‘s Music Has Value Fund and through Big Machine Music, which serves as the nonprofit’s co-publisher.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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