Editor’s Note: This article was written for Mosaic, an independent journalism training program for high school and college students who report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists.
The five millennials onstage at San Pedro Square on a recent Sunday afternoon looked like any other alternative band, with their black clothes, tattoos and piercings. But when lead singer Chris Pounders sang a song titled “Beautiful Insanity,” it was clear that the musicians in this band, Suicide Heaven, had a unique message to deliver with the emotional lyrics.
I couldn’t stay out in the sun, I hid away
I hid away in isolation
And I never wanna leave
A beautiful insanity
Suicide Heaven, a band that focuses on suicide prevention and awareness, performs at San Pedro Square in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (Shivika Verma/Mosaic)
Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among youth, according to the California Department of Public Health, and Pounders started Suicide Heaven four years ago with the twin goals of releasing new-wave inspired music and advocating for suicide prevention.
The San-Jose based band is one of many dedicated to spreading that word through a variety of alternative music styles — and they’re hoping to reach as many young and old music fans as possible.
Other bands include hard rock and alternative metal band Papa Roach that was formed in Vacaville in the early 1990s, making mental health a core component of its music. The band donates 100% of the royalties and proceeds from its song “Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark)” to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
James Murphy, the lead vocalist of Family Affair, a youth-led band, performs at San Pedro Square in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (Shivika Verma/Mosaic)
Another band is The Plunketts, a supergroup composed of members of different bands. It emerged in 2014 to perform at an Oakland festival promoting suicide prevention after the tragic loss of a friend. Its lead singer established a nonprofit to champion the cause, and the indie/alternative rock band continues to perform together at charity events.
Rusty Chains, a grunge tribute band, also based in the Bay Area, began performing songs about depression, addiction and mental anguish following the suicide death of grunge band Soundgarden’s lead vocalist Chris Cornell in 2017.
In San Pedro Square, an audience of about 100 teenagers and adults moved to the high-energy beat of Suicide Heaven’s new-wave music. They came both for the music and the messages seen across other bands as well.
From left to right, Stefano, James Murphy, Francisco Silveira, and Isabela Silveira, of Family Affair, a youth-led band, perform at San Pedro Square in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (Shivika Verma/Mosaic)
Bassist Kyra Shinobu, who performed a heartfelt cover of the Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony,” said she joined the band due to her respect for Pounders. She feels the band’s mission is important, as somebody that struggles with depression and had struggled with suicidal thoughts.
“It’s really cool to have music that can support as many people as possible and make sure that people know that there is always a space for them,” Shinobu said.
Their lyrics build a sense of shared hope, battling the challenges that suicide brings, as seen in “The Most Beautiful Girl”:
Stood in front of me
I just knew I was introduced
To the most beautiful girl
In the world
She was swallowed by an avalanche
Defeated by rough waters
Suffering Inside
Suicide Heaven donates 50% of its proceeds to suicide awareness and prevention groups. It is dedicated to not only bringing its message to as wide an audience as possible, but also to supporting younger local acts like Family Affair, the band that performed after them in San Pedro Square.
With members ranging from 15 to 19, Family Affair was started by sibling duo Isabela Silveira, the backup vocalist and guitarist, and drummer Francisco Silveira. The pair wrote their own songs and drew in various members from the local School of Rock, according to Lori Kabari, the mother of the bassist Stefano Kabari.
Like Suicide Heaven, the band’s original lyrics deal with emotional depth. But that’s where the similarities end. Family Affair’s grunge bass riffs are reminiscent of bands such as The Smashing Pumpkins and Foo Fighters. It also blends elements from post-hardcore bands, like Title Fight, which incorporate punk and emo genres.
Lead vocalist James Murphy and Isabela Silveira performed classic ’90s songs like Radiohead’s “Creep,” Foo Fighters’ “Everlong,” and Toadies’ “Possum Kingdom.”
Many in the audience expressed their love for similar music. “I really like any sort of alternative rock and Midwest emo,” said Carla, a San Jose teen who came to support the band. Both of these genres are also notorious for their emotional lyrics and bass riffs, which made up the components of Family Affair. The band’s talent and original genre was expressed in one of the songs performed in late afternoon, “Belong”:
Break the chord
Snap my life in half
Ship me off to Neverland
Where I may never learn to be a man
If you or someone you know is struggling with feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, round-the-clock support, information and resources for help. Call or text the lifeline at 988, or see the 988lifeline.org website, where chat is available.
Shivika Verma is a member of the class of 2027 at Irvington High School in Fremont.
