“Try to Love Your Mind” is one of three 2020 single releases from U.S. based Stereo Reform, an electrofunk-pop project headed by Neil Turner

“Try to Love Your Mind” showcases SR’s unique brand of groove oriented, synth heavy pop while indistinctly touching on the topic of mental health and trauma. Turner’s style is heavily influenced by everything from the synth sounds and pop-funk acts of the 70s, 80s and 90s to the icons of the British Invasion and the pop music of today. Turner acts as songwriter and the sole recording artist for Stereo Reform, but always features a full band for the live performances. The singles, “Hot Lies” and “Gotta Be Single” were also released in 2020. 

In 2013 SR released “The Future Started Yesterday” LP, recorded and produced by Atlanta’s Grammy Nominated Bravo Ocean Music Group. The album put SR on the map and earned licensing deals with 6 television networks, 11 TV shows, as well as entities like Nascar, Chipotle and more. The award winning music video for the song, Fire, gained the attention of Jeffery Katzenberg’s Youtube Nation and was featured in a segment with MSNBC’s Jacob Soborroff. The legendary Leonard Maltin gave the LP two thumbs up on a 2014 episode of the podcast Doug Loves Movies.  Stereo Reform spent most of the next 2 years touring throughout the US. In 2016, drawing on the push from the single “Kids Like Us” and the award nomination for it’s music video, SR was booked to play multiple showcases at the 2017 SXSW festival. Later in 2017 SR released the EP, “Pump Classic”, produced by LA based Danny Olguin. Songs from the EP lead to SR performing several dates with the Carolina Ballet Theatre in 2018. SR’s 2018 single, “Radio Love”, was featured in Relix music magazine. In 2019 Turner rehearsed in preparation for touring in 2020, but as we all know COVID-19 stopped most touring musicians in their tracks. Instead of performing Turner pivoted toward releasing singles and creating BTS content from the recording sessions. New music is presently being written for an upcoming 2021 EP.

The story of Stereo Reform is still being written, but central to the project’s development is Turner’s advocacy for mental health. Turner tragically lost his younger sister to mental illness in 2016 and the event pushed him into grief and trauma therapy. The painful loss led to a decrease in the number and frequency of live performances and public appearances by Stereo Reform. The song “Feels Hardly Human,” which can be found on the “Pump Classic” EP, deals directly with the loss, but in many ways all of the music is now touched by the tragedy. Turner has committed to donating time and funds earned through Stereo Reform for the purposes of promoting the push for improved mental healthcare. On the topic of seeking a therapist Turner said, “To seek help is not a sign of weakness; it’s a whisper of hope. For me, therapy has been healing, and where there is healing there is art.” Turner will continue to create new music and hopes to inspire others through his example. To stay up to date on all things Stereo Reform visit official website. 

Peep the track below.