Having spent more than four decades listening to people during some of their most vulnerable moments, Steve Cohen of Batavia recognizes music’s power to help and inspire. 

In fact, that’s a guiding force for the songwriter. 

“In healthcare, people tell you what they’re afraid of, what they’ve lost, what they’re fighting for, and what they still hope might happen,” Cohen said. “I began to realize that a song could represent those experiences differently than a conversation could. Words may explain something. Music helps you feel it.”

A healthcare worker by training, Cohen has learned to go beyond “does this sound good?” when evaluating his music.

“I also ask, ‘Does this help someone feel seen, understood, or less alone?’ The story gets the final vote,” he said.

Cohen launched Personal Song Studio to help people create their own “personal anthems.” He works with clients to create songs that let them heal, celebrate, motivate, and remember. Driven by his concern for social justice, he also writes and produces songs to inspire and activate his listeners. 

Cohen usually begins a song with a story. Maybe a caregiver’s promise, a patient’s fear, a family memory, or a particularly courageous moment.

He then listens for the emotion below the details to understand the essence of the story, which helps him shape the lyrics, melody, instrumentation, and direction of the song. 

Cohen’s musical voice comes from years of listening to music and, equally important, from listening to people. His sound changes with the story, leaning toward acoustic folk in one instance, or perhaps soul, gospel, blues, or pop in another. 

He doesn’t believe every story should have the same style. But it should always tell the truth.

“I want a song to reveal something, challenge something, or help someone remember what matters,” he said.

Beginning with the person, not the issue, leads to a personal and meaningful song, Cohen says. Acknowledging that health, grief, prejudice, and exhaustion are enormous subjects, he believes that showing one person trying to survive, speak up, or care for someone they love makes the larger issue real. 

“The personal story opens the door while the social meaning enters through it,” he said.

Cohen believes that songs give emotion somewhere to land. 

“Sometimes people are carrying grief or anger but don’t have language for it,” he said. “Then they hear one line and think, ‘That’s what I’ve been trying to say.’ Although music cannot erase what happened, it can help someone feel it, name it, remember it, and sometimes begin moving through it.”

Whether it’s politics, religion, culture, or anything else, Cohen believes music can create dialogue and connection across differences. The specific details of a song may belong to one person, he says, but emotion is universal. 

He also believes that artists can support movements for change by helping people feel what reports and statistics cannot always communicate. 

“A song may not change a law by itself, but it can change the person who votes, speaks up, or refuses to look away,” Cohen said.

His songs are also about preserving stories and asking uncomfortable questions. To research and write about communities, struggles, or histories that may be larger than his own experience, he starts by listening. 

“I don’t want to step into someone else’s story, grab the microphone, and make myself the central character,” he said. “Sometimes I feel my job is to become the person who listens well enough to honor the truth.”

Personal issues are central to his songs, including concerns about healthcare inequality, mental-health stigma, caregiver burnout, violence, prejudice, and the loss of personal dignity inside large systems.

“I don’t want to write lectures with background music. I would rather tell an honest story that causes someone to stop and think,” he said.

Cohen’s original song, “Good Trouble Lives On,” pays tribute to American civil rights activist and statesman John Lewis. It recently premiered at the July 19, 2026, Celebration of John Lewis in Geneva, leaving those gathered profoundly moved. 

Cohen tells the story of Lewis, embedding his own words and this refrain:

Healthcare has taught Cohen that the first answer is not always the whole answer. 

“Someone may say, ‘I’m fine,’ while their voice, breathing, posture, or silence says something very different,” he said.

He listens not only for what is said, but what is left unsaid. This approach is a key part of his Personal Song Studio. 

Cohen acknowledges that a custom song is not a replacement for medical or mental health treatment, so he is careful with the word healing. But he does believe that music can supplement those treatments by becoming a meaningful source of reflection, connection, motivation, and emotional support. 

“Music can change the emotional atmosphere of a person or a room within seconds,” he said. “It can influence breathing, memory, attention, motivation, and connection. It may help someone reflect on an experience, reconnect with their courage, or feel closer to someone they love.”

Listen to songs and watch music videos at Personal Song Studio on YouTube or PersonalSongStudio.com.

This piece was written by Ellen Jo Ljung, a longtime Geneva resident, author, award-winning educator, and glass artist. Visit her website to learn more.

Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] with questions or comments.

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