Takin' A Walk – Music History with Buzz Knight
Episode: Healing Through Music: Antoinette Costa – A Journey of Resilience and Hope on Music Saved Me
Date: December 10, 2025
Episode Overview
In this emotionally resonant episode of "Music Saved Me," a segment of the Takin' A Walk music history podcast, guest host Lynne Hoffman welcomes singer-songwriter Antoinette Costa. The focus is on Costa’s journey through significant health challenges—specifically her experience battling a brain tumor—and the vital, transformative role music played in her recovery. The conversation ranges from her family's musical legacy and early signs of creativity, to her new album "Pitta Patter," and the healing community found in collaboration. Antoinette opens up about channeling adversity into art, the deeper power of songwriting, and her advice for others seeking hope amid hardship.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Childhood Roots & Musical Calling
03:04
- Costa recalls her earliest musical memories:
- Harmonizing with her guitar-playing, doo-wop-loving father.
- Writing original musicals at age five, staging performances in front of her family’s fireplace.
- It’s revealed that creativity runs in the family; Costa’s young niece is now following in her footsteps.
"At around five years old, I'd use the fireplace as my stage and would start making up plots. So very natural songwriter." – Antoinette Costa (03:04)
Confronting Health Challenges With Transparency
04:14
- Costa shares details of her three-year ordeal with a brain tumor, involving long-term medication and eventual surgery.
- She describes how music became her primary form of therapy and hope during her lowest moments.
- Inspiration from her mother led her to set an ambitious goal:
"If you can sing after this surgery, why don't you record an album?" – Antoinette’s mother (paraphrased by Costa)
- Following her surgery and a period of vocal recovery, she recorded her album "Pitta Patter" in just eleven days.
"And after the surgery, after six months when I could sing again, I recorded an album in 11 days." – Antoinette Costa (04:14)
The Power of Visualization in Creativity and Performance
05:23
- Visualization played a significant role in overcoming performance anxiety—especially returning to the stage post-surgery:
"Before I got on that stage, I thought about every possible thing that could go wrong with the sound system and how I would be calm..." – Antoinette Costa (05:23)
- Visualization helped Costa accept and adapt to changes in her voice and to perform confidently at the Kimmel Center, even when things went off-script.
Formative Influences & Healing Through Songwriters
06:50
- Tracy Chapman’s "Fast Car" stands out as a major influence, valued for its emotional authenticity.
"You feel her story through her voice and the lyrics... I love her." – Antoinette Costa (06:50)
- Dion DiMucci and Anita Baker are also cited, both for their songwriting and distinctive, expressive vocals. Costa gravitates toward songs where the songwriter is also the performer.
Songwriting as Emotional Medicine
07:43 – 09:00
- Costa likens songwriting to "bottling an emotion in its most potent form," serving as medicine for herself and listeners.
- Her track "Pitta Patter" was conceived inside an MRI machine, with the sounds of the equipment inspiring lines like "You drown out every good sound with that big bad mouth."
- After speaking publicly about her experience, many listeners reached out to share similar stories of using music to cope with medical procedures.
"I had a bunch of strangers write me on Instagram that they had similar experiences in an MRI machine, that they turned to music and focusing on sounds and going to a fantasy land." – Antoinette Costa (08:24)
Music’s Supernatural Healing Power
09:21
- Costa articulates her belief in music as a spiritual bridge:
"I think of music as the bridge to the spiritual world or ethereal world, and that songwriting and music is the most palpable form of storytelling." – Antoinette Costa (09:21)
- She credits music, songwriting, and collaborating with musicians for restoring her sense of hope and self.
Song Recommendations & Messages of Hope
10:24
- Costa highlights "Crumbles" as a song for those struggling to find hope in others instead of within:
"You can never put all your hope in one person and you need to anchor in something deeper... that comes from within. Music helped me come back to that." – Antoinette Costa (10:24)
- Her advice for anyone facing personal hardship is to immerse themselves in positive influences and creative work, as a means of finding stability and happiness.
Top Advice:
"Surround yourself with positive forces and people... When you come back to music writing, reading, creative process, whatever that means to you, you feel a sense of purpose and stability and happiness." – Antoinette Costa (11:16)
Collaborations & Musical Teamwork
12:08
- Costa emphasizes the communal aspect of her recent album:
- Credits Ray Angry and James Poyser (The Roots), Spank E McCurdy, Kari Mateen, Steve McKee, TK Wonder, Dice Raw, and others.
- Notes the selflessness of musicians who contributed, especially during the demanding holiday season, and her deep gratitude for the collaborative effort.
"On this album, Pitta Patter, more so than about me, it was about the team effort... Everyone put their heart and soul into the album." – Antoinette Costa (12:08)
12:57
- She discusses efforts to work with Musicians On Call, inspired in part by a conversation with hit songwriter Sam Hollander.
Full-Circle Moments & Mutual Admiration
13:41 – 14:41
- Costa describes the surreal experience of growing up watching VH1 and MTV, never imagining she’d be interviewed by Lynne Hoffman.
- A mutual exchange of admiration and gratitude between Costa and Hoffman, underlining the human connections fostered through music and storytelling.
"I remember watching VH1 and seeing you... I would never think one day I'd be in front of you." – Antoinette Costa (13:41)
Notable Quotes
- "Writing a song is like bottling an emotion in its most potent form." – Lynne Hoffman paraphrasing Costa (07:43)
- "Music saved me by focusing on music writing, my form of meditation, I became calmer and I retrained my mind." – Antoinette Costa (01:03, 11:16)
- "Even if that was one person who listened. It was about finishing and completing the process." – Antoinette Costa (09:21)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 03:04: Antoinette’s early musical experiences and family influences
- 04:14: The brain tumor diagnosis, surgery, and how music fueled her recovery
- 05:23: Using visualization to overcome post-surgery performance anxiety
- 06:50: Influences: Tracy Chapman, Dion DiMucci, Anita Baker
- 07:43: Songwriting as emotional medicine; inspiration behind "Pitta Patter"
- 09:21: The spiritual and healing power of music
- 10:24: Song recommendations for those in need: "Crumbles"
- 11:16: Practical advice for listeners facing hardship
- 12:08: The magic of collaboration and recognition for her musical team
- 13:41: Reflections on coming full circle—admiration between guest and host
Tone and Language
The conversation veers between deeply personal, hopeful, and pragmatic. Costa’s earnestness is matched by Hoffman’s empathetic inquiry, establishing an atmosphere of trust, encouragement, and admiration. Their exchanges are sprinkled with anecdotes, heartfelt confessions, and mutual respect, all underscored by a fundamental belief in the transformative, transcendent capacity of music.
Summary
This episode stands as a profound testament to the healing power of music—both as therapy and creative expression. Through Antoinette Costa’s candid storytelling, listeners witness how adversity can be transmuted into art, and how both solitude and community play pivotal roles in recovery. For anyone seeking light amid the darkness, Costa’s journey and music serve as a beacon of hope and resilience.