Fighting the Battle of Loneliness With Music

A Santa Monica singer is using her new song to highlight a loneliness epidemic in our city.

Racquelle Vox, who was born and raised here, wrote "Lonely Hearts Aisle" while walking through the community and reflecting on the isolation she saw and felt.

Loneliness is recognized as a significant issue in Santa Monica where busy lifestyles, high rents, a car-centric culture, and many individuals working remotely from home are cited as contributors to feelings of isolation even within our dense setting.

"There are so many lonely people here and I'm not just talking about the homeless," said Racquelle. "It dawned on me to tell their story in song."

Lyrics like "Everybody now and then needs a partner or a friend, so take my hand" spell out the scale of the problem but the song, released next month, also offers hope of a solution.

Racquelle combated her own loneliness by getting a precious cat named, O'Malley, and says: "Companionship of all kinds is a comfort, even a pet, and O'Malley has since passed away, but he has touched so many people's lives for the better."

Racquelle Vox

Phoning up a friend, smiling at a neighbor, or singing to a crowd of strangers, is all part of her mission of care.

That message is resonating far beyond Santa Monica with even international charities embracing the quest for kindness.

The British Benevolent Society's Los Angeles ambassador Sandro Monetti said: "Among the ways we look to help people in crisis is providing companionship for the lonely and Racquelle deserves huge credit for pointing out the scale of a problem too few people talk about."

Another line from the song offers hope of a better tomorrow when Racquelle sings, "Hold onto better times this could be just a passing phase". The song drops in early May, so be on the lookout for updates on major streaming platforms or under her handle on Instagram @welcometorockyville.

Racquelle Vox and her cat.