“I Rationed Food, Water, and my iPod Battery”: Canadian Army Veterans on Music “In Theatre”

Abstract

Background: While a small number of scholars explore how contemporary American soldiers consume music “in theatre” (in a war zone) to motivate themselves and protect their mental health, little research addresses how music functions for Canadian combatants. Analysis: Case studies of two Canadian veterans illuminate the varied ways they used music to protect their mental health during their deployments in Afghanistan. Conclusion and implications: This article demonstrates that Canadian soldiers listened to a wide range of music to cope while on tour and argues for music as a unique portal through which to understand soldiers’ deployment experiences.