'Mathematical' karaoke booths pop up at Edinburgh Fringe aiming to boost mental health

Karaoke booths are launching at Edinburgh Fringe inviting attendees to belt out songs mathematically proven to increase people’s moods.

Kathartic Karaoke booths, launched by mental health charity Samaritans and mobile network Three, invite music fans to tap into the proven mood-boosting power of singing – featuring a science-backed playlist of feel-good hits.

Oxford University Professor Dr Tom Crawford crunched the numbers to uncover the songs most mathematically proven to increase dopamine levels, with Livin’ On a Prayer, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and Don’t Look Back in Anger coming out on top.

Dr Tom devised a formula which grades each song with a score out of 100 (K). In the equation, which was developed using data from 2,000 karaoke lovers, V refers to the number of verses, C repetition of chorus, BPM to the song’s beats per minute and Y to the year the song was released.

Karaoke booths will pop up at The Mound in Edinburgh

Kathartic Karaoke booths launched earlier in summer at Latitude festival, and will be popping up at The Mound on August 15 and August 16.

Sonya Trivedy, executive director of external engagement at Samaritans, said: “Music has a unique power to have a positive impact on our mental health. Singing, in particular, can help people process emotions, ease stress and boost mood.

“Through this pitch-perfect partnership with Three, we’re turning up the volume on wellbeing, using music as a carefree way to connect, express, and take care of your emotional health.”

Nicki Lyons, chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer at VodafoneThree, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Samaritans to create joyful spaces for people to connect to one another and experience our ‘Kathartic Karaoke’ for themselves.”