There is growing evidence that psychosocial interventions from mindfulness to yoga to the arts can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, increase social support networks, improve quality of life and raise perceptions of care in people affected by cancer 1,2. These positive states have, in turn, been linked with optimised immune responses including reduced stress hormones and enhanced cellular activity 1,3,4. However, despite growing numbers of music interventions for cancer care, there is little research into their psychobiological impact.