But it didn't take long for Joshua Concilia​ and his family to realise they were excellent medicine.

Four years ago when Joshua was 9, he was diagnosed with leukaemia. It was a terrible, frightening time and his treatment didn't start well.

After one of the first procedures to probe bone marrow for cancer cells, Joshua woke from an anaesthetic and couldn't see his parents. Scared and confused, he thrashed around and had to be sedated. He vomited and inhaled some of it, causing an infection that set back his treatment.

To prevent this from happening again, one of his doctors Catherine Crock came up with a plan. She provided Joshua and his family with music she'd been creating for "Hush" albums to soothe and distract children having painful procedures, so they could play it when Joshua needed to go back into theatre.

Dr Catherine Crock. Photo: Angela Wylie.

She also got "Spiderman Steve" - anaesthetic technician Stephen Pinzone (below) - to entertain Josh with his fart machine or bubble gun whenever he came in, and ensured one of his parents was always there when he woke up.

Anaesthetic technician Stephen Pinzone. Photo: Supplied

Joshua's Dad Frank said the plan dramatically reduced his and his son's anxiety during the 275 days they spent in hospital in 2012.

"I feel like those CDs were made for my son," he said. "They were absolutely wonderful. I would go home and listen to some of the tracks. It would give me a sense of calmness and make me feel like someone was looking after my son".

Joshua is one of about 30 kids who was interviewed to create lyrics for a new Hush album which has just been launched.

A song called Finding my brave was inspired by Josh. One of the lines is: "I may look weak on the outside but inside I'm as strong as steel. It might try to take my hair, it might try to take my appetite, but it can never take my ability to be happy."

Another humorous song called Edgar's essay includes a list of good and bad things about being a kid.

Some of the good things? "I don't have to get breath tested like mum and dad do, we don't have to do any kissing like wedding people do... And when do adults ever get to play with Lego?"

Dr Crock said the music was designed to be up-beat, intricate and optimistic because that's what children respond to.

Adults respond well to it, too. While Joshua has thankfully finished treatment at the Royal Children's Hospital and now requires checks every six weeks, Mr Concilia said his family still listen to the Hush music.

Despite it being associated with a torturous time for his family, he said it doesn't make him feel sad.

"I don't listen to it and think about the bad times. I just think about how fantastic it is... That's amazing, isn't it." he said.

"Hush 16: A Piece of Quiet", which was created by Lior, The Idea of North and composer Elena Kats Chernin is available at www.hush.org.au