I’m the lead singer in the world’s only blind-led metal band.
Becoming legally blind by 27 due to multiple sclerosis complications turned my life upside down. The frustration was real – I had to learn how to do everything in a different way, especially music.
I’ve always been inspired with the stories music could tell – not just with lyrics, but in ways I’d spend a lifetime trying to describe. So that’s exactly what I’ve devoted my life to. And now, at age 32, I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Getting the band together
I could no longer see my fingers when playing instruments, so I focused on my voice, knowing I’d have to find a path that no one’s ever traveled before. We’ve all heard of Stevie Wonder after all, and I knew I wanted to redefine what people think blind musicians are capable of.
It wasn’t until I joined a new band that I really found my place in the world: Dead Within Days, showed me what true acceptance feels like, and that no matter what you are, with enough determination, you can still follow your dreams no matter what happens in life.
We work together, practicing our performance, mapping everything on every stage we perform on so that I can depend on my surroundings and we can depend on each other.
We want to surprise people with how much energy we have. Before we take the stage, I feel like most people simply see “a blind guy” just here with some friends and trying to stay out of the way. I imagine the amazement on their faces when that blind guy takes the stage and tells the crowd “I can’t see you, so I need to hear you!” as I raise my hands, everyone cheers and the music starts blasting.
The set always ends with our message: “If you never give up on yourself, your dreams are always possible.”
Incorporating my lived experience into my music
One of our most popular songs, “Sleep Traveler,” talks about my experiences with blindness and insomnia. It’s personal, but in a way that many fans are able to relate to. The music becomes a link between those who may suffer but choose to strive for better.
We’ve been a band for a few years now and I’ve been able to travel a lot, meet and connect with so many incredible people. It’s something I’m completely committed to and always improving in hopes that we can bring as much attention to our music and our message.
Music has given me an avenue in life to cultivate confidence by accepting my vulnerabilities. As a band, I believe we help inspire others to do the same. Being an example is often the best way to change people’s minds about something.
This is just the beginning for me and Dead Within Days. We’re never giving up on showing the world that no matter who you are, you have a voice – and no matter what happens, you can always follow your dreams.
About the author
Joel Sofia is lead singer for Dead Within Days, the world’s first blind-led metal band – a quintet from the New York music scene that delivers Metalcore you wish you’d heard of sooner, while also demolishing the disability stigmas of the world.
Follow Joel or Dead Within Days on Instagram.
