The Italian singer and guitarist Stefania “Alos” Pedretti has recovered her voice by screaming after losing the ability to speak following a coma caused by a serious encephalitis in January 2022.
After intubation during her coma, Pedretti’s vocal cords failed to close, leaving her unable to speak for months.
The cause of his loss of voice was psychogenic, a psychological blockage with physical effects, explained speech therapist Chiara Pavese. Dysphonia can sometimes be treated by massage of the larynx, but in Pedretti’s case a musical and psychological approach was advised.
The first rehearsals were challenging. “I couldn’t even hold the guitar, it was a huge effort for me,” Pedretti remembers. But progress came when he played the song Queer Fight. “In my memory I remembered perfectly what the piece should sound like. We played and I screamed and my voice came out.” He added: “Later, when I started talking normally again, I had volume. I could talk and people could finally hear me.”
Pavese explained that for singers “there are two separate channels,” one for singing and one for speaking. Singing muscle memory can unlock the voice even when normal speech remains blocked. Once Pedretti regained his voice, he followed months of exercises to relearn proper speaking and singing techniques.
READ ALSO:Five impacts of sachet alcohol that you should know
Pedretti’s new voice appears on OvO’s 2025 album Gemma, which mixes growls with clean vocals and melodic passages, reflecting a renewed sense of expression. Inspired by Swedish artist Markus Öhrn’s Azdora project, she began holding workshops for all ages to explore the voice, psyche and body, helping participants regain natural expression through screams and vocal instinct.
“I realize that there are social barriers to shouting and screaming,” Pedretti reflects. “But, for me, that is our true voice. It has been silenced because it is not acceptable in society, while in some musical styles this is well accepted. We have the right to shout, if we want.”
Her story demonstrates how music and instinctive vocal expression can be powerful tools to heal and restore your voice.
(The UK Guardian)
WATCH THE BEST VIDEOS FROM Newslodge TV