Lincoln musician releases album after spinal injury and extensive rehabilitation
Music becomes a powerful recovery tool, transforming trauma into creativity
Last updated 26th Oct 2026
John Smith, a musician from Lincoln, has released an album filled with the emotional depth of his recovery journey following a car crash that left him with a spinal injury. In 2023, John sustained serious injuries from the crash, leading to a three-week coma filled with vivid dreams that inspired his music.
Reflecting on his coma experience, John shared, "It felt really peaceful, but scary at the time time because I was aware what was happening to me. It felt like a dangerous peace".
During his recovery, John found it difficult to communicate and used songwriting as a way to express his emotions and connect with his passion for music.
John said: "All of what was written on my album, I wrote in hospital and rehab, all the thoughts that I was trying to get down that I couldn't actually say".
The album delves into his personal experiences, offering listeners a glimpse into the emotions and reflections from his time in the coma. John said he doesn't want people to feel sad when listening to his music, but instead understand the journey that he's been on.
Vicky Blodwell, John's solicitor at Lime Solicitors, witnessed his transformation through rehabilitation: “John's gone through a significant journey, and music has been a huge part of his rehabilitation, allowing him to connect with his identity and creativity."
Vicky said that she views John as an inspiration, and many other people do too. She said: "When I first met John in hospital, he was really unwell and could only say a few words, and now that he's releasing songs just shows the scale of the journey he's been on".
She added: "I think it's also a really important message and story that catastrophic injury, it's changed John's life immeasurably, but it hasn't taken away his identity and the talent and the creativity that he had. And that's a really powerful story in what's happened to John".
John's ambition is for his music to inspire others, especially those with disabilities, showing what's possible despite life's hurdles: “I want to show other people in wheelchairs that you can pursue your passions after a serious injury."
Today, John continues to create music at Noise Academy's DJ hub and hopes that his work communicates the message that life can be both challenging and beautiful, encouraging listeners to see his music before seeing his wheelchair.