Released back in March, ‘6 months’, from Jonathan Brough, sees the artist document his journey though an horrific illness. Following an operation for Bacterial Meningitis, he was left paralysed from the neck down and hospitalised for six months, the name of the song.
Brough’s two debut singles, released last year, were truly inspirational, and given its subject matter, ‘6 months’ is no less so, in its tale of the power of determination, and the importance of appreciating what it is we have.
Written after spending a summer evening driving in his wheelchair, ‘6 months’ was produced by Jonathan himself, alongside his team of personal assistants. He had faced the seemingly insurmountable task of regaining his voice, an arduous journey that was not just physically draining, but also emotionally and psychologically as well.
‘I wrote this song because I wanted to convey to people just how much I went through. Add in not being able to speak for six months and you might just get a very vague sense of what things were like. The levels of desperation were off the chart. This made it even more momentous when I did finally get my voice back. Despite being the tiniest of a whisper, it was like summiting Mount Everest.’
While Jonathan still has a long way to go – he breathes and sings through a ventilator – he is well and truly on his way to vocal recovery, and strengthening his weakened voice. It’s been an unusual struggle, as he has had to synchronise his vocals with the rhythmic cadence of his ventilator-assisted breaths, but through perseverance and determination, Jonathan has managed to craft songs which illustrate the tenacity of the human spirit.
Prior to his accident, Jonathan had played violin and piano, and sang in the local church choir. Since then, he’s diversified into other ways of sharing his passions, including beatboxing, which allows him to explore innovative new musical landscapes.
‘6 months’ is out now, and is available to stream and download here. You can find out more about Jonathan Brough and his music online on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music.
