The Soundtrack of Survival
By Antonia at Unremarkable Me
Published: 01/06/25
Let’s be honest—being chronically ill doesn’t come with a catchy theme tune. Most days, it’s less High School Musical, more existential dread with a side of medical gaslighting. But for me, music has always been a lifeline.
After years of silence—of cancelled plans, forgotten dreams, and medical notes thicker than a Game of Thrones box set—I finally found my voice again.
And this page? This is where I share the songs born from that voice.
Songs from the Bedside
These aren’t just songs about illness. They’re about what it feels like to live in a body that doesn’t play fair. About navigating a world that misunderstands you. About screaming into a pillow while on hold with the DWP. They’re about hospital nights, tiny victories, dark humour, and the joy of a rare pain-free hour.
You’ll find tracks here that are raw, sarcastic, emotional, messy, and real—because that’s what this life is. And every note carries the beat of survival.
These songs are for the flares.
For the fight.
For the days where getting dressed feels like a full-body boss battle.
And for the people who need reminding that even when your body’s out of tune, your voice still matters.
Why Music?
Because words matter. And sometimes, singing them gives them wings.
Music gives me something the healthcare system never could:
A voice on my own terms.
It’s not just therapy—it’s defiance. It’s protest. It’s hope. It’s me, standing in the rubble of everything illness has taken and choosing to create something anyway.
For everyone who’s ever whispered “I’m fine” through gritted teeth—this is for you. For everyone who’s felt invisible, dismissed, or drowned in forms and fatigue—this is yours too.
Because this isn’t just my story.
It’s ours.
And every beat, lyric, and loop says: We’re still here.
A Note on the Vocals
Full disclosure: the lyrics and music are 100% mine—written with brain fog, late-night adrenaline, and the occasional rage-fuelled biscuit.
But the vocals? Those are AI-generated.
Why? Because even when I could hold a tune, I was more “karaoke queen” than Grammy nominee. And right now, singing isn’t always physically possible.
So I let the tech carry the melody, while the emotion stays all mine.
Think of it as a duet between lived experience and digital lungs.
A bit weird. But weird is on brand.
A Shout-Out to the Chronically Loud
This page is also a tribute to all the incredible chronically ill musicians out there—the ones making music from hospital beds, mobility aids, living rooms, and stubborn determination.
You’ve inspired me more than you know.
Watching you adapt, experiment, and keep going has reminded me that art always finds a way.
So if you’re part of this community and want to share your music—please reach out. I’d love to feature your work here. Whether you’re belting out pain ballads, looping beats between treatments, or just whisper-singing into a mic between flares—this space is for you too.
Email me at antonia@unremarkableme.com with the subject line: “Chronically Loud Submission”
Let’s make this page a mixtape of our collective resilience.
Because disabled voices deserve to be heard—loud, proud, and totally off-key if necessary.
Let’s Keep the Music Going
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Want to support the music?
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Got lyrics of your own?
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Just need a song to cry to in the waiting room?
You’re in the right place.
New tracks drop regularly, and every one is stitched together with the thread of survival and a good pinch of sarcasm.
So grab your headphones, crank up the volume, and know this:
You are not alone.
Not in the pain.
Not in the rage.
Not in the beat that keeps you going.
Even in the silence—
we’re still singing.