Case Study : Joel
"Sound Communities is about finding your place, finding your people and finding your voice."
We first met Joel when he was 17 years old. Recognising his interest in lyric writing, Checkpoint facilitated his connection with us.
As a young person living with Autism, Borderline Personality Disorder, and physical disabilities, Joel has faced significant challenges throughout his educational journey. The stresses of college life, marked by uncertainty and social anxiety, hindered his progress and by the end of his two-year experience in college, his coping mechanisms began to fail, leading to severe panic attacks that prevented him from attending his third year.
Everything began to change, however, during his 1:1 sessions in our studios when Joel discovered a profound passion for music, showcasing remarkable talent in music-making. With the guidance and encouragement from our team, he grasped the syllabic rule of thumb used by rappers, leading to a pivotal moment where it ‘just clicked’ and he started rapping that same night.
Today, Joel exudes confidence in his abilities, feeling that he has finally found a sense of belonging and purpose. His aspirations are clear: he aims to leave a legacy through music. Performing his own tracks live and rapping in front of strangers are accomplishments he once deemed impossible during his college days.
Joel, now known as TOWSS (The One Who Suffers Silently), channels his prolific writing into rap as a natural outlet for exploring mental health and introspection.
His writing evolved from a spoken word poetry style to the concise, fast-paced flow characteristic of the rap performances he delivers today.
I feel like I've succeeded at becoming a better artist, lyric writer, rapper and performer. I’ve socialised a lot and become better at getting along with people. I’m proud that I was able to remember my lyrics while performing for the first time.
Joel, 2024