'People could hear me at last': how an Italian singer lost her voice – and found it again by screaming

Stefania "Alos" Pedretti's vocal cords lay dormant as she slipped into a coma two weeks prior, her body ravaged by autoimmune encephalitis stemming from breast cancer. When she finally awoke on January 9th, 2022, the news from her doctors was bleak - her vocal cords had permanently shut down, rendering her unable to speak.

But in an unusual turn of events, Pedretti's doctor prescribed a different remedy: return to the rehearsal room with her cult noise duo OvO. The band, formed with Bruno Dorella in 2000, has built an international following for their extreme metal and uncompromising rhythms, accompanied by Pedretti's ear-piercing scream vocals.

As the guitarist and singer began rehearsing with Dorella, a breakthrough emerged - Pedretti could remember the song "Queer Fight" perfectly. They started playing it again, and to everyone's surprise, her voice came out. The newfound ability was accompanied by an extraordinary side effect: whenever she spoke normally after screaming, her voice had gained volume.

This phenomenon has been attributed to two separate channels in the brain - one for speaking and another for singing. Stefania Pavese, a renowned phoniatrist and surgeon who treated Laura Pausini and Björk, explains that when Pedretti performs, she enters an automatic mode, eliminating all tensions present while speaking.

Pedretti's voice was restored through her instinctual connection to music, which became the real 'her'. This newfound understanding has led her to share her knowledge with others. She now conducts workshops for children and adults alike, teaching them about the relationship between their voice, psyche, and body.

The artist reflects on this experience: "I realize there are social barriers to screaming and shouting. But that's our true voice - silenced by societal norms. It's a tool for healing."

Pedretti's journey is an extraordinary example of how one can regain their voice through the power of music and instinct. Her latest album, 'Gemma', showcases her newfound transformation as she blends melodic sung parts with growls, creating a more joyful sound than ever before.

With this newfound voice, Pedretti seeks to break free from societal norms and spread awareness about the importance of embracing one's true expression - no matter how loud or raw it may be.

I mean, Stefania "Alos" Pedretti is literally a legend now . I was reading about her online before she came out of that coma, and I was like "what if the doctors got it wrong? ". And then this amazing story comes along where she finds her voice through music again . It's crazy how our brains work, you know? Like, she can just remember a song perfectly and suddenly her vocal cords are working again .

And can we talk about the part with the two separate channels in the brain for speaking and singing ? I don't even know how they come up with this stuff in medical school . But seriously though, it's so cool that she's using her experience to help others find their own voice .

I also love what she said about breaking free from societal norms and embracing our true expression . Like, we should be encouraging people to scream at the top of their lungs if they want to, you know? No judgments . It's all about self-expression and being true to ourselves .

Music saved her life... literally

Stefania "Alos" Pedretti's story is literally mind-blowing!!! I mean, who would've thought that her vocal cords just kinda... came back to life after being dormant for 2 weeks?! It's like her brain just connected with the music on a deeper level and BAM! she's screaming like crazy again

I love how she's using this experience to spread awareness about embracing our true voices, even if it means being loud or raw. I mean, who says we have to conform to societal norms all the time?! It's so inspiring to see her using her platform to share her knowledge and help others find their own voice.

I'm also curious to know more about the science behind it all - how does our brain process music and vocalization? Is there a way to harness this power for everyone? Stefania's journey is definitely making me think about my own relationship with sound and expression...

I'm soooo inspired by Stefania Pedretti's story , like literally can't believe she got her voice back through music!!! It's such a powerful reminder that our voices are more than just words on paper - they're our true selves and it's okay to be loud & raw sometimes . I mean, think about it, we all have that one song that gets us pumped up & ready to take on the world , but what if you can't express yourself like that anymore? It's like, Stefania's experience shows us that music is this amazing catalyst for healing & self-discovery . And I'm totally here for her spreading awareness about embracing our true voices - it's so important we do more of that .

OMG , can u believe Stefania "Alos" Pedretti is back with a VENGENCE ?! I mean, her vocal cords were literally shut down, but music saved the day ! It's so cool how she found this connection between her voice, psyche & body. I'm all about embracing our true selves, and Alos is on a mission to spread that message . Her latest album 'Gemma' sounds AMAZING , can't wait to listen to it! And let's be real, who needs to speak when you can SCREAM ? Alos is proof that our true voices are the ones we don't always use... and I'm HERE. FOR. IT

Umm... I think Stefania Pedretti's vocal cords were permanently shut down, but maybe they weren't? I mean, doctors said so, but what if they didn't know the magic of OvO? Maybe her voice was always there, just waiting for the right song to come along. And that side effect thingy... doesn't sound too scientific to me, but hey, who am I to argue?

But seriously though, it's kinda cool that music helped Pedretti regain her voice and find herself again. I mean, our voices are like, super connected to our emotions and stuff, so maybe screaming and singing aren't as different as we think. And I love how she's using her platform to spread awareness about being true to yourself... unless... what if that's just a societal norm too?

I think Stefania Pedretti's experience is actually kinda inspiring? Like, who needs words when you can just scream your emotions out? Her music is already pretty intense, but now she's taking it to a whole new level by sharing her knowledge with others. Teaching kids and adults about the power of their voice... that's some next-level stuff! And I gotta say, her latest album sounds amazing - all these different styles blending together... I'm definitely gonna check it out

omg u wont believe wut happend 2 stefania pedretti she was in a coma 2 yrs ago nd her vocal cords shut down permanently but then she got back 2 rehearsing w/ her band OvO & guess what? she started screamin' again ! but here's the trippy part: when she starts talkin normal, her voice gets LOUDER like, scientists say it's cuz of 2 separate channels in her brain 4 speakin & singin & now she's all about spreadin awareness 2 break free from societal norms & express herself w/o filter

I'm thinking, Stefania "Alos" Pedretti's comeback is like Trump's second term, a surprise win after all odds were against her . But seriously, what's crazy about this story is that music became the key to unlocking her true voice - kinda like how a politician's platform can tap into people's emotions and desires. I mean, think about it, when Pedretti was screaming with OvO, she entered an 'automatic mode', which is basically what politicians do when they're connecting with their base . It's all about tapping into that raw emotion and channeling it into something powerful.

And let's be real, Pedretti's newfound awareness about the social barriers to screaming and shouting is like a call to action for our society - we need more people to speak up and break free from societal norms . It's not just about her music or vocal cords, it's about creating a cultural shift where people feel empowered to express themselves freely . So, in a way, Pedretti's journey is all about unity and self-expression - two values that are at the heart of any good democracy .

omg i'm literally speechless (no pun intended) by this story! Stefania's journey is like, so inspiring ! I mean, who knew that screaming and music could actually heal your voice? It just goes to show that our bodies are capable of amazing things when we tap into our intuition . And I love how she's now spreading awareness about breaking free from societal norms and embracing our true selves - it's so needed in this world! We need more people like Stefania who aren't afraid to let their freak flag fly .

Dude I just read about Stefania Pedretti's crazy comeback story and I gotta say it's like, whoa! Her voice was literally gone for like two weeks and then she starts screaming again with OvO and BAM! She's got her sound back . And get this - whenever she talks normally after screaming, her voice gets LOUDER . Like, what even is that?!

But you know what the funniest part is? She's like, "I realize there are social barriers to screaming and shouting" . Um, yeah... like, have you ever tried screaming in public without anyone giving you weird looks ? I mean, I'm all for expressing yourself, but come on!

Anyway, Pedretti's all about spreading awareness about embracing your true expression, no matter how loud or raw it gets . And honestly, who wouldn't want to scream and shout their lungs out every once in a while? It's like the best stress relief ever .

I'm totally stoked for her new album 'Gemma' - I need to give it a listen ASAP . Pedretti's journey is literally proof that music can heal anything, even your voice . And if you're feeling stuck or muted, just remember: scream like Stefania and shake off those societal norms !

omg i cant even her story is literally inspiring! i mean think about it, music is like this powerful thing that can tap into our deepest selves and bring out emotions we never knew we had. its like her brain was just waiting for the right trigger to unlock her true voice and now shes using it to spread love and acceptance she's proof that with a little bit of courage and creativity, anything is possible

I'm so glad Stefania "Alos" Pedretti is back in our lives with a voice that's stronger than ever . Her journey is truly inspiring, especially since her body was going through something super tough. I can imagine how hard it must've been to lose her voice and deal with all the emotions that came with it . But it's amazing how music saved her, in a way, became her true self . Now she's using her platform to help others find their own voice too, which is just incredible . I love how she's breaking free from societal norms and embracing her raw expression - we could all learn from that . Can't wait to listen to her new album and see what other amazing things she'll do next !

Stefania Alos' story is blowing my mind! I'm all about that scream life , but I never thought I'd see someone go from being mute to rockstar vocalists like Pedretti . The connection between music and our voices is so deep it's crazy... I mean, who knew screaming could be a tool for healing? It's like her body just knew what to do when she got back into the band. And can we talk about how inspiring it is that she's now using her platform to help others find their voice too? It's all about breaking free from societal norms and embracing our true selves, right?

I think Stefania Pedretti's experience is wild . I mean, who knew that screaming could actually help her find her voice again? And now she's using her platform to spread a message about embracing our true selves, no matter how loud or raw we are. That's super inspiring .

omg i'm low-key inspired by stefania pedretti's story she literally regained her voice through music lol I've been struggling with finding my own voice lately (pun intended) and this is such a powerful reminder that our true self is just waiting to be unleashed the way she talks about embracing her screaming vocals is so true - we should all be unafraid to let loose and be ourselves, even if it means being a little loud or raw

OMG I'm literally SHAKING right now!!! Stefania Alos is a GENIUS Her comeback story is SO INSPIRING!!! I mean, who else can say they got their voice back through MUSIC?! That's like, the ultimate power of art, you know?! The way she's using her platform to spread awareness about embracing our true selves... it gives me CHILLS I'm totally buying 'Gemma' the moment it drops! Can't wait to see what Stefania comes up with next!

omg u guys can u beleev it?? stefania pedretti was on like comatose rite? but den she just starts screamin wiv ovO & her voice comes back!!! i'm not even kidding, the doc says it's cuz of music!! she remembers "queer fight" perfectly n then suddenly her normal voice is LOUDER THAN EVER! like, what r u even tryna tell us? her album 'gemma' is like, THE BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD!!! i'm so hyped for this artist n cant wait 2 c wut she does next!