“Life is as beautiful as you choose to see it.”

 By Scott Gilman, Staff Writer for UNSUGARCOATED Media

“It’s like a psychedelic trip,” said Bex. 

Bex is a rapper, sound engineer, and music producer  that I had the pleasure of sitting down with to discuss his life journey. Bex and I talked about spiritual evolution, his philosophy that existence is radical, and how his life and music have changed since experiencing Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss. 

“I was dizzy. Couldn’t read my phone dizzy,” continued Bex of the 92 days of vertigo he muscled through in 2018, brought on by SSHL. 

Bex’s music career was taking off when SSHL hit. He told me about these crazy, once in a lifetime experiences- getting invited over to Drake’s house, producing music with big names and big studios, everything that he dreamed about as a young artist. 

When Bex woke up with SSHL, he had no idea what was going on. His roommates dismissed him as not serious- exaggerating his condition. By the time he got into the doctor’s office, it was only for the doctor to tell him it was too late to save the hearing in his left ear. A two week window to “maybe have a chance” at saving his hearing had already passed.

Those 92 days were intense agony. Bex opened up to me about how, unable to stand his day-to-day life, he had actual thoughts of ending it all. 

He couldn’t work like this. “I had just enough money to fly back home,” says Bex. There he waited out the rest of his 92 day trial-by-fire, unsure when or if the vertigo would end.

Bex’s perspective had permanently shifted by the time his vertigo came to an end. He says he’s found strength in himself that he didn’t know he possessed. He refocused on his spirit and his personal world.

“It cuts the world out.” Bex explained his new experience to me. “And I focus on my own world.”

As he transformed on the inside, Bex could hear his music changing too. 

“I don’t know if it was my focus or if hearing in mono is a superpower,” Bex reflected, “but my mixes… everything got way crazier, everything got more crisp, just like tighter mixes.” 

On set of his music video. Photo provided by Bex.

He took a pause to consider. “I guess it’s a benefit that I don’t have to worry about which plug my left and right speaker get plugged into!”

Bex finds that after his injury, his other senses have been heightened. Though whole ranges of audio are gone for him, he’s found his other senses focused. I likened it to the Daredevil comic books, where the blind superhero navigates by other senses, but Bex expressed it as simply being more honed in.

For example, in a conversation, Bex won’t just listen and think of what to say back anymore. He’s reading lips to assist his partial hearing, and in so doing, he’s focusing in on the other person with twice as many senses as he would. It’s grounding for him. He stays in the moment like never before. 

“I think that this, with my ear,” explained Bex, “is part of a spiritual evolution that I’ve been on my entire life… It made me appreciate life more.”

Keyed into the moment, staying in his other senses, not drowning in thoughts, Bex feels as though his SSHL was a “checkpoint” for his personal progression.

“Life is divine, this moment is perfect until you cloud it up with your thoughts”

Bex is producing successful singles again and gaining some traction. Even in the time of Corona, he’s been able to persevere. Endearingly, Bex gives credit to his partner, Aira. 

“My girl. I owe it all to my girl.” 

Retreating into a chrysalis with his partner to meditate and reflect has been a beautiful experience for Bex. It’s helped him further define the philosophies that began to brew after his SSHL. He’s focused on his music. He’s learned not to overthink, but to stay grounded in the senses he has left.

For Bex, Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss, an incredibly challenging disability to accommodate, was just part of a metamorphosis. He’s focused in his own world, his senses are stronger, and he’s making the music he loves.  

Check out his latest single, “No Lie“, which dropped on February 28th, 2021.  To learn more about Bex and his music, visit www.bexgotthebounce.com