Occupy The Mind 2

My name is Otaviano Junior, I am 22 years old, and I was born in Campinas, Brazil. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been guided by the sounds of the world around me. As a child, any noise — the wind rustling through the trees, the distant sound of a car passing by, or even the simple clinking of a spoon — would turn into music in my mind. It was as if the entire world was offering me the notes of an invisible symphony, and I, with eager eyes and ears, received them with fascination.

This passion led me to approach musical instruments. Without formal lessons, without a teacher, I decided to learn the guitar on my own, an instrument that still serves as the foundation of all my compositions. Every chord I discovered was like a new door opening to my inner world.

But behind the melodies, my journey wasn’t easy. At a young age, I faced one of the greatest challenges of my life: I was diagnosed with schizophrenia. That word, laden with stigma and prejudice, seemed, to many, synonymous with “madness,” as if my mind was a place no one could ever understand. And for a long time, that’s how people saw me.

However, I never accepted that label. Writing about my schizophrenia today doesn’t scare me, because I firmly believe we need to break the taboo surrounding this condition. If someone with depression or diabetes can openly talk about their illness without being judged, why should schizophrenia be any different? It’s a medical condition that can be managed, and I’m living proof of that.

Thanks to medication, I live a normal life. Of course, there are side effects, but nothing that can stop me. What truly sustains me, what gives me strength, is music. It’s the place where I can truly be myself, where I express every emotion, every thought, and every feeling that words often cannot convey. It’s not just the sound, but the titles of my compositions also tell my story — a story of overcoming challenges, of love for art, and of freedom.

Today, I am a composer of classical and ambient music, creating soundtracks that tell stories without needing words. My mission is not just to create music, but also to show that schizophrenia doesn’t define me, just as it shouldn’t define anyone. Music is my voice, and through it, I communicate with the world, without filters and without fear.

New tracks tagged #1,soundtracks,film