Neal Francis discusses sobriety, meditation, and creativity.

get through it. But at a certain point, there were more setbacks than breakthroughs. Very quickly, the drug was taking over—it became like an editor or a director sitting beside me, overseeing every decision that I made.

When I got sober in 2016, it was like starting from scratch. But the difference was, it wasn’t an aged brain with knowledge and theory. I didn’t make music for a year after I got sober. When I finally sat down to create something, I had to use different tools—the ones that didn’t come from a bottle.

It was a very slow process, but I was able to focus for a little bit longer each time: thirty minutes, an hour, two hours. Slowly but surely, I began to fill up the hours in my days with music. I re-fell in love with my instrument for the first time since childhood. Through meditation and rewriting my story, I came to see the relationship between self and spirit during this sobriety. More creativity emerged than in any other point in my life, by a mile.

Now, after years of sobriety, it’s about staying open, seeking freedom, and showing that to my son and wife. I have the feeling that art and business aren’t separate. I want people to experience joy and feel the spirit. I suppose marketing music and practicing sobriety just affect aspects of the same issue, [the issue of being] present and checking fear at the door.

Neal Francis’ personal journey of self-reflection, sobriety, and creativity has led him to a profound connection with himself, spirit, and the craft of music. By introducing mindfulness into his creative process, he has been able to infuse soul and feeling into his music, drawing inspiration from legendary artists like Dr. John and Sly Stone. Through sobriety, Francis has found a renewed sense of purpose and creativity, allowing for a more profound and authentic musical expression.