Hootie & the Blowfish artist on finding confidence during their recovery

By means of Lea Marie-Ann KlettAssistant Editor Monday October 28, 2024

Known to millions as the drummer for the Grammy Award-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish, Jim “Sony” Sonefeld He once seemed to have it all: a successful career, a loving family and a public image that masked his private problems. Beneath the surface, however, he struggled with inner demons.

“I went from a recreational drinker to a regular drinker, from a medicinal drinker to full-blown alcoholism,” the 60-year-old artist told The Christian Post. “At this point I’m really faced with the question: What am I doing? How do I even deal with this? And it probably took four to five years of very painful, negative, dark times to find an answer.”

In 2004, Sonefeld decided to seek help through a twelve-step program. Which, to his surprise, furthered the Biblical principles he had learned as a child.

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“A friend had given me a Bible recovery book. So it had the twelve steps, but it also had the Bible (…). The principles of both, I realized, were much closer than I had ever imagined.”

Growing up in a Christian home in the Midwest, Sonefeld knew the Bible but felt conflicted by the dual images of God he encountered: one of a loving Jesus and another of a powerful, wrathful deity.

“That was intimidating and felt like a burden to me,” he reflected.

“I was without any church. I dabbled at best for years, and when the band took off, I felt like, hey, life is good, right? I pass. I give to charity. I’m starting a family. I felt like I was doing the right things that I was taught,” he said.

But through his recovery journey and exposure to the 12-step program, the “Hold My Hand” artist found a new perspective on faith; one that is rooted in compassion and mercy. He realized that many of the Biblical principles he had resisted were in fact healthy frameworks for a fulfilling life.

“As a 40-year-old man, I began to learn to let go of some of the problems I had with the way religion was taught to me as a young child, and I began to accept that many of the principles I was putting aside were actually very healthy for me, and continued with recovery and with a Bible,” he said.

Sober for almost twenty years now, Sonefeld, who wroteSwimming with the Pufferfish – Hootie, healing and a great ridehas faced some difficult personal challenges, including divorce, but ultimately found the joy of a second chance at love. Now, after sixteen years of marriage, he and his wife find themselves in a new season as their youngest children head off to college.

Today, he helps others seek freedom from addiction and uses his platform to share the transformative power of faith and living the principles of Jesus.

“I can sing as well as speak and witness, and that seems like a really good expressive outlet to me,” he said.

Reflecting on his journey with Hootie & the Blowfish, the artist noted how his career has evolved from mainstream music to faith-oriented themes. He recalled the band’s 2008 hiatus as a time when his spiritual focus was deepened.

“We had a period in 2008 where I had been clean and sober for a few years and was really on the right path, but we decided that we needed to go into dormancy as a band,” he recalls. to stop mass touring, record making and regrouping. I was going through my most profound period at that time, where I was able to focus on being a better husband and father and spent much more time in the Bible and with my recovery principles. That was also a very fruitful time with my music,” he said.

This period also marked Sonefeld’s first foray into Christian music, as he began channeling his faith journey into solo albums. And while he still tours with Hootie & the Blowfish, he approaches his old songs with a renewed sense of purpose and gratitude. Performing hits like “Hold My Hand” and “Let Her Cry” is, in a way, a reminder of the journey he has been on.

“I decided that I really only wanted to sing and write about positive things; a celebration of faith and transformation,” he said. “I’ve written a lot, even with Hootie, about romantic love and brokenness, and that whole journey. But as an older man, I felt like I really wanted to celebrate the positive side. So I have actually only written songs that are a celebration of Jesus, new life, rebirth (…) I write a lot about my recovery.”

His latest project, a Christmas album titled Light of joy, emphasizes the joyful anticipation of the birth of Jesus and at the same time reflects on the warm, secular rituals that evoke family memories.

Written with CCM songwriters Martin Chalk and David Spencer, the album features songs like “Light of Joy (Gloria)” – a stirring anthem celebrating the birth of Christ – that embody his reverence for the coming of Jesus, while songs like ‘Mama in the Kitchen’ leans more towards memories of past Christmases.

“I want to celebrate the birth of a Savior, but I also grew up in a cultural Christmas with Christmas trees and lights and Santa Claus and that whole idea,” he said.

“I think it’s okay for it to be both. I have a hard time with people who are hard-line and want to completely ignore the cultural Christmas and say, ‘No, it’s only about Jesus.’ Yes, the reason for the season is the birth of Jesus. But many cultural things have happened that are fun, acceptable, and loving ways to celebrate the “Ho, Ho Christmas Tree Christmas” as well. (…) Celebrate both; it’s okay. But just remember the reason.”

Now that the holidays are approaching, Sonefeld hopes Light of joy invites listeners to embrace both the sacred and sentimental joys of Christmas while offering a sense of connection and hope. Only through Christ, he emphasized, are true freedom and joy found.

“For those struggling with addiction or mental health, especially during the holidays, help is always available,” he emphasized. “It takes courage to reach out, but support exists through recovery programs, counseling and community. I wouldn’t be here without taking that step.”