How Hootie & the Blowfish’s Drummer Found New Life in Christ

Published: October 30, 2024

How Hootie & the Blowfish’s Drummer Found New Life in Christ

By Movieguide® Contributory

Hootie & the Blowfish drummer Jim “Soni” Sonefeld described his life of addiction and the freedom he found once he regained his childhood faith.

“I moved from being a recreational drinker to habitual drinker to a medicinal drinker to full-blown alcoholism,” Sonefeld told The Christian Post when describing the addiction that overtook his life. “It’s at this point that I am really faced with, what am I doing? How do I even deal with this? And it took probably four to five years of very painful, negative, dark times to find an answer.”

In 2004, a friend of Sonefeld’s gave him a 12-step book to help him move past his alcohol addiction. The book was also biblically based and reconnected him with his childhood faith that he lost once his band began taking off. The book helped him gain a new understanding of God and the lessons He taught, helping Sonefeld see Him as a caring Father rather than as a wrathful deity.

“I started learning to release, as a 40-year-old man, some of the hang-ups I had with the way religion was taught to me as a young kid, and started accepting that a lot of the principles that I pushed back on were actually very healthy for me, and moved forward in recovery and with a Bible,” Sonefeld said.

As he began to reconnect with his faith, Sonefeld began expressing his newfound appreciation for the Lord as best as he knew how: through music.

“I decided I really just wanted to sing and write about positive things; a celebration of faith and transformation,” he explained. “I’d written a lot, even with Hootie, about romantic love and broken-heartedness, and that whole journey. But as an older man, I felt like I really wanted to celebrate the positive side. So I really have only written songs that are a celebration of Jesus, new life, rebirth […] I write a lot about my recovery.”

Sonefeld also now uses his platform to help others find reprieve from the addictions and struggles they are facing. He understands as well as anyone just how hard it can be to reach out for help but he also knows just how impactful it can be to have someone walking beside you through your pain.

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

He’s getting ready to release his first-ever Christmas album, Light of Joy.

“I want to celebrate the birth of a Savior, but I grew up also in a cultural Christmas with Christmas trees and lights and Santa and that whole idea,” he said. “I think it’s OK that there’s both.”

The first single off the album, “Light of Joy (Gloria),” released on Oct. 18. The full album will drop on Friday, per The Deseret News.