First album

Blind singer fulfills her dream with world stars

Sofia Lichtenwörther has to endure tablets, injections and intravenous injections every day. But none of this stopped her from fulfilling her lifelong dream.

(Bild: Grammer Karl)

For her first album, a young talent from Burgenland stood in the London recording studio of one of Robbie Williams' musicians, with Eric Clapton's drummer setting the beat. "Fantastic!"

Sex, drugs and wild parties - the dissolute life in the rock and pop business is long gone. Behind the glamor these days is hard work. The big names in the industry show professionalism and a lot of heart - including Sofia Lichtenwörther, stage name Sofia Reyna, from Neufeld, who has been blind from an early age. "A brain tumor had pressed on her optic nerve. Many operations were necessary," says the family. Today, the 18-year-old has to endure daily tablets, injections and intravenous injections.

Sofia plays guitar, piano, sings and composes
But the young Burgenlander from the community of 3,600 is a fighter and is passionate about music. "I really discovered my passion for it three years ago," she reveals. The student plays guitar, learns piano and composes. She met Jerry Meehan at a workshop in Mattersburg.

Sofia recorded the first songs of her new album in a London recording studio with world-famous musicians Ian Thomas and Jerry Meehan.

(Bild: Grammer Karl)

In Jerry Meehan's studio
Before Robbie Williams' bassist goes on another world tour with the superstar, the blind artist was allowed to record three of her own songs for her first album, which will be released in the fall, in his Wendyhouse recording studio in London. "Bitter Babe", "Angel" and "Sweetest Lullaby" get under your skin.

"Jerry is great. He's spontaneous, always comes up with new ideas, a professional through and through," enthuses Sofia. On the third day of work, the likeable Welshman Ian Thomas - drummer for Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Sting, Elton John and once Michael Jackson - put the finishing touches to the recordings. Sofia was thrilled.

Robbie Williams swears by the high quality of the instruments from Austria.

(Bild: Karl Brazil)

The start of something really big
"People who are not on the sunny side of life deserve our full attention. Especially if they have talent," says Jerry Meehan open-heartedly. His Austrian manager, Stefan Trenker: "This teamwork will give us all a lot of pleasure." Perhaps the start of a global career.