Creating Through Parkinson’s: Patience, Purpose, and Moving Forward

By Frank Antonicelli

A follow-up to “The Helping Harmony of Music and Parkinson’s” (2024)

Frank and Lilly

Back in the winter of 2024, I wrote a post titled The Helping Harmony of Music and Parkinson’s, where I shared my personal experience of reconnecting with music and the powerful role it played in my day-to-day life with PD.

At the time, I talked about how music became a lifeline, how joining creative forces with like-minded friends led to the formation of my music project, Animal Speak, and how creativity opened a new and meaningful chapter in my life.

Now, at the start of 2026, I’m proud to say we’ve released our first full album, Yesterday’s News. But this follow-up isn’t really about the final product; it’s about the long, unpredictable road it took to get here. It’s a story of patience, persistence, and how I moved forward, even when everything felt like it was sliding sideways.

Looking back, it’s hard to believe the project has been 6 years in the making. The earliest ideas began in 2019, right around the time PD threw everything but the kitchen sink at me. Thankfully, getting DBS in 2020 helped pull me out of that downward spiral and brought me some much-needed relief. However, the recovery that followed was anything but simple. Since then, like many living with PD, I've had to deal with a steady stream of challenges: vision issues, changes in speech, health setbacks, eye surgeries, infections, and even a car accident thrown in for good measure.

Parkinson’s has made it very clear that it doesn’t follow a straight line. It bobs, weaves and throws curveballs the moment it senses I’m starting to feel a little too stable or comfortable for my own good. Living with it feels like I’m constantly trying to hit a moving target with a blindfold on. But creativity? That’s been my anchor and has become my rhythm and way forward.

Through it all, I kept writing. I dug out lyrics I’d written 30 years ago, dusted them off and updated them to be more relevant to my current life and times. I even wrote new material, sometimes at a snail’s pace and other times quickly, always with the goal of being honest about what I was going through. This writing became the foundation of Yesterday’s News.

One of the best parts of this process has been working with my friend and collaborator, Griffin Breshears, who is an incredibly talented musician based in California. I’m based in Pennsylvania, so we learned to work together remotely (over the phone and online) to talk through lyrics, brainstorm arrangements and swap ideas. Once we had our direction for a song,

Griffin would start laying down the tracks, and we’d go back and forth, shaping it until it felt just right.

We also brought in artist Chris Cockreham to design the album cover. His process was as thoughtful and layered as the music. The three of us bounced around ideas, moods, and imagery until we landed on a concept that captured the emotional journey of the album. Then Chris hand-painted the final artwork, giving the music a powerful visual anchor and a feeling of permanence.

There’s something deeply therapeutic about sticking with a creative process over time, especially when living with something as unpredictable as Parkinson’s. It’s given me focus, structure and reminded me that I could still create something meaningful, even on the hard days.

In terms of our sound, I would say our music is eclectic, classic and full of surprises. Two tracks, “There 4 U” and “The Healer”, are especially personal, as they were written for the quiet heroes in my life: friends, caretakers and healers who showed up. These songs are my tribute to them, and for anyone who’s ever leaned on someone when things got heavy.

Griffin and I also drew inspiration from music we grew up on and love, especially The Beatles. “Lilly” was inspired by Paul McCartney’s “Martha My Dear” and “Ticking Timebomb” channels the playful darkness of The Beatles’ “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer”. Making these songs allowed us to experiment and refine our sound while tapping into the joy of our musical roots.

When I wrote the first post in 2024, I wasn’t sure about where the music was headed, if it would be a full album, an EP, or just a handful of songs. In a way, we let the music guide us to its final form. Most importantly, we made sure to have fun with it and not put any pressure on the outcome.

Album artwork by Chris Cockreham

Now that Yesterday’s News is complete, I’m already working on the next album. I don’t know exactly where it will end up, but I know it’s helping me stay grounded and move forward. I also realize that creative work doesn’t erase the reality of Parkinson’s, but it gives me purpose, structure, happiness and most of all, hope.

When you find something in life that brings you joy and helps you express who you are, make sure to hold onto it tight. That spark and energy can help guide you through some of life’s darkest moments and give you the possibility to shape it into something meaningful.

I’m also continually inspired by others living with Parkinson’s and by the resilience, creativity, and determination I see across this community. The shared spirit I see reminds me that none of us are navigating this alone.

For me, music has been that spark. It’s helped me stay connected to who I am. And I hope it helps you find your own rhythm, too.

If you are interested in hearing Yesterday’s News, check out: https://animalspeakmusic.com/