Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 3/10/2026 – Eric Kinkel life’s work has always been his music. That is, until a mysterious brain trauma tragically robbed him of his voice. The new documentary In Search of His Lost Cords chronicles Kinkel’s life and current struggles, and he hopes telling his story publicly will help lead him to answers – and to the return of his ability to speak and sing.
Eric Kinkel was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. At the age of 12 he discovered his passion for music, and in the years that followed, he taught himself to play instruments such as piano, guitar and bass. As an adult, he composed, performed, recorded and released music both as a solo artist and in collaboration with others, including a stint as the front man of local rock band Lost Nation.
Eric also felt a deep commitment to blending artistry with philanthropy. He curated several live concerts featuring both his own music and that of other local artists, raising thousands of dollars for awareness and support of Multiple Sclerosis, the disease that took his sister’s life.
Then one day in 2019, Eric’s mouth went dry while he was singing. He says, “My tongue suddenly became wildly dysfunctional. I thought, ‘What the heck is going on here?’ It wasn’t until late 2021 that I completely lost my vocal cord functions, making me unable to speak intelligibly, or sing.” (Eric is able to reply to interview questions by feeding his responses into an AI program, which speaks for him.)
He first went to see his dentist about the problem, who then referred him to an oral surgeon. Thus began a long, frustrating journey of visits to medical professionals who either made his condition worse by their recommended treatments, or who were perplexed and offered no options at all.
“I think that I probably suffered some type of brain trauma that had been overlooked. I’ve seen over 20 doctors, hospitals and specialists, who have all dismissed my detailed notes about my symptoms and when they occurred, and how they progressed and worsened,” Eric explains.
Through it all, Eric keeps hope alive that there is a treatment out there that will work for him – or at the least, that one will be available soon. “My desire is to reach researchers who have access to both quantum computing models and AI technologies, those who are on the cusp of discovering recoveries for my brain trauma – and a host of human afflictions beyond mine.”
When asked about his relationship with music now, Eric says, “Rarely do I write, since I lost my main instrument, my vocal cords. I do occasionally keep up both my guitar and piano skills. But right now I’m focusing on recovering my brain and vocal functions, and so I’m on a self-imposed sabbatical from music.”
If you know anyone in the medical or scientific research communities who might be able to help Eric, please email him at: advocate@erickinkel.com. Any updates on his journey to find a successful treatment will be posted on the documentary’s website. In the meantime, he asks that people who’d like to support him share his film and his story.
In Search of His Lost Cords is free for anyone to watch on Vimeo. You can find the links to the full film, the trailer, and Eric’s social media on the film’s website: insearchofhislostcords.com.
We hear more about Eric’s journey in our interview here.
