20/10/2025
Today, we’re honoured to share the story of one of the most incredible people, Matthew Potts, who is embracing life with positivity and purpose while living with a disability. In this post he shares in his story.
“The Beat That Never Breaks”
By Matt Potts DJ SHADZ
I was just a kid when I found out I had Muscular Dystrophy. At the time, I didn’t fully understand what it meant — but as the years went on, the reality sank in. I began to understand that my future might not look like everyone else's. That realization hurt. I felt scared, angry, and uncertain about what I’d be able to do with my life. But even in those early days, something stronger than fear began to grow in me: the will to live a life filled with meaning and joy, no matter the odds.
One of the biggest reasons I was able to stay hopeful was because of my mum. She’s been my rock. She believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself, always encouraging me to dream big and push for the things that make me feel alive. The support from her — and from those around me — helped me stay focused on what could be possible instead of what might not.
As I got older, I began building friendships with others living with disabilities. Sharing those experiences with people who understood the journey gave me strength and a new perspective: I wasn’t alone. I had a community. And I had more to be grateful for than I first realized.
In my 20s, I found my true passion: music. Making beats and DJ’ing lit a fire in me. It gave me an outlet to express myself, to feel free, and to connect with people on a deep, emotional level — without needing to say a word. Not just something to listen to — something to become. Something that moved through me, even when my body couldn’t. Music became my therapy, my purpose, and my joy. And it still is. I became something new. I stopped hiding. I started mixing. Creating. Performing. I became DJ SHADZ
Now in my 30s, I’ve taken that passion even further. I’ve started streaming my DJ sets and sharing my music with a broader community online. I’m building a network and creating content in ways that reflect who I am and what I love. I fly drones, make videos, play video games, build models — and I enjoy every second of it. My disability affects my mobility, but it doesn’t define my life.
Because the truth is — I’m not powerless.
I’m not broken.
I’m built different.
Muscular Dystrophy may shape my body, but it will never shape my spirit. I don’t dwell on what I can’t do. I focus on what I can — and I give it everything I’ve got.
So if you're out there, if you’re young, scared, newly diagnosed, or just feel like the world doesn't have room for you — listen up:
You are not a burden.
You are not invisible.
You are not done.
You are becoming.
This is my story. And it’s just getting started.
Because I’m not here to fade away quietly.
I’m here to live loud.
To break limits.
And to be the beat that never breaks.
