The Story of T: Music, Metamorphosis, and a Mission
T (Timothy Bartsch) is the founder and creative force behind The Promise. His life has been shaped by classical training, a love for classic rock, and a profound personal transformation following an HIV-positive diagnosis in 1996. His journey—told through music, drama, and spoken word—is one of resilience, advocacy, and artistic innovation.
A Life Interrupted, A New Path Forged
At 20, T was studying cello at the Hochschule für Musik in Detmold, Germany. His classical career was upended by his HIV diagnosis and the trauma surrounding it. Returning to Vancouver unsure of his future, he turned to his other musical passion: classic rock.
He began writing and singing songs, starting with “Southern Time,” a powerful anthem yearning for global equality. With a foundation in classical structure, his music evolved into a unique fusion he describes as:
‘Psychedelic Jazzy-Classical, Musical-Theateresque, Art-Rock’—a sound that would become the hallmark of his work.
From Stage to Hospital and Back Again
In his late 20s, convinced his story was best told as a rock musical, T staged a 7-day multimedia production of ‘Southern Time’ in Vancouver. Its success proved the project’s viability and power for driving social change.
This production, now evolved into the ‘Dreamer’ series, tells T’s raw story of acquiring HIV, living with the virus, and the profound psychological and spiritual metamorphosis he underwent.
However, his path was nearly cut short. After avoiding treatment for a decade, T became critically ill. In 2009, he nearly died from AIDS-related illnesses in Toronto General Hospital. After a six-month fight on the brink of death, he made a dramatic recovery, though with permanent spinal cord damage. This experience fueled his advocacy, leading to powerful one-man performances of his story at international forums, including International AIDS Conferences in 2010, 2016, and 2018.
Building The Promise
In 2018, T began assembling Toronto’s finest professional musicians to form The Promise. He was joined by Justin Anantawan, another openly HIV-positive singer, solidifying the band’s mission of visibility and advocacy.
The band recorded their debut album, ‘Lost in Love No More,’ debuting it at the first virtual World AIDS Conference (AIDS 2020). The Promise has since performed live at AIDS 2022 in Montreal, using their music to accelerate public awareness and action to finally end AIDS by 2030.
The Journey Continues with ‘Dreamer’
Southern Time Productions is now preparing for pre-production on the first season of the ‘Dreamer’ series. The series will premiere on our own socially-conscious streaming platform, dedicated to music and film that drives change.
Explore the music that started the movement: [Listen to ‘Lost in Love No More’ and our Other Music Today]