Her Story
About Torina
Torina Gedler, who uses they/them pronouns, is an independent musician, songwriter, composer, and producer based in Des Moines, Iowa, working under the project name Dea Ex Machina. Known for a lush "lucid dream synth-pop" sound, their music centers disability representation and authenticity, celebrating queer and disabled identity as a means of fostering harmony and inclusion within the industry. Gedler holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Writing from Drake University, completed in 2016 with Honors Distinction, and later pursued a Master's degree in Music Therapy from Wartburg College. Their creative path has been shaped by both formal training and lived experience, including a brain injury sustained at age fourteen, functional blindness, hearing loss, and a physical disability affecting mobility—challenges that have become sources of resilience and artistic authenticity rather than obstacles to overcome.
Beyond performing and composing, Gedler has built a career rooted in mentorship and community engagement. From 2018 to 2024, they served as a band coach and songwriting and piano instructor at Girls Rock Des Moines, where they also led workshops exploring the intersection of disability and music and managed a project transcribing more than one hundred songs. They have worked as a substitute teacher for the State of Iowa, currently offer independent keyboard and music theory instruction, and continue to compose choral and instrumental works on a freelance basis, a practice they have maintained for over a decade. Their professional affiliations include ASCAP, RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities, of which they are a Pro Verified member since 2024), and Allies in Advocacy, alongside long-standing volunteer roles with the Civic Music Association and ACDA Jazz Clinics.
Gedler's achievements reflect both artistic ambition and a commitment to accessibility in the arts. In 2023, they successfully raised $2,865 through Kickstarter—exceeding their original goal—to fund production of their debut EP and advance disability visibility in music, with the project slated for release on July 29. Their work has also been supported by three grants, two awarded by the Iowa Arts Council and one from Habitat for Humanity to help establish a disability-centered open mic in Des Moines. Guided by compassion, honesty, and accountability as core values, Gedler remains devoted to creating space for marginalized artists and encourages others, particularly young women entering the industry, to remain resilient, unapologetic, and steadfast in sharing their creative voice.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Torina
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my disability. It has given me authenticity as an artist and has strengthened my self-love and resilience. Living with a brain injury, functional blindness, a hearing aid, mental health challenges, and a physical disability that affects my walking has shaped who I am, and I've learned to draw strength and motivation from that experience rather than in spite of it.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to bet on myself. I heard this at the very start of my music career, and it has stayed with me ever since, guiding the choices I've made along the way.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women entering this industry to stay resilient and resolute in what they want. Don't back down, and don't apologize for what you're trying to communicate through your music or for simply being seen. Claim your space and keep advocating for your creative vision.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is the lack of safe spaces for queer, BIPOC, and disabled people in the music industry, though I'm encouraged that representation is growing. My disability itself has been both a challenge and an opportunity throughout my career, and I see the increasing presence of advocates and organizations as a real opportunity to change industry norms for the better.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Compassion is my number one core value. Alongside that, I also place great importance on honesty and accountability, both in how I approach my work and in how I live my personal life.
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